Sitou restores its dynamic attractions

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.

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