Sitou has suffered three major natural disasters including two typhoons and one devastating earthquake over the past 10 years. Large scale landslides have interrupted the highway service, forcing the Sitou Forest Recreation Area (SFRA) and its attractions nearby such as Shanlinsi to be closed for more than two years. Now the road has been repaired and most of the hotels and B&Bs have reopened for tourism.

One example is the Le Midi Sitou, the only five-star hotel in Sitou. General manager Lee Li-yu said he bought the seriously damaged hotel three years ago and spent more than NT$400 million to repair it in just one year. "Basically, we kept the hotel's French style in the interior decoration and outside environment," Lee said.

The repaired hotel has been in operation for about two years in Lee's hands and he found that business is getting better as more tourists return.

In the hope of attracting more tourists, Lee disclosed that he is contacting the SFRA administration and other hotel and B&B owners to work together to promote Sitou's tourism industry.

The other major hotel – Leader Hotel Sitou also shows its ambitions of attracting more local and foreign tourists. In line with the increase of tourists from China visiting Taiwan, a Leader Hotel spokesman said his hotel has recently received many Chinese visitors.

Sitou is about 1,100 meters high. It is a popular destination for escaping the heat of summer, and it is the perfect place for hiking, camping, and ecological observation.

There are 12 walking trails in the SFRA, and most of these trails are in good condition. These trails connect major scenic spots in the area. On my two-day-one-night trip, I chose four trails. They are University Pond trail, Sky Walk trail, Giant Cypress Tree trail and Ginkgo Plantation trail.

The University Pond trail is about 1,000 meters long, taking about 20 minutes to walk. University Pond was a common pond for the purpose of storing logs in the early days. Now it has become the most popular scenic spot in the area. Tall trees surround the pond and a bamboo bridge crosses over the pond. Visitors like to sit in pavilions established around the pond to enjoy the beautiful, peaceful view of the pond.

Sky Walk is a new facility in the area. This raised walkway stretches for 180 meters and reaches a height of 22.6 meters, equal to a seven-story building. Walking on the skyway, visitors are able to view the forest and touch its trees at their very tips.

The Giant Cypress Tree trail takes about 35 minutes each way. Most visitors won't miss taking a look at the over 1,000-year-old giant tree. It is regrettable that I was unable to see the whole tree because of heavy mist. On my way back, I visited the Bamboo Cottage, which is totally built from bamboo.

When most people think about Sitou, however, the first thought that usually comes to their minds is bamboo. These graceful, soaring plants leave visitors with an uplifting and otherworldly feeling; rays of sunlight sift through their onion-green leaves to speckle the floor of the forest with dots of white brilliance, forming visions of peaceful harmony.

Fir and bamboo are two major species of plants in Sitou which provide the beauty of this scenic area. Walking in Sitou's forest trails is a great enjoyment and also romantic, especially in a misty afternoon.

Bamboo in Sitou is a major tourism plant and is also used in a practical purpose. Local residents have found an almost infinite variety of ways to make use of bamboo. Local people use bamboo to weave many kinds of bamboo products, from practical things such as hats, fruit baskets, and furniture to artworks.

In addition, bamboo is also used in construction materials, such as bamboo houses. The Bamboo House and Bamboo Cottage are made of bamboo and have already become two must-see buildings in Sitou.

Visiting Sitou, you should not miss tasting the fresh bamboo shoots which are available all year round. Try the food prepared with bamboo shoots by local cooks, and you will never forget the taste. Bamboo-tube rice is a local specialty snack that is known all over Taiwan.

Besides bamboo shoots, local people also use bamboo shoots as material to process into different bamboo food products to satisfy the most discerning gourmets. These processed bamboo food products can be bought in stores in Sitou or nearby villages.