Sea of cloud, mountain and forest views seen at Yakou Tunnel

of the highway at 2,722 meters above sea level. The tunnel connects Taidong (台東) County (at the east) and Kaohsiung (高雄) County (at the west) and the Central Mountain Range is just passing over its head.

With a length of 615 meters, it is also the longest tunnel on the island. Because it passes through a water layer, water falls like rain drops all the year in the tunnel. Passengers walking through the tunnel will be wet, if they don't have a rain coat or umbrella.

The east exit of the tunnel is the highlight of the Yakou scenic spot. Almost every visitor, no matter whether they drive or are on tour buses, would stop a while when they get out from the tunnel.

The first sight at Yakou is the mountain view, especially in the morning time. The sun rises from the lower mountains which is one of the most impressive views in Yakou. If you want to see this attractive view, you have to get there before 5 a.m.

The second view that you must see is the sea of clouds. Heavy mist rises up from the valley until finally it is covered almost completely by mist, leaving only some peaks floating over the sea of clouds. The best time to see this sea of cloud is at 10 a.m., but it does not appear every day.

Forests grow all around the Yakou. Taiwan Red False-Cypresses with height over 50 meters can be seen in these forests.

Yakou is also the entrance of Taguanshan (塔關山) which is just at the head of the tunnel. Taguanshan is one of Taiwan's most accessible 3,000-plus-meter-high peaks. It is one of the three major peaks in the Yakou areas with the other two being Kuhanuosinshan (庫哈諾辛山) and guanshanlingshan (關山嶺山). The three peaks are named the “Three Stars of the Southern Cross-Island Highway” (南橫三星) by hikers.

There is a hostel named Yakou Hostel (啞口山莊) owned by the Youth Corps and is two kilometers east of Yakou Tunnel. The hostel, equipped with two-man, four-man, eight-man and 12-man rooms, is two kilometers east of Yakou and provides meals and night sleep services to hikers and travelers.

The hostel, a yellow-wall building located at a level of 2,568 meters above sea level, is the best place to see the spectacular “Great Shiangyang Landslide” (向陽大崩壁). Since both the Yakou Tunnel and Yakou Hostel are situated at such high altitudes, the temperature in the day time is around 20 degrees Celsius and around 10 degrees Celsius at night in the Summer time. So don't forget to bring a jacket with you, if you are interested in visiting the two places.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Visitors may take the Kuokuang Bus (from Taidong 台東 to Tienchi 天池) at Taidong station. For those who drive, you may go along the Tai No.20 Highway (The Southern Cross Island Highway), either from Taidong or Tainan.

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