Ren'ai (仁愛) is a township in Nantou County. The township has a population of approximately 15,000 people (Jan 2026) spread out over 1,300 km².
Understand
[edit]Ren'ai is a mountain indigenous township in Nantou County, Taiwan. It is the second largest township by area in the county after Xinyi Township. The major populations are aboriginal people of the Seediq, Atayal and Bunun ethnicities.
Get in
[edit]
Map of Ren'ai
By car
[edit]If traveling from Changhua or Taichung, take Provincial Highway 14. If coming from Hualien, take Provincial Highway 14A.
Get around
[edit]The area of Ren'ai is very mountainous and may be more difficult to navigate than other areas of Taiwan. Travellers who are more physically fit may find the cycling in the area enjoyable. Another option is to hire a scooter. Because of the terrain, it is even more important than usual to check the tread on the tires and other aspects of the vehicles road-worthiness before setting off.
See
[edit]Architecture
[edit]- 1 Wujie Dam (武界壩). A concrete gravity dam which diverts water towards the reservoir in Sun Moon Lake. Construction on the dam began in 1919 and was completed in 1934.
- Wushoh Dam.
Historical sites
[edit]- 2 Chuping Archaeological Site (曲冰考古遺址), ☏ +886 4 9297 4749. An archeological site that houses relics of the first prehistoric mountain settlements in Taiwan.
- 3 Wushe Incident Memorial Park (霧社事件紀念公園). A memorial erected to commemorate members of the Seediq indigenous group who were massacred by the Japanese colonial government in the 1930s.
Do
[edit]Parks and nature
[edit]- 1 Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area (奧萬大國家森林遊樂區). 08:00-17:00.
- 2 Huisun Forest Recreation Area (惠蓀林場). An area of forest land managed by the Department of Agriculture of National Chung Hsing University.
- 4 Hehuan Mountain (合歡山, Hehuanshan) (minibus 6506 leaves from 3 Qi Xia (崎下) bus stop in the west end of Puli at 11:00. Puli to Wuling is NT$183; you might tempted to flag it down along Xinyi(n) Road, but there is no official stop, the bus drives on the left lane there all the time, and it is a mini-bus whose number might be hard to read from far away). This mountain has 7 peaks, which you can climb. There are short tracks and longer ones, even connected to each other. The bus ride here is a great and funny scenic drive – sit on the right side of the bus. In case you want to do more than just going up and down the peak, consult OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz use. It has comprehensive and reliable tracks around Hehuan Mountain. Locals say one should go up the mountain in the morning, but it more depends on your luck and the season to have a clear view. For accommodation, you have two nearby choices, the Song Syue Lodge (see below) and the Kuan Yun Youth Activity Center 10 km towards Taroko Gorge. Even the latter one is in hiking distance, depending on you level of fitness. But you will ave it easy finding a hitch in this region.
- 6 Main Peak (合歡主峰) (a smaller track starts directly west of the Wuling Bus Stop, behind the carpark; the track is not recommended by local authorities, but it is fine; the more touristy and wide track starts 400 m before the bus stop). It should take no more than 45 min to go up to the top and down again from the road. An alternative to just walking back is the trail that continues northeast towards the same road but further north – the place there is called 5 Song Xue Lou, it is where many tourist make a stop and where also you can find the Song Syue Lodge. This alternative trail leads 300 m through an army area at the end (see OpenStreetMap), but it should be fine to walk out through here – just say "you leave now" if you get stopped, this worked before. The other direction, coming from Song Xue Lou, however is probably not recommended.
- 7 East Peak (合歡山東峰). This should likewise not take longer than 45 min. The track either start at the Wuling Bus Stop, directly in Song Xue Lou at the main road or just behind the Song Syue Lodge. Getting down, choose one of these three routes.
- 8 North Peak (合歡北峰). This peak is the more difficult one. It takes at least 2 hr to go up to the north peak and down again from the road. In spring and fall take something warm for the head, long pants and a wind-breaker jacket, and maybe a pair of gloves. You can continue further after the peak. The trail eventually lead to the road leading to Lishan.
- 9 Shimen Mountain (石門山).
- 10 Jing Ying Hot Spring (精英溫泉), Truwan stream.
- 11 Meng Gu Waterfall (夢谷瀑布), No.38, Xinyi Ln.
Experiential
[edit]- 12 QingJing Scenic Area (Cingjing Farm), No. 170, Renhe Road, Ren’ai Township, ☏ +886 4-9280-2172. This place seems particularly popular with locals. It has a 1 km long scenic bridge/walkway, a grassland with sheep and great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. If you go by car or scooter, it is worth stopping here.
- 13 Qingjing Skywalk (清境高空觀景步道), No. 186-1, Renhe Rd,, ☏ +886 49 2801651. 08:00–16:30. A high-altitude scenic walkway at an elevation of approximately 1,800 meters. NT$ 50.°
- 14 Green Green Grasslands (清境農場青青草原), No.186-1,5, Renhe Rd, ☏ +886 4 9280 2748, [email protected]. 08:00–17:00. Enjoy watching sheep on the grasslands and a sheep shearing show. NT$ 270.
- 15 Swiss Garden (小瑞士花園), No.28-1, Dingyuan Vil, ☏ +886 4 9280 3308, [email protected]. 09:00-21:00. A small outdoor area with a cafe and campsite that takes inspiration from Swiss architectural style and ambiance. NT$ 150.
Buy
[edit]- 1 Kiss Market x Seedeq Cullural Village (青青市集) (Near QingJing Guest House), ☏ +886 922202673, [email protected]. 10:00–18:30. Farmers' market
Eat
[edit]- 1 Yuanxiang (原鄉食堂美食餐廳), No.196, Renhe Rd, ☏ +886 4 92802330. 10:30–18:00.
- 2 MeiFeng Store (美鳳姐的店), No.183, Renhe Rd, ☏ +886 923697903, [email protected]. 10:00–19:30, closed W. Taiwanese clay-roasted chicken restaurant. A set meal for two costs NT$900, with free rice.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Sky Bar (小瑞士花園星空酒吧), No.28, ☏ +886 4 92801012. 18:00–21:00.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 The Old England Manor (老英格蘭莊園), No.20-3, Shouting Ln, ☏ +886 4 92802166, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00. NT$ 12000.
- 2 Qingjing Yundingdu Resort (清境雲頂渡假山莊), No.182-2, Renhe Rd, ☏ +886 4 9280 3788, [email protected]. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. NT$ 2476.
- 3 Xongxue Lodge (Song Syue Lodge, 松雪樓), Hehuanshan, ☏ +886 4 92802980. Check-in: 07:00-20:00. At an altitude of 3158 m, one of the highest accommodations in Taiwan. Great for a stopover when coming from Taroko Gorge or Hehuan Mountain. NT$2900/Double Room NT$5400/Quadruple Suite.
- Also, near Hehuanshan but in Hualien County the more affordable Kuan Yun Youth Activity Center can be found.
Go next
[edit]- You can reach Puli via Provincial Highway 14.
- Or arrive at Taroko National Park via Provincial Highway 14A.