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Taipei and the North · Yilan County

Taipingshan guide: forest walks, Cueifong Lake and where to stay

Taipingshan is a mountain landscape connected by roads, not one park you can cover on foot. Old logging tracks lead into damp forest, the bright little Bong Bong Train preserves part of that industrial past, and Cueifong Lake lies along a separate scenic road. The best visit gives each area room to breathe. A booked night on the mountain makes the lake a morning outing rather than an anxious detour before the drive back to Yilan.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated 4 min read
Cueifong Lake surrounded by forest beneath a blue sky
Cueifong Lake deserves a separate morning on a Taipingshan visit.
Suggested time
2 days with 1 confirmed mountain night; a focused day trip from Yilan or Luodong is an alternative
Where to stay
Taipingshan Mountain Villa for the main forest area; Cueifong Mountain Lodge for the lake; Yilan or Luodong for a day trip
Season and timing
Autumn brings Taiwan beech colour, with foliage depending on the weather. Check mountain forecasts, road controls and trail notices; fog can limit both driving and views.

The short answer

Spend two days with one night at a booked Taipingshan lodge: explore the old forest and railway area, then give Cueifong Lake a separate morning. Taipingshan Mountain Villa suits the main forest area; Cueifong Mountain Lodge suits a lake-focused visit. Confirm the room and road access first. On 2026-10-08, the official notice showed the Bong Bong Train running only a shortened route and Maoxing Trail closed, so a train ride no longer delivered the usual forest-trail combination.

Book the mountain night before building the route

The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency lists Taipingshan Mountain Villa and Cueifong Mountain Lodge as the park's accommodation. These are different bases: the villa puts the main forest area first, while the lodge positions you for the lake. A reservation should settle the day's order, meal arrangements and transport, rather than being something you hope to find after arriving.

If a mountain room is unavailable, sleep in Yilan or Luodong and choose one main outing. The park's road climbs through several areas, so adding the lake, every trail and a bath to one return journey leaves little room for fog or delays. Arrange a driver if you need stops beyond the scheduled bus, and agree the return journey before setting off.

Keep the forest walk independent of the train

The original forest behind Zhen'an Temple and the old timber railway traces offer different ways into Taipingshan's history. The Jianqing Historic Trail follows part of a former logging track, where rails and other remains sit among ferns and moss. Choose the currently open walking route for your ability, with shoes that grip wet surfaces; a clear view over the mountains is a bonus rather than the day's guarantee.

The railway needs a separate check. When we read the agency's 2 October notice on 2026-10-08, the Bong Bong Train had been shortened from 3 October to a turnaround before Maoxing Station following damage found during inspection. Maoxing Nostalgic Trail was consequently closed. Do not book the visit on the assumption that the train still reaches its usual trailhead, and check the latest notice before buying a ticket.

Moss and ferns growing around old wooden logging structures in Taipingshan
Forest growth has softened the remnants of Taipingshan logging.

Make time for the local food

What to eat and where to look

01

Seasonal vegetables with a mountain meal

The forestry page describes Taipingshan Mountain Villa's restaurant using local, seasonal vegetables. This is a mountain-lodge meal rather than an old-town snack crawl.

Where to look
Taipingshan Mountain Villa restaurant; ask what the current individual or shared meal includes.
Fit it into your day
Make this the main meal on the forest-area day, or confirm dinner when reserving the room.

Check stock, meat or seafood ingredients and dietary requests directly; a vegetable dish is not automatically vegetarian.

02

Fried rice at Cueifong Mountain Lodge

The agency lists a fried-rice lunch at Cueifong Mountain Lodge, a practical meal near the lake and beech-trail area.

Where to look
Cueifong Mountain Lodge; reconfirm lunch service before committing to a long walk.
Fit it into your day
Eat around the lake outing, and carry a snack if your return may fall outside lunch service.

Ask about egg, meat and shellfish ingredients; do not assume every dietary variation is available.

03

Hotpot at Jioujhihze

The current operator describes hotpot lunches at its Hato kitchen, pairing a warm broth with meat or seafood ingredients. This is a sit-down stop on the lower mountain road.

Where to look
The Jioujhihze operator's Hato kitchen; on 2026-10-08 its page distinguished lunch from breakfast and dinner reserved for staying guests.
Fit it into your day
Consider lunch on the descent if the restaurant confirms access and service.

Confirm the broth and seafood ingredients, guest restrictions and any booking requirement; this does not establish access to a bath.

Give Cueifong Lake its own morning

Cueifong Lake is reached by the scenic road branching away from the main mountain approach. Forest and lake views make a rewarding outing even without completing every walking route. Keep to the signed paths: the agency identifies the lake as a conservation area and prohibits entering its waters. A misty day suits a shorter forest walk better than pressing on for a viewpoint you cannot see.

For 2026, the official notice checked on 2026-10-08 announces additional Cueifong scenic-road vehicle controls on holidays from 24 October to 22 November. The Taiwan Beech Trail is a separate, demanding out-and-back walk with a steep section; the notice warns against entering after 14:00. It also says the trial paid lake-road shuttle has stopped. Confirm your transport instead of assuming a shuttle will meet the main park bus.

Yellow Bong Bong Train on the forest railway in Taipingshan
The Bong Bong Train is shown in an earlier photograph; check its current shortened service.

Plan the return, lunch and hot spring together

The park's transport page, checked on 2026-10-08, lists Kuo-Kuang services from Yilan and Luodong, numbered 1750 on weekdays and 1750A on holidays. Their fixed return limits the day; confirm the current operator timetable and reserve the return as well as the outward trip. A bus visit should follow those stops, while a car-based plan can put the lake early and a meal on the descent.

Jioujhihze Hot Spring is lower on the approach road and now has a separate hotel operator. On 2026-10-08, that operator's notice said its nude-bathing facilities were temporarily unavailable, with opening planned for 1 November. Check which bath is actually operating before making it your finale. The mountain villa, Cueifong lodge and Jioujhihze each have their own dining arrangements; an agreed lunch is more useful than hoping for a restaurant at the next trailhead.

Visitors beside steaming cooking pools at Jioujhihze Hot Spring
An earlier scene at Jioujhihze; this photograph does not verify which facilities operate today.

Practical questions

Is Taipingshan better as a day trip or an overnight stay?

One confirmed mountain night gives the forest area and Cueifong Lake separate days. A day trip works if you choose a focused route around the return transport, rather than expecting to cover the whole recreation area.

Does the Bong Bong Train still reach Maoxing Station?

The official notice checked on 2026-10-08 said the train had used a shortened turnaround from 3 October and did not reach Maoxing Station; Maoxing Nostalgic Trail was closed. Check the latest operating notice.

Can I take the park bus to Cueifong Lake?

Do not assume a through connection. The lake uses a separate scenic road, and the autumn notice checked on 2026-10-08 says the trial paid shuttle has stopped. Confirm a driver or other actual connection in advance.

Can I finish the day with a bath at Jioujhihze?

Only after checking the current operator. Its notice read on 2026-10-08 said nude-bathing facilities were temporarily closed with opening planned for 1 November; other facilities must be confirmed separately.

Sources and checks before you travel

Reference sources for the version dated 8 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.

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Photo credits

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