Chitou Forest Recreation Area
Giant trees, green bamboo, winding trails, chirping birds, croaking frogs, fog enshrouded scenery and fresh air characterize the Chitou Forest Recreation Area. The cool air and fog create a romantic atmosphere. Take a walk in the woods, enjoy a relaxing vacation and recharge your mind. Reenergize yourself so you can cope better with the challenges of life. Enjoy the unique beauty of each of the four seasons - Chitou awaits you.
At the VisitorCenter, visitors can purchase entrance tickets, obtain information on lodging and transportation, and become a member of the Friends of Chitou. Interpreters provide information about the natural ecology of the Chitou area. In addition, there is emergency first aid, a nursing room and a conference room. Finally, the VisitorCenter has a lost and found and will help locate missing persons.
Most plants in the nursery are conifer seedlings. There are a smaller number of ornamental plant seedlings. On the roadside, wild plants and birds are abundant.
As you walk past the nursery, you will see the Prof. Wang Memorial Pavilion. From the Pavilion, you have a good view of the topography of Chitou. Looking north, the peak on the right is Mt.Phoenix; the peak on the left is Mt.Neshupe
Based on its growth form, bamboo is described as bushy (e.g. Ma bamboo) or spreading (e.g. Mong-Tsung bamboo). There are 50 different species here for visitor to observe and compare.
Originally, University Pond was created to keep logs moist. Later, the pond became the representative landmark of Chitou. If you come in spring and summer, you will discover the pond is frog heaven.
Bamboo Cottage
This architecturally unique bamboo cottage is located in the quiet Mong-Tsung bamboo forest. It was designed by the famous architect Mr. Bou-Der Han. Mong-Tsung bamboo is a temperate, spreading species and forms an elegant bamboo forest. Winter shoots are dormant. Remember to try some delicious winter bamboo shoot.
Giant Cypress Tree
There is a huge boulder inside the Giant Cypress Tree. Although the center is mostly rotted out and hollow, the giant tree lives on, a testament to the tenacity of life. As we gaze upon the million year-old boulder and the thousand year-old tree, we feel respectful.
Mt.Phoenix Overlook and Astronomical Observatory
The Mt.Phoenix logging road ends on a ridge where there are two overlooks and an astronomical observatory. When the weather is nice and visibility is good, visitors can see SunMoonLake and the surrounding mountains, especially JadeMountain. The observatory houses a 63cm-diameter, Newton telescope. Real-time images of the heavens can be transmitted to the ForestEcologyExhibitionCenter for observation by visitors.
Bamboo House
As you walk through the guest house area, your eyes will be drawn to the Bamboo House. The entire house and all the furniture inside are made of bamboo. The furniture is elegant in design and highly sought after.
During Japanese rule, the Taiwan branch of TokyoUniversity (what is now NationalTaiwanUniversity) ExperimentalForest planted this ginkgo forest, the only one in Taiwan. The tall, straight ginkgo trees undergo distinct and unforgettable seasonal changes: new leaves in the spring, lush green growth in the summer, golden leaves in the fall and bare branches pointing at the winter sky. Because the ginkgo grows slowly and takes tens to hundreds of years to mature, the people who plant the seed will be old, with many grandchildren by the time the seed is a mature tree. Therefore, the ginkgo is also called the ¡§grandfather tree¡¨.
Beside the Mt.Phoenix logging road is the Giant Rock, which was originally part of the rock formation on the cliff. During the big earthquake on September 21, 1999, the rock broke off the cliff and tumbled to its present position. Its dimensions are 18m x 15m x 12m[=3240m3!!], its volume is 540 m3 and it weighs 1300 tons. The base of the Giant Rock has been reinforced. Now it is symbolic of the 9/21 earthquake at Chitou.
This area was the endpoint of the cable system (Lue-Long) used to transport logs. The Tau-Chi Typhoon damaged the cable. Now, all that remains of this historic implement are traces of cable fixture on the rock.
The Chitou Forest Recreation Area has a network of trails. The trails vary in difficulty and they are covered with different materials. You can wander around in the woods at your own pace on trails that match your ability. Rest in the pavilions along the trail and do not worry about getting lost - the trails are well labeled. Most trails are easy to walk and are suitable for families. Use a trail map and the table, below, to help you plan your walk.
CampGround
The CampGround is located at the upper end of the parking lot. It provides a place for barbecues, campfires and camping.
No. |
Name |
Substrate |
Time |
1 |
University Pond Wood Chip |
wood chips, boardwalk |
20 mins |
2 |
University Pond |
concrete, suspension bridge |
20 mins |
3 |
Scenic |
washed pebbles, wood chips |
25 mins |
4 |
Quiet |
pebbles |
15 mins |
5 |
Giant Cypress Tree |
rock slabs, concrete |
35 mins |
6 |
Riverside |
granite, rock slabs, washed pebbles |
35 mins |
7 |
Gingko |
granite, washed pebbles |
15 mins |
8 |
Forest Shower |
soil, rock slabs, ?? |
50 mins |
9 |
Giant Rock |
rock slabs |
5 mins |
10 |
Hiking |
granite, rock slabs |
40 mins |
11 |
Phoenix Mt. Ridge |
granite, rock slabs |
60 mins |
12 |
Bird Watching |
granite, rock slabs, boardwalk, suspension bridge |
50 mins |
Flat: 1, 2, 7Gradual slope: 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12Steeper slope: 8, 10, 13
Forest Ecological ExhibitionCenter
The Center has an Information Desk, a Small Study Room, a Computer Room, a Multimedia Room, an Exhibition Area and a Nursing Room.
¡ÎSmall Study Room ¡V This room contains more than 400 books related to ecology; most are suitable for the entire family.
¡ÎComputer Room: Visitors have access to multimedia computer programs that let them choose the films they want to watch.
¡ÎMultimedia Room: Ecology films are shown on the 180-inch screen.
¡ÎExhibition Area: The exhibits present information on forest ecology, and wood and bamboo furniture and animal specimens are on display.
Eating at Chitou is very special because of the many kinds of delicious, mouth-watering food made from bamboo. Try them out!
The Chitou Restaurant and hotels provide food and lodging to fulfill your needs. Many cottages suitable for families are located in the woods. In addition, conference rooms of a variety of sizes are available for meetings and workshops.
Stores and Coffee Shops
On Shop Street, a variety of stores sells food, local products and groceries. In addition, two stores located under the restaurant and the exhibition center sell local products and books published by NTUExperimentalForest. There are coffee shops by the University Pond and the Giant Cypress Tree.
ChitouNatureEducationCenter TEL¡G¡]049¡^2612111 Leader Hotel, Chitou TEL:(049) 261-2588 |