Yushan DIY Travel Guide 2018 | Itinerary, Budget, and Tips
In this Yushan DIY travel guide, we will show you how we did it together with our itinerary, budget and tips!
Jade Mountain
Planning to climb Jade Mountain or Yushan (3952+) in Taiwan but you or your group does not have enough budget to join organized hikes? Still figuring out how to pull-off a successful international climb? Organized events from the Philippines will always charge around 20,000php to 25,000php, and ever wonder how on earth are you going to save up for that amount?
In this travel guide, TransitPinas will show you how their team, the Team GreenwayfarerPH did it the Do-It-Yourself/ DIY way through the two-day regular trail without breaking the bank (half the price!) to reach one of the highest peaks in Northeastern Asia. (Hope this helps, here it goes!)
Yushan/ Jade Mountain (3,952+)
Yushan National Park, Central Taiwan
Major Jumpoff: Paiyun Visitor Center, No. 151 Taiping Lane, Sinyi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan
LLA: 23°28′12″N 120°57′26.16″E , 3952+MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 2 days / 8-12 hours
Specs: Major Climb
Where is Yushan (玉山)?
Yushan, dubbed as the Jade Mountain, standing at 3952MASL, is located inside the Yushan National Park (玉山國家公園) in Central Taiwan, to which it is named for being the highest peak inside the area. Because of its remoteness and entry control through complex raffling processes, the YSNP is the least visited National Park in Taiwan but still attracts quite a number of visitors for the thirty peaks that stands from 2000-3000MASL and above. Shan in Chinese is Mountain, thus Yu-Shan, or Mount Yu.
But to reach the alpine peaks of the mighty mountain range, several challenges already awaits the eager adventurer as listed in this content summary:
- How To Get There? – How to commute via public transportation from Taoyuan International Airport to the Tataka/Tatajia Recreational Area.
- How Am I Going to Apply for the Permits? – How to secure a Park Entry Permit and Paiyun Lodge Slot Accommodation via online application from the Taiwan National Park Permits Website.
- Where To Stay? – available locations where the group can rest or stay for the night near the YSNP.
- Hike Tips – When is the best season and timing to book a Taiwan flight, since permit application must be done four (4) months prior to the hike.
How Am I Going to Apply for the Climb Permit?
This is going to be the tricky part since foreign applications in hiking the Jade Mountain must be done four (4) months prior to the date of hike, but if done much earlier, slots might be approved easily. Here’s how the team got their Mountain Entry Permit and Paiyun Lodge Slot:
- Go to the Taiwan National Park Permits Website. There’s an option to translate content into English.
- Click the Yushan National Park icon then the Apply For Permit tab.
- All Park Rules and Guidelines in permit application will be shown and read carefully before clicking agree.
- Tick this: Paiyun Lodge Advanced Application│排雲山莊提前申請
Exclusively for foreigners, who apply 35 days to 4 months before entry date. Only 24 permits per day from Sunday to Thursday, excluding national holidays. This application will ensure your slot reserved before Paiyun Lodge balloting, which will be held 1 month before the entry day. - Fill-up all the required details in the Route Plan/路線行程規劃. Team GreenwayfarerPH did the Two (2) Day Regular Trail. This is how the itinerary looked like on our application form:
- Day 01: Tataka Trail Head – Paiyun Lodge – Mt. Jade West Peak – Paiyun Lodge
- Day 02: Paiyun Lodge – Mt. Jade Main Peak – Paiyun Lodge – Tataka Trail Head
- You will be required to attach the scanned copy of each team member’s Passport. No other identification cards are being accepted by the park authorities.
- Right after sending the application form, expect an email from the National Park telling you how to pay for the permits. You can opt to pay in cash upon arrival at the Paiyun Visitor Center, although this may take some time, where the team spent almost an hour before resuming.
8. Since only twenty-four (24) slots is allotted for foreign applicants, permits will be hard to reserve. The earlier you applied for the Park Permit and Lodging, the higher the chance that your reservation will be approved for the certain dates that you have enrolled into.
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- If by chance that you are denied with the dates that you are applying for, your group will be included in the shortlist and will be processed via lottery. Moreover, they will inform you a month before the target date of your climb. Read more of their rules here: Rules for the Paiyun Lodge Advanced Application Reserved for Foreign Visitors
- You can always ask questions through their website’s mailbox. Yushan National Park Headquarters
- If your team had already booked a flight, hope for the best that the dates coinciding with your stay in Taiwan will be approved. Hence, apply earlier than four (4) months to be sure.
- There’s also an option to day hike Yushan, and application can be done one (1) month prior to the target dates.
- Aside from Paiyun Lodge, there are also other mountain cabins nearby namely the Yuanfong Cabin/Campground and Walami Cabin/Campground, although these are a bit rundown compared to the newly renovated Paiyun Lodge.
Visit the CPAMI Website here for more details in Park Permit Application:
Online Application for Taiwan National Parks Permit
Where To Stay?
Congratulations! Since your permit has been approved and you have secured your slot for the Paiyun Lodge located at 3402MASL just two (2) kilometers away from the Mt. Jade Main Peak. You still have to stay at the Dongpu Village Hostel or Dongpu Lodge a day before your hike since public transportation is not available early in the morning.
Dongpu Lodge: this simple hostel is located off the highway inside the Tataka/Tatajia Recreational Area, nineteen (19) kilometers away from the nearest transport hub of the Alishan Scenic Area. This is located some 2400 meters above sea level and is often used as a pre-hike accommodation to those planning to summit Yushan (3952+).
Read all the details here: The Jade Mountain Experience – Dongpu Lodge
Paiyun Lodge: Is a three-storey mountain lodge located somewhere 3400 meters above sea level and is just 2 kilometers away from Yushan Main Peak.
This hostel can accept atleast 92-100 hikers per day and is equipped with beddings, bathrooms, water closets, a common dining area, kitchen, recreational area, reliable water supply and a decent free internet connection.
They charge 480NTD per person and will be collected at the Paiyun Visitor Center before riding the shuttle vans. For mountaineers doing the two (2) – day Jade Mountain hike, it is mandatory to reserve a bed in Paiyun Lodge as included in the complex permit processing of the Yushan National Park.
Read all the details here: The Taiwan Alpine Experience – Paiyun Lodge
How To Get There
TransitPinas will recount how they managed to reach the Tataka/Tatajia area via public transportation from the Taoyuan International Airport.
- Upon arrival at the Taoyuan International Airport, the group waited for the United-Bus #705 bound for the Taoyuan THSR Station. (30NTD, 15-20 minutes travel time). There are several counters at the airport bus terminal and buses leave every 30 minutes.
- From Taiwan THSR Station, the group bought train tickets bound for Chiayi City. (920NTD, 60minutes travel time) Trains arrive and depart on time, and don’t worry about their schedule since they leave for Kaohsiung hourly.
- Upon arrival at Chiayi HSR Station, the station offers free bus rides from the station to the Chiayi City Bus Terminal and will take you 15 minutes.
- From Chiayi Bus Station, one can ride a taxi going to the Chiayi TRA Station or just walk towards it a few hundred meters away, and wait for the Alishan Bound Buses. (240NTD, 3 hours travel time) Check out the Bus schedules HERE.
- Upon arrival at the Alishan Transport Station, you can reserve your tickets at the 7-11 counter for bus trips heading to the Sun Moon Lake (SML) ticket may cost around 100-150NTD per way. This is served by the YL (Yuanlin Bus 6739).
- Please mind that Alishan to SML trips are only scheduled 1300 and 1400 daily, while SML to Alishan trips are scheduled 0800 and 0900 daily. This passes by the Tataka Recreational Area some 15-20 minutes away. Tell the driver you are going to Dongpu Lodge.
- If you miss the bus, the staff at the 7-11 counter can assist you to book a taxi, if there’s anyone available nearby. (Flagdown rates starts at 100NTD).
- Alternately, they will also offer a private car service to Dongpu Lodge but they will charge 1500NTD (If group of 4pax then 375NTD each) for the trip since the car they’re going to use consumes a lot more gasoline. (It’s a BMW, so don’t haggle!)
Overall, this is how the nine (9) hour transit over the 320 kilometer road looks like, phew!
- If this route is not that appealing to your group since you are not pressed on time or have other places to visit, you can refer to this infographic done by one of our team member, KC Cuenca of http://www.kseizetheday.com for other possible routes to Tataka/Tatajia Area.
Hiking Tips
- Recommended days of stay: Four (4) days – Alot one (1) day for the travel time from Taoyuan International Airport to Tataka Area, two (2) days for the hike proper if doing the Two (2) Day Regular Trail also for the travel back to Taipei and additional number of days depends on your target places to visit and sidetrips.
- The best time to visit and hike in Taiwan is during Fall from November to Spring in April. Yushan is closed in February for the annual rehabilitation period, and snow starts from December to February.
- Additional snow hiking equipment such as crampons and gaiters will be required by the park if hiking during these periods. The group did this hike during the first week of March 2018 where there is still visible snow covers around.
- May to August marks their typhoon season, so you may want to avoid traveling during these months.
- Always keep an eye for airline promo fares and seat sales budget carriers, the team got their Taipei-Manila-Taipei tickets for 2850php, almost four (4) months prior to the trip.
- From the Philippines, exchange your money to US Dollars first, then exchange those USD to New Taiwan Dollars (NTD) upon arrival in Taoyuan Airport.
- Buy all food and supplies needed in Chiayi City or in Taoyuan City before going to the Tataka Area. The only store in Alishan is the 711 Convenience Store and prices are steeper at this kinds of store. Please mind that meals at Dongpu Lodge starts at 150NTD while Paiyun Lodge meals costs 300NTD.
- For your outdoor gear needs, there are several outdoor stores and shops in Chiayi City such as Decathlon and Sunrise Outdoor Emporium. They open at 10:00 in the morning.
- Please mind the bus and train schedules, they all arrive and depart on time, practice punctuality as these public vehicles won’t wait for you.
- Expect language barrier so prepare your Google Translate.
- Always check weather forecasts! Instead of hiking Mt. Jade Main Peak on the second day, we went there on the first day, since rain was expected at 06:00 am the following day, so it did.
- Prepare for the freezing cold, a good pair of jacket, gloves, fleece, and pants, together with additional layers may come a long way. Raincoat is a must if you don’t want to get drenched in rain or snow.
- Water sources are not that much available along the trail but a liter or two of water is enough until you reach the Paiyun Lodge.
Things to See around Yushan (玉山)
- Tataka Anbu (2600MASL)
- White Forest Observation Deck
- The Great Precipice
- Paiyun Lodge (3402MASL)
- Mt. Jade Main Peak (3952+)
- Mts. Lulin (2845+) and Linzhi (2845+)
- Other Peaks of Yushan Front Peak (3239+), East Peak (3869+) , North Peak (3858+), West Peak (3518+), South Peak (3844+)
- Mts. Nanyu (3383+) and Xiaonan (3582+)
Extend Your Trip
- Sun Moon Lake – is a lake in Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan. It is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The area around the lake is home to the Thao tribe, one of aboriginal tribes of Taiwan.
- Snow Mountain/ Xueshan – is the second highest mountain in Taiwan and in East Asia, at 3,886 m (12,749 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Shei-Pa National Park and it is visible in good weather from hills near Taiwan’s capital Taipei.
- Wuling Flower Farm – The farm spans over 700 hectares of area located at an altitude of 1,740-2,100 meters in Shei-Pa National Park in Heping District, Taichung, Taiwan.
Itinerary and Expenses
Jade Mountain/ Yushan (3952+) Overnight Climb
Two (2) Day Regular Trail via Tataka Anbu
Day 01
0140 Arrival at Taoyuan Airport, Taipei, clearing for Immigration
0300 Breakfast, 75NTD
0615 Bus to Taoyuan HSR, via UBus 30NTD
0630 Taoyuan HSR, Buy tickets
0715 HSR to Chiayi City, Via Zonquing Train 603 920NTD
0818 Arrival at Chiayi City
0900 Decathlon, Buy sleeping Bag 298NTD, Taxi 100 flagdown, 110 – 27.5NTD
1030 Sunrise Outdoor Shop, Xingye West Rd. Cor Xinmin Rd, buy crampons 290NTD
1055 Chiayi Station, Zhongshan Rd. Cor Zhongzheng
1115 Depart for Alishan 240NTD
1400 Arrival at Alishan, snacks 161NTD
1445 Take Taxi to Dongpu Lodge. 375NTD
1515 Dongpu Lodge, Shangdongbun 300NTD/Night
1530 Free time at Tataka Recreational Area 2610MASL
1800 Sunset
1830 Dinner at Dong Pu Lodge
2200 Lights off
Expenses Day 01 – 2744 NTD
Day 02
0530 Wake up call, prepare, breakfast
0700 Depart for Paiyun Visitor center, register 480NTD
0730 Tataka Police Squad
0745 Take van to Trailhead 100NTD
0800 Mt. Jade Trailhead 2610MASL cor. Nanxing Rd.
0900 Monroe Pavilion 2792MASL
1130 White Forest Observation Deck 3042MASL
1300 Km. 2.0 to Paiyun Lodge
1315 Daciaobi, The Great Precipice
1415 Paiyun Lodge, 3400MASL, rest
1615 Start ascent to Main Peak
1640 Km. 1.4 to Summit Marker
1700 Km 1.0 to Summit Marker
1745 North Peak and Main Peak Junction
1810 Mt. Yushan 3952MASL
1825 Descend down
1900 Rest at covered pathway 3800MASL
1920 Resume
2015 Paiyun Lodge, Dinner
2200 Lights off
Expenses Day 02 – 100NTD
Day 03
0700 Wake Up
0730 Breakfast, c/o Paiyun Lodge 150NTD
0800 Snow Watching, pack up
0900 Start descent
1000 White Forest Observation Deck 3042MASL
1020 Start Descent
1045 Yushan Front Peak Junction
1110 Monroe Pavilion 2792MASL
1140 Tataka Saddle, Mt. Jade Trailhead 2610MASL
1245 Depart for Paiyun Visitor Center, rent van 1200NTD/ 300NTD each
1400 Alishan Bus Transport Terminal, Lunch 155NTD
1510 Depart for Chiayi City TRA 240NTD
1700 Arrival at Chiayi TRA
1731 Depart for Taipei, 598NTD
2110 Arrival at Taipei
2130 Take MRT Red Line to Yuanshan Station 20NTD
Expenses Day 03 – 1463 NTD
Day 04
Will be your free day, plan to do the sidetrips on this day or during Day 01 then travel to Yushan on Day 02.
Total Expenses for the Yushan Climb: 4307.00 NTD = 7623.39PHP (with food and other incidental expenses included, but still depends on your spending habits)
*please note that airfare and travel tax is not included in the budget, if included total will be 12,093.00PHP
*Currency Rate during this climb is based on the 1 New Taiwan Dollar = 1.77 Philippine Peso unit conversion rate.
**The itinerary and expenses listed in this travel guide is based on the actual climb by TransitPinas and his Team, GreenwayfarerPH, that they did during their March 2018 Yushan Climb in Nantou County, Taiwan
***All prices and schedules listed are updated as of April 2018
**** Should there be any errors or discrepancies on the informations listed above, please don’t hesitate to message TransitPinas through this LINK.
Team GreenwayfarerPH is composed of four individuals who braved the very summit of not just the highest mountain in Taiwan but of all East Asia.
Check-out Team #GreenwayfarerPH’s Taiwan Alpine Experience HERE:
Things to Remember When in Paiyun Lodge – The Yushan Experience
Yushan (玉山) 3952+, Taiwan – The Jade Mountain Ascent
Yushan (玉山) 3952+, Taiwan – The Jade Mountain Descent
Yushan (玉山) 3952+, Taiwan – Tatajia and Alishan Scenic Areas
The Jade Mountain Experience – Dongpu Lodge
Yushan DIY Travel Guide 2018 | Itinerary, Budget, and Tips
Updated March 05, 2018
