Skip To Main Content

Yushan National Park Headquarters, National Park Service, Ministry of the InteriorLogo

Menu
玉山群峰線

Tataka Visitor Center

On-line showroom

Yushan and human activities

Yushan has been given different names by people of different nationalities and ethnic groups with different imaginations and desires in different eras. Besides been honored as a sacred mountain by the indigenous Bunun and Tsou tribal people, Mt. Morrison and New High Mountain used to be its name. German had the earliest record of climbing Yushan, as early as 1898. After that, Japanese and American mountain climbers have left their footprints, and the torch for Universiade has also been passed on top of the main peak of Mt. Jade.

Animals and plants in Yushan and Tataka

Yushan National Park has a vast coverage spanning elevations from tropical to frigid zones. Species nurtured in different environmental conditions have shown different characteristics of adaptation. In the Tataka region, the evolution of grassland to mature forest can be observed.

Besides the opportunity of gaining an understanding of adaptation characteristics of herbaceous plants in the higher elevation of the northeast area and Japanese andromeda, Taiwan red pines and other plants grown after forest fires, hemlock, spruce, and fir trees are the must-see conifer species between Tataka and the main peak.

Interspecies collaboration between plants and animals can also be seen in Tataka, such as the collaboration between fire-breasted flowerpecker and mulberry mistletoe, and spotted nutcracker working with armand pines. The tongue of fire-breasted flowerpeckers is cylindrical, thin, and long. They can consume the nectar from mulberry mistletoes and at the same time facilitate pollination. Spotted nutcrackers like to store their food. They do not immediately consume all of the nutrient-rich seeds in armand pines. The seeds they store can germinate in proper environmental conditions, achieving the long-distance dispersal of seeds.

The Tataka Anbu (Saddle of Tataka) is the pass where many species of butterflies need to go through. A large number of euploea butterflies, mainly euploea sylvester swinhoei in May and June and blue tiger butterflies, especially dark blue tiger butterflies in July and August, would fly across Tataka Anbu (Saddle of Tataka) from Shuili and Dongpu toward Nanzixian River, making it a spectacular butterfly flow for its rich of types and quantities.

Yushan topography and geology

Violent orogenic movements have made Yushan the highest peak in Taiwan. The combined effects of geological conditions, monsoons and typhoons have formed Yushan's appearance and biodiversity.

The stratum near the main peak of Mt. Jade can be roughly divided into five layers, and they are 18-Zhongxi, sandstone layer of Dajian, Mt. Jade Main Peak, Jiayang and Nan-Chuang. The Tataka Anbu (Saddle of Tataka) happens to be the borderline of Nan-Chuang and 18-Zhongxi layers.

Indigenous tribes of Yushan

Bunun

The Bunun tribe adopts patrilineality and values kinship. The tribal people also have strict behavior and code of conduct with other clans. Hunting expedition, farming in mountains, and scattering residence are their traditional way of life. They have developed rituals all year round based on activities of nature, and have complex and cautious customs for crops and life. Their settlements are mostly along the mountain areas. They often communicate with shouts and singing, further developing amazing polyphony and chorus singing skills.

Tsou

The Tsou tribal people also patrilineality, and mostly live in a fixed area. The center tribes are called hosa, and they are mostly the original settlements. Kuba is the center of tribes where Tsou males gather to socialize. As they expand their cultivated land, the newly explored and claimed lands are called denohiu. The general affairs of tribes are decided by meetings at kuba, and the orders are executed by each clan. This is why the Tsou people can collaborate easily. Their traditional way of life is hunting expedition, fishing, and mountain farming.

Environmental issues at Yushan

Waste reduction

The temperature in the mountains is low, so it is difficult for garbage to decompose. Due to the fragility of the environmental conditions, fruit peels must not be thrown away, let alone plastic products. It is very important to take care of waste disposal in high mountain areas. The Administrative Office of Yushan National Park will continue to work with every mountain visitor on the goals of "Love mountains. Respect the mountains. Clean the mountains. Take your trash with you when you leave.” Mountain Forests Without a Trace.

Leave Mountain Forests Without a Trace

  • Plenty of planning and preparation in advance
  • Walk and camp in places that have enough capacity
  • Properly dispose of garbage to keep the environment clean
  • Maintain the original look of the environment
  • Reduce the impact of fire on the environment
  • Respect wildlife
  • Be considerate of other users