Yushan (Jade Mountain)
Northeast Asia's highest summit, reached over two days through a permit system among the most sought-after in Asian hiking
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Duration
- 2 days, 1 night via Paiyun Lodge for the classic Main Peak route
- Summit elevation
- 3952 m
At 3,952 metres, Yushan is the highest peak in Taiwan and in Northeast Asia, its name meaning Jade Mountain for the way its quartzite face gleams after rain. The classic route climbs from the Tataka trailhead to Paiyun Lodge for an overnight stay, then continues before dawn along an exposed final ridge, aided by chains and cables on the steepest sections, to a summit that on a clear day looks out over most of the island.
Highlights
- Sunrise from Taiwan's highest summit
- Chain-assisted scrambling on the final ridge below the peak
- Alpine scenery around Paiyun Lodge, Taiwan's highest staffed mountain hut
- Views across the Central Mountain Range on a clear morning
Getting there
From Chiayi or Taichung, take a bus or private transfer (about 3-4 hours) to the Tataka Visitor Centre, the trailhead for the Main Peak route.
Safety tips
The final approach to the summit is exposed, narrow in places, and chain-assisted; altitude, sudden weather changes and afternoon thunderstorms in summer are all real risks, so a pre-dawn start and turning back if lightning or heavy cloud builds are standard practice, not caution for its own sake.
What to bring
- Full cold-weather layers, since summit temperatures can be well below freezing
- Sturdy trekking boots with good ankle support
- Headlamp for the pre-dawn summit push
- A sleeping bag if not renting one through the lodge service