Sprawling on the southern shore of the Zhuoshui River, Zhushan Township is a lively urban area of Taiwan’s Nantou County. Its name translates as “Bamboo Mountain” in reference to the area’s bamboo-covered mountains. Zhushan Township features several recreational areas and a temple dedicated to prosperity, as well as a park exploring the deadly earthquake of 1999.
Things to do in Zhushan Township
Nature lovers can visit the Shanlinxi Forest Recreation Area, a wooded retreat surrounded by mountain tea farms in the south-east of Zhushan Township. Well-marked hiking trails lead to the reserve's scenic waterfalls, which include Qinglong, Shyi-jing-ji and Tian-Ti-Yen. For something more adventurous, you can follow the four-hour trail that leads to the otherworldly Shuiyang Forest.
In Zhushan Township’s Sheliao Village is the Zhushan Zinan Temple, which was constructed in 1745 to honour the God of Prosperity. Join the local devotees who come here to pray for luck and wealth by “borrowing'' small sums of money from the temple bank. Marvel at the intricacies of the Chinese temple architecture and be sure to pat the Golden Hen for good luck.
In 1999, one of Taiwan’s deadliest earthquakes impacted the region, killing 2,415 people and resulting in the Chelungpu Fault. This north-south trending fault is now protected at the Chelungpu Fault Preservation Park, which also functions as a geological museum detailing the causes of earthquakes. Documentaries are regularly screened in the small theatre.
Getting around Zhushan Township
Zhushan Township is around an hour’s drive from the centre of Taichung City and Taichung International Airport, which has flights to destinations across Asia. Regular buses connect Zhushan to towns and cities across Taiwan’s west while having your own vehicle gives you greater freedom to explore the township.