Ruili Scenic Area

The Ruili Scenic Area is located in Meishan Township, Chiayi County, at an elevation of about 1,200 meters. In addition to beautiful landscapes such as sea of clouds, sunrises, terraced fields, and bamboo forests, from winter to April each year, the entire area is covered with plum, plum, peach, pear, and mountain cherry blossoms, creating a true paradise. The "Eight Sights of Ruili" are famous attractions in this area, mainly distributed along two hiking trails: one from Ruili to Jiaoliping, and the other from Ruili to Fenqihu. Cloud Lake Waterfall, known as the "First Sight of Ruili," is approximately 200 meters high. The water cascades down from rock crevices, resembling a white ribbon suspended in the air. The waterfall is divided into three tiers, each with its own pool, with the third tier being the most spectacular. Swallow Cliff is a sheer cliff that protrudes like an eave. It is covered with numerous small, strip-like holes and was once a nesting site for swallows. The hiking trail passes directly beneath the cliff, and when it rains, mountain springs cascade down, making it feel like walking through a water curtain cave. The rock face of the Millennium Bat Cave connects to Swallow Cliff. It is about 200 meters long and over 100 meters high, with thousands of stone holes of varying sizes. It was formerly a habitat for bats, but no bats are seen there today. Youth Ridge is a zigzagging uphill path that winds through a bamboo forest. It is one kilometer long with an average gradient of about 60 degrees, reaching 70 degrees at its steepest point. It is quite strenuous to hike, taking about an hour, and is an excellent place to test one's leg strength. Changshan Sunrise Peak is located on a ridge, offering an excellent spot to view the lights of Alishan, the snow on Jade Mountain, or the sea of clouds in Wufeng Township valley. Echo Valley is an pristine forest valley where shouts echo for a long time. The Bewitching Palace is formed by several interconnected stone caves of varying sizes, approximately 30 to 40 meters long. The passages are interconnected, forming an intricate labyrinth. The "Husband and Wife Embracing Child Tree" refers to two large trees with conjoined roots and intertwining branches, with a smaller tree in between, resembling parents holding their child. Additionally, a 70-meter-long suspended cable bridge hangs 400 meters above a cliff, offering a sense of being high above a deep abyss. In recent years, as awareness of ecological conservation has grown, this area has seen many fireflies in early summer, glowing against the starry sky, creating a charming wilderness experience. This has attracted many parents who make special trips to visit with their children.