mingchih forest recreation area

这是根本就是世外桃源,美到不像话，风景好,空气好,只能说是样样好,沿路风景也很漂亮,为二缺点就是路程遥远,沿路弯来弯去,会晕车的人受不了,大力推推推这个景点

明池游乐区在明池山庄的隔壁, 走路约5-10分钟可以抵达. 若是住宿明池山庄的房客, 建议您参加山庄举办的生态导览, 全程约一个半小时. 导览会解说神木的树种, 日本柳杉与台湾杉的不同, 为何日本柳杉已届老龄却仍留在台湾植林的一大片土地上. 明池的水是绿的, 淌洋在森林的芬多精浴中, 在这个地方是完全不用担心蚊子的叮咬, 因人烟稀少, 蚊子几乎不存在.散步游园加上听导览的时间共安排三个小时最为恰当. 下午容易起大雾, 早上游园最佳.

The woods where Naoko stayed in “Norwegian Wood”, the wood filled with white snows. Movie wasn’t a good one, it made me forget what’s in the novel either. But the wood in my mind, to stay in the shadows of the giant trees, would be a nice thing to include in a trip.I picked Mingchih among all the forest recreation area in Taiwan. MingChih is Alpine lake, an altitude of about 1150 meters, surrounded with mountains, natural habitat had been protected and filled with green woods and little animals. Humid mountains always floated with clouds and smoke, temperature lower than ground. It’s a dreamy heaven. But there wasn’t any public transport to Mingchih, you can either choose to rent car/taxi or rent driver to take you there.The road to Mingchih was pretty tough, it was all detour and upslope. But when you were getting closer to Mingchih, it got more quieter. I was wondering, I was really actually going to a silent wood without people.Along the road to Mingchih Hotel were filled with lovely purple Hydrangea. Hydrangea bloom in Winter, that’s why it’s florid is Hope. Although it wasn’t during the season when I traveled, the big shaped of the flower shined with the green picture was such a lovely painting.Next to Mingchih Hotel was the 1500 years old Mingchih Sacred Tree. The top of the tree had probably been damaged by thunderstorm. If you looked at the tree from behind, you could find a big hole in the middle of the tree, probably pest. The tree existed in this world for over 1500 years already, passed through centuries. Only the nature could have such tolerance. And I genuinely hope that this sacred tree would live healthy forever.You may stay in the Mingchih hotel with little wooden villas in the wood or the Eurpoean Villa with Western style. Then you would have more time to walk around the area, walking slowly to enjoy the silent nature.Walking downhill you could go back to the MingChih area. Hotel user did not need to pay entrance fee which was included in the hotel fee. For non-hotel user, entrance fee was NT 100 for weekdays, NT 120 for weekends. Discount tickets were NT 100 for 65 years old or above, 6-12 children and local Yilan people.Behind the Japanese entrance, was the greenish color, clear like mirror MingChih Lake. There was islands of trees In the center of the lake , and sacred tree randomly being put in the lake. The lake was very clam and quiet, without any waves or movements, except bird’s sound and the wind. You were allowed to inhale the clear air deeply, like you won’t be able to find it back in the city. Ducklings were walking around, being happily fed. I fell into deep thinking again: is it heaven? with all the peace and nature environment, like what everyone once dreamed they can have.On the right side of MingChih lake was a pavilion which for certain time slot, a person would perform music with saxophone to attract the beautiful black swan couples. It reminded me the white swans couple swam to the lake in New Hampshire, which the autumn leaves color reflected on the surface of lake.The giant old timbers stood in the lake weere red cypress, to create an abstract picture of Chinese stationary look, in which the wall of mountains as the pen rack, lake as ink, while stood timbers were the pens, bringing a fortune scene and a calm environment.Going around the lake somehow made you feel like in a ritual, to have a dialogue with nature, got to feel the touch of stone under feet, breathed in the cool oxygen-filled air. It’s the feeling I missed out a long time staying in the city.Walking away the lake were all the other little spots of the forest. You can walked to the direction of MingChih Police Station and going uphill. The wood stair were built with shabby fences. The more uphill or inner you went into forest, the more humid it was, plus the rainy weather. Stairs were covered with slippery moss.Ci Xiaoting was named after Chiang Ching-kuo mother, now was a repaired pavilion. This pavilion was the highest elevation of this attractions that you can have an aerial view of the recreation.Suikinkutsu(Water Koto Cave) is a type of Japanese garden ornament and music device. An upside down buried pot with a hole at the top. Water drips through the hole onto a small pond of water to create the splashing clear sound. It usually built next to the tea house for washing hands. Inside the cave were covered with glass balls which were only shined with daylights goes in.The splashing sound created stopped the time and would only go on again until the next sound. I won’t deny for its dark or creepiness when daylight was not enough, but truly a “zen” feeling it brought out.Going a bit forward was the Fuchun Garden, with Japanese garden arrangement to create a harmony environment. Across the pavilion was another zen garden inspired by Kyoto Ryoan-ji. It featured with large rock formations arranged amidst a sweep of smooth pebbles to create wavy or circular pattern, japanese zen concept garden.Transport to MingChih was definitely a challenge for backpackers or alone travelers. But with hotel accommodation,traveler can request transport from Taipei with extra fee. Hotel also have 1-day tour to the Cilan Sacred Tree Area, the tour took 4.5hrs, discounted offered to hotel user. P.S. Cilan is not allowed for private visit, suggest to join the tour if interested.MingChih was not crowded with visitors because of transport issue. But it made the area like a piece of heaven. Visiting the Lake is a journey to calm the busy city mind. If you have the time, highly recommend to stay for a night and enjoy the secret paradise.For more secret travel tips, please follow our facebook/blog. 踢死兔小鳥 // Bird in a Tuxedo FB - fb.com/birdinatuxedotravel Blog - birdinatuxedotravel.wordpress.com/