Pottering around Hehuanshan (合歡山)

Scooters up (3000m up!)

Scootering around Hehuanshan area is brilliant. The road is narrow and full of busses and cars stopping for a selfie. Scooter just keeps you moving and getting closer to the scenery. The bendy road makes you hum 'Born to be Wild' - till you hit one of teh steeper ascents and all of the sudden the power is gone. 125cm scooter, two people and 3000m up - it gets interesting at times. Every now and then we we looked more like a rowing crew on a trining machine. To get up it took some coordinated moves like being on a swing: up we go, up we go, up we go....

Moutains and Valleys

Most of the time you feel you are above the clouds - despite the fact that you just got off a scooter. Well, you are above the clouds - so enjoy the view and the ride. It is absolutely exhilarating! Hehuanshan offers some fantastic vistas, many of them straight from the main road. But a short walk from the main road often hides even better views. Well worth to make the effort and explore the many small paths and walks.

Above the clouds

Most of the time you feel you are above the clouds - despite the fact that you just got off a scooter. Well, you are above the clouds - so enjoy the view and the ride. It is absolutely exhilarating!

The Road

The road clings to the mountains, winding its way up and down, one bend after another, once stunning view after another. It is hard not to smile when you ride the road (even though your balls might be frozen!).

Into the wild

When on the road, your attention is focused on the next bend, the selfie-obsessed drivers parking in the middle of the way and the driven-by-maniacs packs of VW Calavelle (equivalent of white van drivers in the UK). Taking a break and strolling around the hills scattered around the route can reward you with a more complete picture of the road you just took. And it’s stunning!

A path less travelled (compared to the road below!)

Of course, hiking up in itself is a fantastic and rewarding feast. Near-solitude - not a common feature in Taiwan.

Proudly Taiwanese

No, not part of China.

Proudly Taiwanese

No, not part of China.

Proudly Taiwanese

No, not part of China.

Seriously scenic

Just to prove the point - a picture can speak a thousand words! Look at this beast of the road. Scenic is not a word that can describe it.

A glimpse of Chilai Shan – 奇萊山

The clouds descended at about 2pm. We went back to the accommodation as the evening looked gloomy and unpromising at the best. Working away on the laptop, I totally forgot about the rotten weather outside. Till I looked up as realised the clouds were lifting. After a mad dash outside to get the camera, tripod – and hopefully some photos before the mad and quick weather turned again. The place is known for some spectacular cloud display – and it seemed that that evening was no different.

Mysterious Chilai Shan 奇萊山

The neaby peak kept peeking out, revealing the grand location of the hotel.

when clouds part

It was an exhilarating evening. First there was a total white-out. Then the clouds lifted, just to come down again. As the wind was pushing from the west, making the clouds to dance, the mountains kept their little peekaboo play. At some point he clouds started lifting again, not only revealing the fine edge of the mountain but also the road and the beautifully located hotel. At the same time, some patches of clod kept resisting, clinging to the few trees down in the valley. Soon, the landscape change again.

Sunset blues

The evening has soon provided us with another feast - some beautiful blue and pink hues just above the dancing clouds, providing the perfect backdrop for the peaking peak (is it where the name comes from?) of Chilai Shan (奇萊山). For some reason the scene made me think of cake, one with some nice and soft filling in between light sponge layers... yum...

Evening vortex

After the dramatic and very lively performance, the clouds started disappearing as quickly as they danced. Just as someone pulled the plug in a bathtub, a small vortex sucked the clouds out, leaving the rest of the night clear and full of stars. Thank you , whoever pulled the plug!

Walking to the stars

In the morning we set off for the sunrise to the nearby peak. Well before the sunrise it was the sea of stars that guided us up. The sky was clear and the dusk was already crawling in.

Central Range Point (Zhongyangjian Mountain; 中央尖山) and some movig clouds

Zhongyangjian Mountain (中央尖山; Central Range Point) is a distinctive peak, looking sharp as a Japanese knife from the distance. When seen from the 合歡山 when the clouds do their display, it seems to be floating on a fluffy bed of candy-floss. As the clouds lited and kept moving around at speed, they produced amazing patterns of trails.

Central Range Point (Zhongyangjian Mountain; 中央尖山) and some movig clouds

Zhongyangjian Mountain (中央尖山; Central Range Point) is a distinctive peak, looking sharp as a Japanese knife from the distance. When seen from the 合歡山 when the clouds do their display, it seems to be floating on a fluffy bed of candy-floss. As the clouds lited and kept moving around at speed, they produced amazing patterns of trails.

Cloud Display

As the sun made its way up, its rays soon met with the playful clouds dancing in the sky. Diffused light started hitting the mountain ridges an amazing display of light and shadows commenced.

Holy smoke!

At some point the warming air created some up-draught, making the clouds look more like smoke coming up from two giant chimneys hiding behind the ridge.

Central Range Point - Mount Chung Yang - 中央尖山

The scenery as changing so fast that it was hard to keep pace and focus. Clouds coming and going, colours changing all the time. At some point bluish haze added some surreal tones to the Central Range and the Mount Chung Yang (中央尖山).

Tre colore

Once the sun appeared from behind the mountains, the changes were even faster. Clouds were burning, peaks and ridges all of sudden started putting their colours on. The orange rays broke free from behind one of the peaks, aligning perfectly with the ridge below. Symmetry

The ridge

Once the sun came up, it illuminated the curvy ridges and brought up all the tones and till not muted colours. All of sudden you feel like you just want to walk and enjoy the scenery, be part of it. Let's walk!