There are plenty of opportunities to sit on terraces and sip coffee, but you will be hard put to find any information for a bracing one-day trek. A longer trail is currently under construction through yet another ancient forest, this time of beech, but this is 16km from the resort, with a start-off point at Tsuifeng Lake (翠峰湖).
Another popular spot for visitors to Taiping Mountain are the hot springs at Rentse (仁澤), which are 20km or so from the resort proper. This location is currently closed for reconstruction, however, after extensive damage by Typhoon Nari in 2001 and is scheduled to open by the end of the year.
Taiping Mountain tends to attract a higher proportion of bus tours, which suits the model of the domestic tourist business, but makes it difficult for independent travelers without their own transport. With the limited accommodation provided, many travelers use Taiping Mountain as a one-day stop, choosing to stay at one of the many other resort towns or even in Lotung or Ilan.
"In operating this recreational park, we have decided that we will not bring in any financial groups to build big luxury hotels. With limited accommodation, we are able to control the impact on the environment, and also it keeps the money we earn in the community," said Lin of the Luotung Forest District Office plan.
To some degree, this fact is reflected in the facilities that Taiping Mountain resort offers, for neither the food nor the accommodation is five-star. It would be better described as homely and is perfectly comfortable if a little over priced, as double rooms start at NT$2,200 a night.
As with most of Taiwan's mountain resorts, facilities are constantly at the mercy of the elements, and these take a harsh toll, so that at any time, there is always maintenance going on, which rather detracts from the pristine beauty of Taiping Mountain's image.
To visit Taiping Mountain, bookings can be made at the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area, call (03) 9809 806-8.
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