Nanhua District

Many thanks to Brother Wu (Xiao Le) for waiting for us at the Zuoying High Speed Rail Station before dawn on February 15th. The Southern Cross-Island Highway is truly an incredibly beautiful and magnificent paradise, though far away. Besides driving tirelessly all day, Brother Wu also explained the history of the Southern Cross-Island Highway's development and the lives of the indigenous people along the way. Three of the "Eight Scenic Spots of the Southern Cross-Island Highway" are mentioned: Tianchi Lake, Cypress Valley, and the sea of clouds at the mountain pass (Daguanshan Tunnel). The itinerary included all three. After being severely damaged by Typhoon Morakot in 2009, the Southern Cross-Island Highway underwent 13 years of repair before fully reopening in 2022. In 2024, it was severely damaged again by Typhoon Kemi and torrential rains, causing the section from the mountain pass to Xiangyang to be closed. After four months of emergency repairs, the Southern Cross-Island Highway reopened to traffic on December 1, 2025. We were very fortunate to be able to participate in a one-day tour of the Southern Cross-Island Highway when it was open and the weather was excellent! The moment I saw the sea of clouds and magnificent mountain mists at the mountain pass, it was truly breathtaking! On the way to Tianchi Lake, I spotted the rare and precious yellow-throated marten. Finally, I visited the Meishan Visitor Center and experienced the Bunun tribe's eight-group harmony performance – it was definitely worth the trip! A heartfelt thank you to "Customer Service - Xing" for coordinating the group size over the past two months, and to "Brother Xiao Le" for driving and guiding us from dawn till dusk. I'll definitely recommend this to my relatives and friends; they absolutely must come and experience the "Most Beautiful Highway in Taiwan" – the Southern Cross-Island Highway – for a day trip!