Shei-Pa National Park, National park and nature reserve in central Taiwan
Shei-Pa National Park is a protected mountain region in north-central Taiwan spanning four townships with peaks rising close to 4,000 meters. The park encompasses mid-elevation zones and high alpine valleys with river systems that drop more than 2,000 meters in relief, connecting dense forests with exposed ridge lines.
The area was designated as the country's fourth national park in 1992, after natural conservation requests from the early 1980s were finally fulfilled. The boundary was later expanded to protect endangered mountain ecosystems and certain wildlife species.
The park name comes from the Atayal word Sqoyaw, referring to the abundance of Taiwan hemlock trees that cover its higher slopes. Visitors can still find traditional trail markers used by mountain communities before the park was formally established.
Hikers entering the protected zone must apply for access through the official permitting system before heading into the mountains. Weather conditions in the higher-elevation areas can shift quickly at any time of year, so layered clothing and emergency gear are wise to bring.
Glacial cirques from the Ice Age remain visible between former glacier lakes and moraine fields near the Snow Mountain summit area. Rare orchid species bloom seasonally even on rocky slopes at high elevation.
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