Mist Plaza

Officially named 499-Step Trail, this 1.8-meter-long walking trail is one of the six major trails within Cingjing Farm and in fact has only 487 steps. But why 499 then? Taiwanese people believe that 9 is a lucky number, 99 symbolizes prosperity, and it is very important to have an auspicious name. It is not going to be an easy walk, but you will be led all the way to Green Green Grasslands (青青草原), where flocks of sheep graze and wander freely.

As you walk, the vast sea of clouds and the surging Central Mountain Range won’t cease to amaze you. An abundance of maple trees and plum trees lining along the trail greet you from all directions. In February, 499-Step Trail is literally drenched in cherry blossoms, giving a romantic touch to the hike. On your way, you will also encounter Hung Gee Bee Farm (宏基蜜蜂生態農場), where fun is always in season! Looking to fill your stomach, quench your thirst, satisfy your shopping craving and entertain your whole family? You are in the right place.

The whole trip takes more than thirty minutes. For those who want to go a bit further from the finishing point of 499-Step Trail, a ticket is needed to enter Cingjing Farm. In twenty minutes’ time, you will find yourself relaxing on Green Green Grasslands, embracing nature and space on an idyllic hill.

Wushe Incident began in 1930 and was the last major uprising against Japanese imperial control. After this indigenous insurrection, rebellions stopped using violence as a political means and instead turned to social movements.

The uprising took place in the Renai Township of Nantou. In response to long-term oppression by the colonial Japanese forces , the Seediq (賽德克) indigenous group attacked their village, killing over 130 Japanese people. The Japanese colonizers then led a relentless counter-attack, killing more than 1,000 Seediq aborigines with bombs, cannons and toxic gas. The leader of Seediq warriors, Mona Rudao (莫那魯道), ended up committing suicide by shooting himself with a pistol to keep the armed forces from capturing him alive. Hundreds of his people also hanged themselves to death. The colonial government was under fire after the Wushe Incident, and criticism was voiced both from within Japan and abroad for their inhumane way of suppressing the rebels, leading to many changes in aboriginal policy.

In memory of the braveness of Seediq aborigines and the contribution of their greatest leader, the government set up a monument within Wushe Incident Memorial Park. In 2011, the historical epic film “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale (賽德克．巴萊)” – a panegyric to the Wushe Uprising – hit the theaters, paying tribute and bring attention to this vanishing piece of history.

Whether you are on your way to Hehuanshan or heading back to Sun Moon Lake, Mist Plaza will make a perfect stopover, where there is a balanced mix of shops, restaurants and cafes. During the day, you will find myriads of restaurants serving food freshly prepared on the spot such as “Urn Chicken” (a whole chicken roasted in a barrel) and Yunnan cuisine. The Starbucks store here sits at 1743.5 meters, making it the highest-elevation location of the chain in Taiwan. At Mist Plaza, most shops are closed for the night, but the almighty 7-11 is open 24/7 and ready to warm your stomach at all times.

After filling your tummy nice and full, take a look at the souvenir shops, where you would find handicrafts carefully made by local aborigines. If you have some more time to spare, have a stroll around the garden near the parking lot. When the weather is fair, the fantastic views allow you to admire the rolling hills and rugged mountains against the clear blue sky. Even on rainy days, the clouds hovering over the peaks in the drizzling rain will also give a romantic touch to the experience.

This town has an extensive selection of hotels and guesthouses catering to different budgets. If you decide to stay the night, why not rise early and go outside to wander through the serene mountains and breathe the morning fresh air? Be sure to feast your eyes on the greenery to the fullest before returning to the city.

Sitting amid a landscape of grassy fields and rolling hills, Cingjing is known as the "Shangri-la above the mist" in central Taiwan. Hundreds of European-style guesthouses dot the hills along the scenic Provincial Highway 14, welcoming millions of visitors who want to escape the summer heat – all these happened after the 921 Earthquake.

In 1999, a catastrophic earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck the island and resulted in the damage to the main connection between eastern and western Taiwan. Therefore, the Provincial Highway 14 became the only alternative route. All of a sudden, hordes of visitors started to flood in Cingjing Farm as if they had just discovered a new world with wonderful mountain views, mild weather and fresh air. In order to accommodate these tourists, guesthouses began to spring up. You will even find most restaurants serving up authentic Yunnan cuisine, and why is that?

In 1949, the KMT (Kuomintang, 中國國民黨) lost the Chinese Civil War (國共內戰) and was defeated by the Chinese communist forces. Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) retreated to Taiwan with two million soldiers, government officers and citizens. Before their arrival, there were less than six million citizens in Taiwan. These two million newcomers were located to different parts of the island, and immigrants from Yunnan eventually settled in Cingjing, building up seven villages.

Today, Bowang Village – a place hailed as “utopia in the fog” – is the best-preserved of its kind remaining in the country. Located three kilometers away from Cingjing Farm, Bowang Village is also the last village before you enter Hehuanshan. This home of the veterans' descendants is now inhabited by only a bit more than a hundred people. They may be small in number, but they have developed a great, unique Yunnan culture here in Taiwan. Many travel all the way to this remote village only to satisfy their palates with cravings of the sour and spicy Yunnan cuisine. Apparently, Bowang Village is worth the long journey.