Shuiyang Lake & 1,000 People Cave
Difficulty – 3 to 5 (out of 5) Duration – 2 days and 2 nights
This is great two day hiking and camping trip in the foothills of Jade Mountain and the Alishan area. The cave known in Chinese as the Thousand People Cave is an enormous overhanging cliff and makes for a great spot to camp out at.
There are several ways to do this hike. The easiest is to follow the old forestry road out to the Shuiyang Forest and Lake. The lake was created during the 921 Earthquake when the valley tilted back and filled with water. It’s a very beautiful spot that also makes for a good place to camp if you don’t feel like pressing on to the cave.
There’s also an option of skipping the forestry road and instead tackling Luchu Mountain on the way to the lake. The peak has awesome views Jade Mountain (Taiwan’s tallest) and is well off the beaten path. One time we were fortunate enough to spot 5 eagles circling over the valley below!
If you are interested in this hike, let us know how much you would like to do. Getting to the peak, the cave and the lake in a day is a lot of work, and only suitable for the very fit. Otherwise, we can tailor the hike for your particular needs.
Typical Itinerary
We leave Taipei in the afternoon on the first day to drive down to Shanlinxi in Nantou County. We will camp near the trail head so we can get an early start the next day.
On the second day, we will get on the trail and have a good days hiking to get to the lake or cave by late afternoon. We spend the night at either the lakeside or under the shelter of the cave.
The third day is more relaxed as we head back to the trail head along the forestry road and then the long drive home.
