For anyone interested in hiking, Taiwan’s Yushan, or Jade Mountain, is the top prize on the island. Topping out at 3,952 meters, Yushan is the highest mountain in Taiwan, and though that may sound daunting◆, it is a fairly accessible climb. Best yet, it’s in the island’s largest nature preserve.
　　Located in central Taiwan, Jade Mountain is just one of the more than 30 mountains in Yushan Park that soar over 3,000 meters. Covering an area of 114 square kilometers across Nantou, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Hualien County, the park is home to an array of wildlife. Approximately 50 species of mammals◆ call the park home, and visitors can keep an eye out for the 151 species of birds and 228 species of butterflies that inhabit the area.
　　If you’re set on trekking up Yushan, the best time of year, and the most popular, is from June to November. Typhoons may impact plans during the summer months, and autumn dates will require several more layers◆ to stay warm. The mountain can be tackled in a single day, but you will need to reach Paiyun Lodge◆ by 10 in the morning to be allowed to summit◆, which means you will have to set out from the trailhead◆ while it’s still dark (with a flashlight or headlight). If you want more time, you can spread the hike out over multiple days and spend a night at the lodge. Whichever you choose, you’ll need a sturdy pair of hiking shoes that have already been broken in as well as a pack with water, food, extra layers, and a first aid kit◆.

登上臺灣最高點 ── 玉山
　　

　　對任何有興趣爬山的人來說，臺灣的玉山是島上的頭獎。玉山最高點為三千九百五十二公尺，是臺灣最高的山，雖然這聽起來有點令人卻步，要爬這座山還是頗容易的。最棒的是，它位處島上最大的自然保護區裡。
　　玉山位於中臺灣，僅是玉山公園裡三十多座三千公尺以上高山中的其中一座。該公園占地一百一十四平方公里，範圍橫跨南投、嘉義、高雄及花蓮縣，是許多野生生物的棲地。大約有五十種哺乳類生活於此，到訪的旅客也可以留意棲息在該處的一百五十一種鳥類與兩百二十八種蝴蝶。
　　如果你決定要登玉山，一年中最好、也最受歡迎的時間是六月到十一月。夏季月分可能會有颱風影響你的計畫，而秋季的時候則會需要多穿幾件衣服來保暖。要在一天內攻頂是可行的，但你必須要在早上十點前抵達排雲山莊才能獲准登頂，這表示你必須要在天色仍暗的時候從登山口出發（帶著手電筒或頭燈）。如果你想要有更多時間，你可以將登山的行程分散成幾天，並在山莊過夜。不管你選擇哪一種，你會需要一雙已經穿到合腳的堅固登山鞋，以及裝有水、食物、額外衣物和急救箱的包包。