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COMPASS MAGAZINE > November 2011
 

The beauty of autumn at the Wuling and Fushoushan farms
The garden square at the
entrance of Wuling Farm
features beautiful sage and
marguerite.

武陵.福壽山農場 深秋楓情
Situated at the end of the trail,
the amazing Peach Mountain
(Taoshan) Waterfall cascades
down like a white strand of silk.

武陵.福壽山農場 深秋楓情
The clear and beautiful
Qijiawan Creek is home to a
national treasure--the
Formosan Landlocked Salmon.

The beauty of autumn at the Wuling and Fushoushan farms
The most beautiful garden
cosmos flower field at
Fushoushan Farm is next to
the tea factory.

The beauty of autumn at the Wuling and Fushoushan farms
Maple trees growing in front of
Songlu in Fushoushan Farm
are about to change color for
the arrival of autumn.

The beauty of autumn at the Wuling and Fushoushan farms
Juicy, plump red apples are
very tempting.

The beauty of autumn at the Wuling and Fushoushan farms
The elegant and classic Daguan
Pavilion was once a temporary
residence for Chiang Kai-shek.

The beauty of autumn at the Wuling and Fushoushan farms

Mother Nature changes colors for the new season

Words by Wu Xiu-yun
Translated by Angel Pu
Photography by Yang Zhi-ren

When it comes to viewing maple leaves in autumn, Wuling Farm is the first place that comes to most people's minds. This autumn spectacle is even more poignant when combined with the Qijiawan Creek and the pine trees rising straight from its banks. Wuling Farm has so many things to see and do, making it your top choice for starting an autumn trip.

Wuling's maple leaves soon turning red
Located in alpine valley, Wuling Farm is surrounded by many mountains such as Taoshan (Peach Mountain), Pintian Mountain, Chiyou Mountain, Kalaye Mountain, Luoyewei Mountain, Snow Mountain and Zhijiayang Mountain. At an elevation of 1,400 to 2,100 meters, the farm is very suitable for growing temperate-climate fruit and high-mountain vegetables. Over the years, the farm has become a famous attraction thanks to good publicity and planning by the Shei-Pa National Park near the farm. Right now is the best time of year to spend a holiday here, doing various activities such as viewing the maple trees, bird-watching and savoring fresh cabbage.

The maple leaves turn red from mid-November between Youshan Creek and Qijiawang Creek, like a vermilion blanket covering the farm. Visitors are entranced by such scenes, making it difficult for them to leave. Following Wuling Road--the main park road--visitors will first encounter an unbelievably-red maple tree welcoming them by the Wanshou Bridge. A garden square by the entrance also offers a stunning field of yellow marguerite and purple sage flowers that provides a beautiful contrast to the mountain forests.

To get to the elegant Xing Shi Yuan Park, tourists can take the pine-lined trail next to the tourist center. There are bridges, a stream and a plum forest along the way. The plum trees here bloom during December and January, with their white flowers and refreshing fragrance creating classic winter memories.

More attractions on the way to Peach Mountain Waterfall
Walk across Yinian Bridge, which offers visitors views of Snow Mountain, and you'll come to a striking red Zhaofeng suspension bridge on the right side--a good place for watching waterfowl. These include Plumbeous Water Redstart and Brown Dipper, often seen resting on the creek's rocks. On the other side of Yinian Bridge is the very vintage-style Wuling Teahouse where visitors can take a rest, drinking Wuling Tea or buying various agricultural produce such as apples, persimmons and tea. Keep going and you will reach the Fish Watching Platform, the best spot for viewing Qijiawan Creek and watching Formosan Landlocked Salmon.

Visitors here often feel like they've stepped into a more northerly country because of chillier temperatures and murmuring streams in the pine woods. After passing the fruit tree area and entering the entrance to Snow Mountain, tourists will see a newly-completed camping area that offers tent and cabin rentals. It can be pure bliss to drink a cup of coffee in the cafe here, or under a tall Japanese cedar while enjoying the view.

At the end of the main road sits Wuling Villa, which was just remodeled this year. This is also the starting point of a 4.3-kilometer forest trail. It takes about two hours to complete a round trip and hikers get to enjoy refreshingly-cool air and beautiful scenery along the way. Every day at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., hikers can stand on the Wuling Suspension Bridge and look for Formosan Landlocked Salmon in Qijiawan Creek. While enjoying the scenery, please don't cross over the fence along the trail and don't feed or litter or pollute the rivers and endanger Taiwanese Salmon's habitat in this area. As you go higher and higher, you'll eventually be able to overlook the entire Wuling Farm area and see the magnificent Taoshan (Peach Mountain) Waterfall at an elevation of 2,200 meters.

Beautiful fields of flowers year round at Fushoushan Farm
After leaving Wuling Farm, tourists can take the Yilan spur of the Central Cross-Island Highway and pass by Huangshan and Songmao aboriginal villages, famous for cultivating pears, peaches and persimmons. Turn right after driving through Lishan's main street and Fushoushan Farm is straight ahead. Not only is the farm famous for producing apples, pears, peaches, cabbages and tea, but it's also popular for the constant variety of flowers that are blooming all year round.

Floral vistas are on display between mid-September and early November, with pink and magenta flowers so beautiful that you almost feel like you are in the European countryside. There are three fields of garden cosmos flowers at Fushoushan Farm, with the biggest one next to the tea factory. The maple leaves also usually start turning red from mid-November and the most beautiful trees are the ones next to the tourist center. Songlu, one of the temporary residences of former President Chiang Ching-kuo, is also situated here and is open for guests stays.

Excellent agricultural techniques on display at 'Three Kings of Fushoushan'
There are three fruit trees in front of the farm office rospectively known as the King of Pears, King of Peaches and King of Apples. People call them the "Three Kings of Fushoushan" because of the variety of fruit types grafted onto them. For instance, there are 43 apple varieties grafted on the apple tree, making it rather fascinating to see so many colors and sizes of apples on one tree.

Maple trees are also seen along Yuanyanghu Trail next to the tourist center. The other trail at the rear of the center, leading to Feixue Pavilion, has many types of apple, pear and peach trees, boosting visitors' knowledge about fruit trees and types.

Tianchi (heavenly pool) is the most famous attraction in Fushoushan and sits at the farm's highest spot, at an elevation of 2,580 meters. This is the best place to see Snow Mountain's western peak, surrounded by clouds and mist in the afternoon. Facing in another direction toward the camping area is ideal for sunsets. Daguan Pavilion, the two-story wooden structure by the pool, was a temporary residence of former President Chiang Kai-shek. The interior of this house is very simple and spartan and visitors can go inside for a look at the president's quarters.

Travel note
Directions:
Take National Freeway No. 6 to Puli and then take Provincial Highway No. 14 to Wushe, and spur 'A' of Provincial Highway No. 14 to Dayuling via Qingjing Farm and Kunyang. Take Provincial Highway No. 8 and turn left at Fushou Road after entering downtown Lishan. Go straight toward the mountain and continue to Fushoushan Farm. For Wuling Farm, make a right turn onto spur 'A' of Provincial Highway No. 7 after entering Lishan. Drive through Songmao and Huangshan villages, make a left turn onto Wuling Road at the 53-kilometer mark and continue to Wuling Farm.
Wuling Farm
Tel:04-2590-1259
3-1, Wuling Rd, Pingdeng Village, Heping District
http://www.wuling-farm.com.tw/
Fushoushan Farm
Tel:0800-073-999
29, Fushou Rd, Lishan Village, Heping District
http://www.fushoushan.com.tw/