Cypress Forest Trail

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Location：Taipingshan Villa

Total length: 0.6km

Elevation：2,000m

It is located at the back of Taipingshan Villa and the easiest-to-access among all primitive forests of Taiwan Cypress in Taiwan. The total length is 0.61 km and it takes about 1 hour for round trip. It is easy to hike on this trail, elevation about 2,000 m, and the best choice for forest bathing in summer. Along the trail, you will see the spectacular scene of tree caves created by fallen gigantic trees. Very often, the lying big trunk nourishes the tree seed fallen on it into a second generation giant tree, forming a “two-generation tree”.

The so-called「Cupressaceae」are the plants in the cypress family Chamaecyparis. According to the classification by botanist, there are 6 (previously 7) species of Cupressaceae around the world. There are 2 species in Japan (Chamaecyparis pisifera and Chamaecyparis obtuse), 2 (previously 3) species in America (C. thyoides, C. lawsoniana and C. nootkatensis) and 2 species in Taiwan (C. obtuse var. formosana and C. formosensis). Among them, the Alaska-cedar (C. nootkatensis) was re-classified as Callitropsis sp. And the two species of C. obtuse var. formosana and C. formosensis are endemic to Taiwan, the only habitat of Cupressaceae in sub-tropical climate.

Taiwan Hinoki：A world class treasure. It mainly grows in the mountains of central and northern Taiwan and usually close to mountain ridge. It is a slow-growing tree, and the wood is strongly scented, with beautiful tree ring pattern and color. It is the favorite wood among locals.

Taiwan Cypress: A giant tree and the largest conifer tree in East Asia. Its trunk can grow up to 20 m and often branch off. Besides, its trunk usually becomes hollow and “lotus root shaped decay”. Ironically, thanks to its peculiar shape and low tree volume, Taiwan Cypress is always neglected by loggers and luckily is able to survive.