Yangmingshan National Park

Yangmingshan National Park is located adjacent to the Taipei metropolitan area. The entire park is primarily composed of the Datun volcanic group, covering an area of approximately 11,338 hectares. It is managed by the Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters of the National Park Service, Ministry of the Interior. Due to volcanic activity, the park features conical and bell-shaped volcanoes, crater lakes, fumaroles, geothermal activity, and hot springs, making it valuable for both research and recreation. Influenced by monsoons, its flora includes alpine grasslands, low grasslands, broadleaf forests, subtropical rainforests, and aquatic plant communities, nurturing species such as Taiwan quillwort, Datun azalea, butterflies, and birds. The cherry blossoms and azaleas planted in Yangmingshan Park make this area Taipei's most attractive destination for flower viewing. Yangmingshan National Park, due to its latitude and elevation, experiences both subtropical and temperate climates. Spring, particularly February and March, is the traditional flower season in Yangming Park, where colorful azaleas and vast expanses of Formosan cherry blossoms attract large crowds of flower enthusiasts, making early spring in Yangmingshan vibrant and lively. The summer scenery, influenced by the southwest monsoon and afternoon thunderstorms, often reveals the sight of a "rainbow bridge spanning the valley" after the mist and rain clear. When autumn arrives, silvergrass creates a swaying sea of flowers; maple leaves turn crimson, and other leaves glow golden, intertwining to form the renowned "Datun Autumn Colors." Winter in Yangmingshan, affected by the northeast monsoon, often brings cold winds, fine rain, low temperatures, high humidity, and pervasive fog. During severe cold fronts, areas around Qixing Mountain, Zhuzi Mountain, and Datun Mountain occasionally see falling snow, transforming them into a silvery world covered in auspicious snow. Furthermore, Yangmingshan National Park, centered around the Datun volcanic group, is Taiwan's main volcanic distribution area, with a geological structure predominantly composed of andesite. The uniquely shaped conical or bell-shaped volcanoes, craters, and crater lakes constitute the park's distinctive geological and topographical landscape. Intense fumarolic activity can be observed in areas such as Greater and Lesser Oil Pits (Dayoukeng, Xiaoyoukeng), Macao, and Dashuangkou. Additionally, numerous hot spring areas distributed throughout the park are already famous far and wide.