Bai-Yue in Taiwan

        Taiwan is a mountainous island. There are 286 peaks more than 3,000 meters high, making Taiwan geographically unique. 

        The Bai-Yue, or Top 100 (百岳) are the 100 mountains are nominated by some mountaineers in Taiwan. Most of member in Top 100 list are over 3,000 m. When I was 7 years old, my family went hiking in Hehuanshan area (合歡山區), which is accessible by public road. I went backpacking to Xiluandashan (西巒大山) on New Year Holidays this year. The trip was three days long, and it was my first time to camp in the wild.

The following mountains are five of the Bai-Yue where I've climbed to the top so far:

1. Hehuanshan North Peak         合歡北峰      3,422 m         (11,227 ft)

2. Hehuanshan East Peak             合歡東峰      3,421 m         (11,224 ft)

3. Hehuanshan Main Peak           合歡主峰      3,417 m         (11,211 ft)

4. Shimenshan                                    石門山          3,237 m         (10,620 ft)
5. Xiluandashan                                  西巒大山      3,081 m         (10,108 ft)

        Among the Bai-Yue, the most towering, majestic, and unique ones are selected in particular. They are bestowed on the title "the Big Five, the Pointy Three, and the Ominous One" (五嶽三尖一奇).

The Big Five／五嶽

#1  Yushan (Jade Mountain)          玉山 3,952m (12,966 ft)

#2  Xueshan (Snow Mountain) 雪山 3,886m (12,749 ft)

#3  Xiuguluan Mountain 秀姑巒山 3,825m         (12,549 ft)

#4  Nanhu Mountain                      南湖大山 3,742m (12,277 ft)

#5  Beidawu Mountain 北大武山 3,092m (10,144 ft)

Yushan (Jade Mountain)

photo credits to: medicaltravel.org.tw/

The Poity Three／三尖

        The Poity Three are three mountains with pyramid-like steep grades and towering top. Among them, Dabajian Mountain is the most magnificent one. Its steep grade with about a 35° incline, making it look like a wine barrel!

#1  Central Range Point 中央尖山 3,703 m (12,149 ft)

#2  Dabajian Mountain 大霸尖山 3,492m (11,457 ft)

#3  Dafenjian Mountain                 達芬尖山 3,208m      (10,525 ft)

Dabajian Mountain

photo credits to: mypaper.pchome.com.tw/mammut99

The Ominous One／一奇

      

        Qilai Mountain North Peak has an infamous nickname, Black Qilai (黑色奇萊) because many mountain accidents took place on this mountain in early 70s and subsequent in the early 80s. This is why it is considered "ominous". 

Qilai Mountain North Peak                  奇萊北峰 3,607 m         (11,834 ft)

Qilaishan North Peak

Photo credits to: tw.hiking.biji.co/

The Holy Ridgeline／ 聖稜線／せいりょうせん

        Running from north to south connecting Snow Mountain to Dabajian Mountain, the Holy Ridge is a lofty ridge of mountains in Shei-Pa National Park. It was first named by Tetsutarō Numai (沼井鉄太郎) in 1927.

The Holy Ridgeline

photo credits to: blog.xuite.net/teatraveler/blog

Let's watch this time-lapse video in the end of the post!