100 Peaks of Taiwan

The Baiyue (Chinese: 臺灣百岳; pinyin: Táiwān bǎiyuè) is a list of one hundred mountain peaks in Taiwan. They were chosen by a group of prominent Taiwanese hikers from mountain peaks known at the time to be over 3,000 meters in height.^[a] The selection criteria included uniqueness, danger, height, beauty and prominence. Preference was also given to peaks already named and those with triangulation points.^[1][2] As such, "Top" does not refer strictly to the highest peaks by elevation, but rather peaks most worth hiking. The list was intended to promote enthusiasm for high-altitude hiking in Taiwan.^[3] In the resulting list of one hundred peaks, 69 peaks were in the Central Mountain Range, the largest of Taiwan's five principal mountain ranges, while 19 were in the Xueshan Range, and 12 were in the Yushan Range.^[4] The Alishan Range and Coastal Mountain Range, being below 3,000m, have no peaks in the list of Baiyue.

History

Taiwan has one of the highest densities of tall mountains in the world.^{[citation needed]} To promote mountain hiking, the Taiwan Alpine Association began developing a list of top 100 peaks for Taiwan. Wen-An Lin, after a 1971 crossing of the Central Mountain Range, set about drawing up the list. Significant contributions in sourcing photos and materials were made by the following: Ruan Rongzhu, Winston Shieh, Yang Zhang Bilian, and the Chinese Mountain Association. After extensive consultation with Ching-Chang Tsai, Tian-Cheng Hsing, Tung-San Ting and other prominent hikers of the day, the list of Baiyue was finalized.^[1]

Upon completion of the list, hiking the Baiyue immediately became one of the primary goals of avid hikers in Taiwan.^{[1][2][5][6][7]} Finishing the Baiyue is no easy task, however. For aspiring Baiyue hikers, the Five Greats, Three Spires, and One Ogre (Hanzi: 五嶽三尖一奇), whose unique beauty best represents the grandeur of Taiwan's high mountains, became a popular starting point. Other popular sets of peaks include the Harsh Ten and Four Beauties (Hanzi: 十峻四秀). Many begin with the more easily accessible peaks in the Hehuanshan area.

There are actually over 260 mountain peaks over 3,000 meters in Taiwan, many of which were not listed in the Baiyue, but nonetheless impressive. Therefore, some criticism remains over the inclusion of certain mountain peaks on the list, and the exclusion of others, such as Chushan in the Dongjunshan Chain, and Mutelebushan near Xueshan's North Peak. Some have argued that these peaks should be in the Baiyue, while peaks such as Jupenshan, Lushan, Nanhubeishan, Shenmazhenshan, Jianshan, and Bulakesangshan, should be taken off the list. Also, when resurveying was carried out long after the Baiyue list was completed, it was found that Liushunshan and Lushan were under 3,000m. However, as the Baiyue already enjoyed such widespread acceptance, they were not removed from the list and remain there to this day.

Complete listing of Baiyue

The following is a complete listing of the 100 Taiwanese mountain peaks commonly known as the Baiyue:

#	Mountain Peak [8]	Elevation [8]	Difficulty	Location	National park located in	List	Pictures
1	Yushan[i] (玉山)	3952 m 12966 ft	A	Nantou County, Kaohsiung City, Chiayi County	Yushan	Five Greats #1[b] Three Highs #1[c]
2	Xueshan[ii] (雪山)	3886 m 12749 ft	A	Miaoli County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Five Greats #2[b] Three Highs #2[c]
3	Yushan East Peak (玉山東峰)	3869 m 12694 ft	C+	Nantou County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Harsh Ten #1[d]
4	Yushan North Peak (玉山北峰)	3858 m 12657 ft	B	Nantou County	Yushan	Eight Beauties #1[e]
5	Yushan South Peak (玉山南峰)	3844 m 12612 ft	C+	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Harsh Ten #2[d]
6	Xiuguluanshan[iii] (秀姑巒山)	3825 m 12549 ft	B	Hualien County, Nantou County	Yushan	Five Greats #3[b]
7	Mabolasishan[iv] (馬博拉斯山)	3785 m 12418 ft	C+	Hualien County, Nantou County	Yushan	Harsh Ten #3[d]
8	Nanhudashan (南湖大山)	3742 m 12277 ft	B	Taichung City	Taroko	Five Greats #4[b]
9	Dongxiaonanshan (東小南山)	3711 m 12175 ft	C	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Flat Nine #1[f]
10	Central Range Point (中央尖山)	3705 m 12156 ft	C+	Taichung City, Hualien County	Taroko	Three Spires #1[g]
11	Xueshan North Peak[v] (雪山北峰)	3703 m 12149 ft	C+	Miaoli County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Gentle Ten #2[h]
12	Guanshan[vi] (關山)	3668 m 12034 ft	C	Taitung County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Harsh Ten #4[d]
13	Dashuikushan (大水堀山)	3642 m 11949 ft	B	Hualien County, Nantou County	Yushan	Gentle Ten #1[h]
14	Nanhushan East Peak[vii] (南湖大山東峰)	3632 m 11916 ft	B	Taichung City, Hualien County, Yilan County	Taroko	Rocky Ten #1[i]
15	Dongjundashan[viii] (東郡大山)	3619 m 11873 ft	C+	Nantou County		Majestic Ten #1[j]
16	Qilaishan North Peak (奇萊山北峰)	3607 m 11834 ft	B	Hualien County	Taroko	Harsh Ten #5[d] One Ogre[k]
17	Xiangyangshan[ix]	3603 m 11821 ft	A	Kaohsiung City, Taitung County	Yushan	Eight Beauties #2[e]
18	Dajianshan[x]	3594 m 11791 ft	B	Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Harsh Ten #6[d]
19	Yunfeng[xi]	3564 m 11693 ft	C	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Lofty Nine #1[l]
20	Qilaishan[xii] (奇萊山)	3560 m 11680 ft	B	Hualien County, Nantou County	Taroko	Lofty Nine #2[l]
21	Malijiananshan[xiii]	3546 m 11634 ft	C+	Nantou County, Hualien County	Yushan	Rocky Ten #2[i]
22	Nanhubeishan[xiv] (南湖北山)	3536 m 11601 ft	B	Yilan County, Taichung City	Taroko	Majestic Ten #2[j]
23	Daxueshan	3530 m 11581 ft	C	Miaoli County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Majestic Ten #3[j]
24	Pintianshan[xv]	3524 m 11562 ft	B	Hsinchu County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Harsh Ten #7[d] Four Beauties #1[m]
25	Yushan West Peak[xvi]	3518 m 11542 ft	A	Chiayi County, Nantou County	Yushan	Verdant Ten #4[n]
26	Touyingshan	3510 m 11516 ft	C	Taichung City, Miaoli County	Shei-Pa	Lofty Nine #3[l]
27	Sanchashan[xvii]	3496 m 11470 ft	A	Hualien County, Taitung County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Majestic Ten #3[j]
28	Dabajianshan[xviii]	3492 m 11457 ft	A	Hsinchu County, Miaoli County	Shei-Pa	Three Spires #2[g]
29	Nanhushan South Peak (南湖大山南峰)	3475 m 11401 ft	C	Taichung City, Hualien County	Taroko	Rocky Ten #5[i]
30	Dongluandashan	3468 m 11378 ft	C+	Nantou County		Eight Beauties #3[e]
31	Wumingshan[xix]	3451 m 11322 ft	C+	Taichung City, Hualien County	Taroko	Harsh Ten #8[d]
32	Babashan[xx]	3449 m 11316 ft	C	Taichung City, Hualien County	Taroko	Little Eight #1[o]
33	Maxishan[xxi]	3443 m 11296 ft	C+	Hualien County	Yushan	Majestic Ten #5[j]
34	Hehuanshan North Peak	3422 m 11227 ft	A	Nantou County, Hualien County	Taroko	Majestic Ten #6[j]
35	Hehuanshan East Peak	3421 m 11224 ft	A	Nantou County, Hualien County	Taroko	Lofty Nine #4[l]
36	Xiaobajianshan	3418 m 11214 ft	B	Miaoli County	Shei-Pa	Craggy Eight #2[p]
37	Hehuanshan Main Peak	3417 m 11211 ft	A	Nantou County	Taroko	Gentle Ten #3[h]
38	South Yushan	3383 m 11099 ft	C	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Gentle Ten #4[h]
39	Bilushan[xxii]	3371 m 11060 ft	A	Hualien County, Nantou County	Taroko	Narrow Eight #3[q]
40	Zhuoshedashan	3369 m 11053 ft	C	Nantou County		Lofty Nine #5[l]
41	Qilaishan South Peak (奇萊山南峰)	3358 m 11017 ft	A	Nantou County		Majestic Ten #7[j]
42	Nanshuangtoushan	3356 m 11010 ft	C	Hualien County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Lofty Nine #6[l]
43	Nenggaoshan South Peak	3349 m 10988 ft	C	Nantou County, Hualien County		Harsh Ten #9[d]
44	Zhijiayangdashan	3345 m 10974 ft	A	Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Eight Beauties #4[e]
45	Baigudashan[xxiii]	3342 m 10965 ft	B	Nantou County, Taichung City		Verdant Ten #7[n]
46	Batongguanshan	3335 m 10942 ft	A	Nantou County	Yushan	Craggy Eight #3[p]
47	Xinkangshan[xxiv]	3331 m 10928 ft	C	Hualien County	Yushan	Harsh Ten #10[d]
48	Dandashan	3325 m 10909 ft	C	Nantou County, Hualien County		Nine Walls #3[r]
49	Taoshan	3325 m 10909 ft	A	Hsinchu County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Eight Beauties #5[e] Four Beauties #2[m]
50	Jiayangshan[xxv]	3314 m 10873 ft	B	Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Craggy Eight #4[p]
51	Huoshishan	3310 m 10860 ft	C	Miaoli County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Craggy Eight #5[p]
52	Chiyoushan[xxvi]	3303 m 10837 ft	A	Hsinchu County, Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Simple Six #1[s] Four Beauties #3[m]
53	Yizeshan[xxvii]	3297 m 10817 ft	A	Miaoli County, Hsinchu County	Shei-Pa	Simple Six #2[s]
54	Beinanzhushan	3295 m 10810 ft	C	Kaohsiung City, Taitung County		Majestic Ten #8[j]
55	Ganzhuowanshan	3284 m 10774 ft	C	Nantou County		Narrow Eight #4[q]
56	Taroko Mountain	3283 m 10771 ft	C+	Hualien County	Taroko	Majestic Ten #9[j]
57	Lulushan[xxviii]	3279 m 10758 ft	C	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Craggy Eight #7[p]
58	Kaxipananshan	3276 m 10748 ft	C+	Hualien County	Yushan	Remote Nine #4[t]
59	Neilingershan	3275 m 10745 ft	C	Hualien County		Majestic Ten #10[j]
60	Lingmingshan	3272 m 10735 ft	B	Taichung City, Hualien County	Taroko	Eight Beauties #6[e]
61	Jundashan (郡大山)	3265 m 10712 ft	A	Nantou County	Yushan	Eight Beauties #7[e]
62	Nenggaoshan[xxix] (能高山)	3262 m 10702 ft	C	Nantou County, Hualien County		Lofty Nine #7[l] Three Highs #3[c]
63	Wandongshan West Peak[xxx]	3258 m 10689 ft	C	Nantou County		Remote Nine #5[t]
64	Jianshan[xxxi]	3253 m 10673 ft	C	Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Nine Walls #5[r]
65	Pingfengshan	3250 m 10663 ft	B	Hualien County	Taroko	Nine Walls #6[r]
66	Xiaoguanshan	3249 m 10659 ft	C	Kaohsiung City, Taitung County		Lofty Nine #8[l]
67	Yixiqingmazhishan	3245 m 10646 ft	C+	Hualien County, Nantou County		Steep Seven #4[u]
68	Mushan[xxxii]	3241 m 10633 ft	C	Nantou County		Simple Six #5[s]
69	Yushan Front Peak	3239 m 10627 ft	A	Chiayi County, Nantou County	Yushan	Simple Six #5[s]
70	Shimenshan	3237 m 10620 ft	A	Hualien County, Nantou County	Taroko	Little Eight #2[o]
71	Wushuangshan[xxxiii]	3231 m 10600 ft	C+	Nantou County		Nine Walls #7[r]
72	Taguanshan[xxxiv]	3222 m 10571 ft	A	Taitung County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Steep Seven #5[u]
73	Mabishanshan[xxxv]	3211 m 10535 ft	C	Yilan County, Hualien County	Taroko	Flat Nine #7[f]
74	Dafenjianshan[xxxvi]	3208 m 10525 ft	C	Nantou County, Kaohsiung City, Hualien County	Yushan	Three Spires #3[g]
75	Xueshan East Peak[xxxvii]	3201 m 10502 ft	A	Taichung City	Shei-Pa	Little Eight #3[o]
76	Nanhuashan[xxxviii]	3184 m 10446 ft	A	Nantou County, Hualien County		Narrow Eight #6[q]
77	Guanshanlingshan	3176 m 10420 ft	A	Taitung County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Narrow Eight #7[q]
78	Hainuonanshan	3174 m 10413 ft	C	Taitung County, Kaohsiung City		Gentle Ten #6[h]
79	Zhongxueshan	3173 m 10410 ft	A	Miaoli County	Shei-Pa	Verdant Ten #8[n]
80	Shuanshan	3168 m 10394 ft	A	Taichung City	Taroko	Eight Beauties #8[e]
81	Ganshufeng[xxxix]	3158 m 10361 ft	C+	Hualien County, Taichung City	Taroko	Little Eight #6[o]
82	Hehuanshan West Peak	3145 m 10318 ft	A	Nantou County	Taroko	Verdant Ten #9[n]
83	Shenmazhenshan[xl]	3141 m 10305 ft	A	Yilan County, Taichung City	Taroko	Contiguous Six #1[v]
84	Kalayeshan[xli]	3133 m 10279 ft	A	Hsinchu County, Yilan County	Shei-Pa	Contiguous Six #2[v] Four Beauties #4[m]
85	Kuhanuoxinshan	3115 m 10220 ft	A	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Remote Nine #8[t]
86	Jialishan[xlii]	3112 m 10210 ft	A	Miaoli County	Shei-Pa	Contiguous Six #3[v]
87	Baishishan	3110 m 10203 ft	C	Nantou County, Hualien County		Steep Seven #6[u]
88	Panshishan[xliii]	3106 m 10190 ft	C	Hualien County	Taroko	Remote Nine #9[t]
89	Patuolushan	3101 m 10174 ft	C	Hualien County	Taroko	Gentle Ten #8[h]
90	Beidawushan[xliv] (北大武山)	3092 m 10144 ft	A	Pingtung County, Taitung County		Five Greats #5[b]
91	Xiluandashan[xlv] (西巒大山)	3081 m 10108 ft	A	Nantou County		Steep Seven #7[u]
92	Tafenshan	3070 m 10072 ft	C	Hualien County, Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Craggy Eight #8[p]
93	Liwuzhushan[xlvi]	3069 m 10069 ft	C	Hualien County	Taroko	Rocky Ten #9[i]
94	Andongjunshan[xlvii]	3068 m 10066 ft	C	Hualien County, Nantou County		Gentle Ten #9[h]
95	Guangtoushan[xlviii]	3060 m 10039 ft	C	Nantou County, Hualien County		Flat Nine #8[f]
96	Yangtoushan	3035 m 9957 ft	A	Hualien County	Taroko	Narrow Eight #8[q]
97	Bulakesangshan[xlix]	3026 m 9928 ft	C	Taitung County, Hualien County		Nine Walls #9[r]
98	Jupenshan[l]	3022 m 9915 ft	C+	Nantou County	Yushan	Contiguous Six #4[v]
99	Liushunshan	2999 m 9839 ft	B	Nantou County, Hualien County		Flat Nine #9[f]
100	Lushan	2981 m 9780 ft	C	Kaohsiung City	Yushan	Contiguous Six #6[v]

Notes

Designated lists

1. The original criteria of height was 10,000 Japanese feet, or 3,030 meters.
2. The Five Greats (五嶽) are the highest in their region, and they include famous mountains such as Yushan and Xueshan. They are a must for all Baiyue hikers.^[9]
3. During the Japanese rule in Taiwan, the Three Highs (三高) had the character of "high" (Kanji: 高) in their names, which are rarely used today.
4. The Harsh Ten (十峻) are prominent, steep peaks not included in the Five Greats, Three Spires, and One Ogre.^[9]
5. The Eight Beauties (八秀) were chosen for their beautiful landscapes, gentle slope, meadows of short bamboo and lack of rock scrambling.^[9]
6. The Flat Nine (九平) are wide, flat peaks without large rocks or trees, only short bamboo. Comfortable, easy walking.^[9][10]
7. The Three Spires (三尖) are famous for their beauty and conical shape, and have character "Spire" (尖) in their names.^[9]
8. The Gentle Ten (十潤) have an overall smooth profile, with gentle slopes and little climbing or scrambling needed.^[9]
9. The Rocky Ten (十巖) have rocky peaks that require scrambling or climbing to summit.^[9]
10. The Majestic Ten (十崇) were chosen for their size and prominence, wide peaks, gentle slope and serene nature.^[9]
11. Qilaishan North Peak, the One Ogre (一奇 or 一怪), is located along the northern end of the Central Mountain Range's central spine. The ascent is steep and difficult in parts, and the dark fragmented slate covering the western face has earned it the nickname "Black Qilai". Some sources spell Qilai "Chilai".
12. The Lofty Nine (九峨) are tall conspicuous peaks, catching the eye more than neighboring peaks.^[9]
13. The Four Beauties are also known as the Wuling Sixiu^[11] due to their proximity to Wuling Farm. Each of these four peaks has its own unique characteristics. The "Four Beauties" initially chosen by Tian-Cheng Hsing were Chiyoushan, Taoshan, Shilunshan and Kalayeshan, while Pintianshan was listed as one of the Harsh Ten. However, since Shilunshan was not a Baiyue, hikers began recognizing Pintianshan as one of the Four Beauties instead.^[12]
14. The Verdant Ten have trails that wind through lush green forests of tall, twisting trees and bamboo.^[9]
15. The Little Eight are small peaks with gentle slopes that can be easily reached as part of a longer trip.^[9]
16. The Craggy Eight (八銳) jut out from the surrounding terrain and are surrounded by cliffs and difficult terrain.^[9]
17. The Narrow Eight have long narrow ridgelines with cliffs or steep slopes on both sides.^[9]
18. These mountains rise up like a wall, wide and flat, blocking the view of a large area like a screen.^[9]
19. The Simple Six trails are offshoots from another main trail, short in distance and not very strenuous. They are easy side trips when hiking the parent trail.^[9]
20. The Remote Nine are on distant offshoots of their mountain range and are not easily combined with other peaks into a single journey.^[9]
21. Steep mountains with cliffs and loose rocks.^[9]
22. The Contiguous Six (六肩稜) are near other high peaks, and can be reached along a ridge that extends down from the higher peak. They have fairly level trails, the peaks are named and there is some sort of survey marker.^[9]

Alternative names and other remarks

1. Formerly known as Niitakayama, Mt. Morrison; This mountain is the highest point of Nantou County, Kaohsiung City, Chiayi County.
2. Formerly known as Tsugitakayama, Mt. Sylvia; Highest point of Miaoli County, Taichung City.
3. Other names: Mahudas Shan, the highest point of Central Mountain Range
4. Other names: Ulamun Shan, the 2nd highest point of Central Mountain Range
5. Other names: Yuliyulishan
6. Highest point of Taitung County
7. Highest point of Yilan County
8. Other names: Kayixishan
9. Other names: Hongyeshan
10. Other names: Baduowanuominshan
11. Other names: Cloud Peak
12. Other names: Qilaishan Main Peak
13. Other names: Tabilashan
14. Other names: Bayoushan
15. Other names: Boqinxilunshan
16. Other names: Tiancuifeng
17. Other names: Xiaxueshashan
18. Other names: Jiutongshan; Highest point of Hsinchu County
19. Other names: Qusheshan, Gaotianshan
20. Other names: Nanhunanshan
21. Other names: Lagashan, Bainanshan
22. Other names: Lagashan
23. Other names: Baigoudashan
24. Other names: Xinguanshan
25. Other names: Adubanshan
26. Other names: Yuluofushan
27. Other names: Jiangzeshan
28. Other names: Majiangzhizishan
29. Formerly known as: Noutakayama
30. Other names: Huoshan
31. Other names: Xiaojianshan
32. Other names: Ganzhuowanshan Southeast Peak
33. Other names: Maxirouganshan
34. Other names: Daguanshan
35. Other names: Mameishan
36. Other names: Jianshan
37. Other names: Mingjianshan
38. Other names: Nenggaoshan North Peak
39. Other names: Central Range Point, Yam Peak
40. Other names: Yezhenjialuosuishan
41. Other names: Jialiupingshan
42. Other names: Maibalabianshan
43. Other names: Shanyuanshan
44. Other names: Dawushan; Highest point in Pingtung County
45. Other names: Luandashan
46. Other names: Tatsukiri Shan
47. Other names: Andongjunshan
48. Other names: Zhiyaganshan
49. Other names: Wulagusanshan
50. Other names: Penjushan, Umabungu Shan

References

1. 臺灣百岳小史 (Short History of Taiwan's Baiyue), accessed 03 June 2015.]
2. Lonely Planet; Robert Kelly; Chung Wah Chow (1 February 2014). Lonely Planet Taiwan. Lonely Planet Publications. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-74321-835-8.
3. Yeh, Joseph (2011-01-31). "Fulfill your dreams while you are young, says daring hiker Lin Cheng-han". The China Post. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
4. 頁面歷史: 台灣百岳^{[permanent dead link‍]}, National Park Mountaineering School (History: Taiwan's Baiyue), accessed 03 June 2015.
5. Huang, Chao-kuo (2007-12-24). "Taiwanese Scales World's Peaks". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
6. Bartholomew, Ian (2001-08-19). "Taiwan's rivers offer vast potential for adventure". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
7. Bartholomew, Ian (2013-03-20). "Mountain lore". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2015-06-03.
8. Chinese Taipei Alpine Association 百岳一覽表 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 03 June 2015.
9. 台灣山嶽導覽入門篇 by H領隊 Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 03 June 2015.
10. 奇萊主峰濃霧積雪 救難人員舉步維艱, Eastern Daily News, accessed 03 June 2015.
11. Taiwan's Most Spectacular Hiking Trails, Wanderlust travel magazine, accessed 03 June 2015.
12. 第二世代台灣百嶽全集上冊,戶外生活圖書股份有限公司,陳遠見主編,2007年8月31日初版, ISBN 9789866994395.