(Source: Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters)

Establishment and History :

An old map of Yangmingshan area (Provided by Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters)

Yangmingshan was the site of the proposed Tatun National Park during the Japanese colonial period, and at the time included Mt. Chihsing, Mt. Tatun, and Mt. Kuanyin. Afterwards, because of the disruption of World War II, the plan was abandoned. In 1963 the Tourism Development Division, Ministry of Transportation and Communications commissioned the former Taiwan Provincial Public Construction Bureau to draft a plan for Yangmingshan National Park. The planned park would consist of approximately 28, 400 hectares and include Yangmingshan Park, Mt. Chihsing, Mt. Tatun, Chinshan, Yehliu, Fukueichiao, and other parts of northern Taiwan. But because the National Park Act had not yet been enacted, this plan was eventually shelved.

Today's Yangmingshan National Park was proposed by General Ho Ying-chin in 1981 and formally established in 1985. The park headquarters and park police force were established on September 16, 1985 and March 13, 1986 respectively.

Locaton and Area :

Located at the northern edge of the Taipei basin, Yangmingshan National Park extends east to Huangtsui and Mt. Wuchih, west to Mt. Hsiangtien and Mt. Mientien, north to Mt. Chutzu and Tutikung Ridge, and south to Mt. Shamao. The park occupies an area of approximately 11,455 hectares and spans the administrative districts of Shihlin and Peitou in Taipei City and Tanshui, Sanchih, Shihmen, Chinshan and Wanli in Taipei County. The elevation of the park ranges from 200 meters to 1,120 meters.

Seasonal Changes :

Due to the effects of latitude and elevation, land within Yangmingshan National Park can be divided into temperate and subtropical zones. There is a distinct monsoon climate.

The springtime, which starts in February and March, is the traditional flower season in the park. The Parks and the Office of City Parks & Street Lights, Bureau of Public Works, Taipei City Government, in conjunction with the Peitou and Shihlin branches of the Taipei City Police Headquarters, have jointly arranged a number of special activities and transportation programs aimed at visitors. When the resplendent azaleas and cherry blossoms drive away the gloom of winter on Yangmingshan, the whole earth seems to have come alive.

When the southwest monsoon winds of summer blow, afternoon thundershowers are common on Yangmingshan. A waving sea of blooming Silvergrass (Miscanthus floridules) greets visitors who come during October. Fall on Yangmingshan is enlivened by the red of maple leaves and the gold of other trees. When the misty autumn rains come to the mountains, spectacular rainbows sometimes span the valleys. The northeasterly rains of winter frequently bring a chill wind and drizzly rain. The cold and high humidity of this season often creates an otherworldly tableau of mist and cloud. When winter cold fronts arrive, Mt. Chihsing, Mt. Chutzu, and Mt. Tatun are sometimes dusted by snow.

Historical and Cultural Background :

A beautiful sunset of Danshuei River.(Photograph by Huang Chi-Hsiung)

Yangmingshan used to be known as Tsaoshan (Grass Mountain), a term which embraced the whole area of Mt. Tatun, Mt. Chihsing and Mt. Shamao with its grassy slopes. Around 1895, the area then known as "Grass Mountain Township" was subordinate to Tamsui Sub-prefecture. The Yangmingshan area became part of Taipei County and Taipei City during the Japanese colonial period. After restoration of Chinese rule in 1945, the "Grass Mountain Management Bureau" was established in 1949. Responding to local suggestions, the government changed the name of this agency to the "Yangmingshan Management Bureau" in honor of the Ming Dynasty philosophy Wang Yangming. The name "Yangmingshan" has been in general use since this time. When the administrative status of Taipei City was upgraded to that of a special municipality under direct government control in 1968, parts of the area were placed under the administration of the Shihlin and Peitou districts of Taipei City.

Because sulfur was once used in the manufacture of gunpowder, the development of the Yangmingshan area started with the exploitation of its rich sulfur deposits.

Historical records recount that merchants traded agate and bracelets to the local aborigines in return for support during the Ming Dynasty. You Yung-ho came to Taiwan to mine sulfur during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty (1662~1723), and he worked the sulfur fumarole area that lies between Hsingyi (Cherry Hill) Road, Yangtou Road, and Shamao Bridge in today's Peitou. Because later Qing governments wished to discourage the private manufacture of gunpowder, the unauthorized mining of sulfur was strictly prohibited. Even those caught setting fire to mountain forests were punished harshly. This policy continued until Liu Ming-chuan became governor of the island during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1875~1908), when the ban on sulfur mining was lifted – at least for mining conducted under official control.

After the ban on sulfur mining was lifted, the Mt. Chihsingshan area became the main center of mining activity. More Chinese moved north into this area, and development around the foot of Mt. Tatun increased. Hakka, Chuanzhou, and Zhangzhou Chinese entered the area, developed farms and tea plantations, and agriculture flourished.

During the Japanese colonial period, the Japanese planted many black pines, Acacia confusa, and maples. The Japanese also developed the area's hot springs, constructed public bathhouses, and generally made the first use of Yangmingshan's tourist resources.

Traditional agricultural activities have almost disappeared from today's Yangmingshan, but they have been replaced by boutique agriculture such as flower-growing, which also ties in to tourism.

Picture : Location of Taiwain | Location of Yangmingshan | Organization Chart |