Hehuanshan hike - Lost in the clouds

 


Hehuanshan (Mount Hehuan), located near Qingjing Farm, is a high-altitude mountain range famous for its stunning peaks, dramatic landscapes, and accessible viewpoints. The peaks include Hehuan Main Peak (3,417m), East Peak (3,421m), North Peak (3,422m), and West Peak (3,145m), all of which offer breathtaking panoramic views—if you get lucky! I didn't. At the time of my visit, it was very foggy; at times, you could only see 10–20 meters ahead, and even when the fog eased a bit, no more than a couple of hundred meters. Nevertheless, I climbed one of the peaks.  

Probably there is a bus service from Qingjing Farm to Hehuanshan. I took this photo in the Swiss Garden parking lot the day before and saw a similar bus at the top. But I couldn't get any information. 


So I took the earliest of the 3 buses that go as far as Cuifeng, which is 15 kilometers below Hehuanshan, and from there started walking and hitchhiking. 
















I got a ride quite fast, and was dropped off at Wuling Pass (3,275m), the highest paved pass in Taiwan. As you can see, you can't see anything. 





From Wuling Pass I walked downhill to the Hehuanshan peaks trailheads area, passing patches of snow. 






The Hehuanshan peaks trailheads area where I saw the bus service I mentioned earlier, but I couldn't get information from the driver as he didn't speak English. From the viewpoints here, too, you couldn' see a thing. 












Songsyue Lodge provides accommodation in this area. If I did this trip again, I would try to get a room here. The temperature was 1.5 degrees, according to the thermometer at the lodge. 



I climbed one of the peaks closest to the main road. There were no views, but in the photos displayed on the information boards, you can see what they would look like in clear weather.

































After returning to the main road, I walked back up to Wuling Pass and then started descending. 




The Kunyang Rest Area was also lost in the clouds. 
















Continuing down from the Kunyang Rest Area. I didn't hitchhike this time as I thought I can walk back, but a car stopped and the driver offered a ride which I accepted. 

















The Yuanfeng viewpoint, photographed from the car. 


I got out of the car a little above Qingjing Farm, walked a bit then took a bus further down. 







Looking back on the Hehuanshan range from the main road near my hotel, it is still in the clouds. 



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