Jiaming Lake: The Azure Gem Lost in the Central Mountain Range
Auto-TranslationLocated in the Central Mountain Range, Jiaming Lake was once a migration path and traditional hunting ground for the Bunun tribe, first documented in 1936 by the Japanese. It remains one of the most coveted alpine lakes for hikers today. The trail is accessible and friendly for beginners, allowing newcomers to easily approach the lake. Trekking through coniferous forests and arrow bamboo grass slopes, one can experience the ethereal blue of this otherworldly gem amidst the interwoven stars and mist.
Jiaming Lake has always been a place I yearn for, a patch of azure that stands independently among the verdant peaks, glimmering like a dream.
This alpine lake, located in Hairei Township, Taitung County, is hidden deep within the Central Mountain Range and serves as a traditional hunting ground and living area for the Bunun tribe. They have given it the romantic name "Cidanumas buan," meaning "the mirror of the moon." During the Japanese colonial period, it was referred to as "シヌべシ池" (Sanchakuchi). According to oral history from the Bunun tribe, Jiaming Lake was one of the migration routes taken by their ancestors. Around the late 18th century, the ancestors of the Bunun community set out from Nantou, migrating east along the path of the Central Mountain Range, passing by Sanchashan and Jiaming Lake, and eventually moving south to Haiduan Township, Yanping Township, and other areas. To this day, the annual graduation ceremony at Wulu Elementary School is marked by a pilgrimage to Jiaming Lake for the students to reconnect with their roots.
Although Taiwan's mountains have long been the domain of Indigenous peoples, the first documented record of Jiaming Lake dates back to 1936, when the Japanese Colonial Bureau's Forestry Investigation Team, led by Yoshii Takane, was dispatched for scientific and cultural research, land surveying, and industrial investigation. They climbed New Kangshan, then crossed the source of Lakuin Creek, and summited Sanchashan and Xiangyangshan for the first time, unexpectedly discovering Jiaming Lake on the eastern side of Sanchashan.
This alpine lake, located in Hairei Township, Taitung County, is hidden deep within the Central Mountain Range and serves as a traditional hunting ground and living area for the Bunun tribe. They have given it the romantic name "Cidanumas buan," meaning "the mirror of the moon." During the Japanese colonial period, it was referred to as "シヌべシ池" (Sanchakuchi). According to oral history from the Bunun tribe, Jiaming Lake was one of the migration routes taken by their ancestors. Around the late 18th century, the ancestors of the Bunun community set out from Nantou, migrating east along the path of the Central Mountain Range, passing by Sanchashan and Jiaming Lake, and eventually moving south to Haiduan Township, Yanping Township, and other areas. To this day, the annual graduation ceremony at Wulu Elementary School is marked by a pilgrimage to Jiaming Lake for the students to reconnect with their roots.
Although Taiwan's mountains have long been the domain of Indigenous peoples, the first documented record of Jiaming Lake dates back to 1936, when the Japanese Colonial Bureau's Forestry Investigation Team, led by Yoshii Takane, was dispatched for scientific and cultural research, land surveying, and industrial investigation. They climbed New Kangshan, then crossed the source of Lakuin Creek, and summited Sanchashan and Xiangyangshan for the first time, unexpectedly discovering Jiaming Lake on the eastern side of Sanchashan.
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Discover Taiwan's Hidden GemsUncover Taiwan's coziest cafés, must-try local dishes, or secret spots — journé will take you to the stories behind the streets, guided by locals and shop owners.Read on map to find the best spots nearby!Explore highlights from 50+ top travel magazines, anytime, anywhere
Read on map to find the best spots nearby!Explore highlights from 50+ top travel magazines, anytime, anywhereScan on your phone to open this article
