Nantou County · Taiwan
Hehuanshan Wuling Pass
14甲Renai Township to Xiulin
Taiwan’s road network tops out here: Wuling pass at 3,275 m, on the paved climb from Cingjing Farm over Hehuanshan to Dayuling. Alpine meadows, air that’s noticeably thin, and one of the only roads on the island that ever sees snow.
The Wushe branch of Highway 14 climbs from Cingjing Farm over Hehuanshan to Dayuling, reaching Wuling pass at 3275 metres, the highest point on Taiwan’s road network. The fully paved alpine route passes high-mountain meadows and is one of the few Taiwanese roads that sees winter snow. Mind the thin air, sudden fog and occasional ice near the pass.
On the road
The road runs from Renai Township in Nantou to Xiulin in Hualien. From Cingjing it is about 15 miles (24 km) up to Wuling, which lies inside Taroko National Park. The road then drops to Dayuling, at 2,565 metres, where it meets Highway 8, the Central Cross-Island Highway.
This is a narrow, winding mountain road, and traffic can jam on public holidays and whenever snow falls. In snow or ice, the stretch between Cuifeng and Dayuling may close completely, or open only to cars fitted with snow chains. Large buses, trucks over 3.5 tonnes and all motorcycles are barred while controls are in force. In winter, carry chains and check the Highway Bureau’s updates.
The high section forms the Hehuanshan Dark Sky Park, certified in 2019 as Taiwan’s first. Stargazing spots include Yuanfeng, Kunyang, Wuling and Songsyue Lodge. Drive on dipped headlights here, and switch off all outside lights within three minutes of parking. By day, the trail to Hehuan’s main peak is wide and paved, about an hour and a half there and back.
Scenery
Best seasons
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Hehuanshan Wuling Pass on the map21.3 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Higher than 9 in 10 roads in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 19Elevation
under 4%4 to 8%over 8%1,648 to 3,279 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- WulingViewpoint15 mi in
- Hehuan Mountain Dark Sky ParkLandmark11 mi in
- Taroko National Park EntranceLandmark14 mi in
Hazards
- High-altitude fog and cloud
- Winter ice and snow
- Thin air at 3275m
Sources
“At this altitude, there are few trees, so the views are plentiful and spectacular.”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
Routes for iPhone carries Hehuanshan Wuling Pass offline, with live weather and a 7 day forecast.
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