Taiwan Season
Aowanda maple season: mid-November to late December in Renai, Nantou
At a glance
- Best time
- Leaves turn from about mid-November to late December
- Where
- Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area, Renai, Nantou
- Getting there
- Drive from Taichung or Puli, about 1.5 hours on a mountain road
- Cost
- Not listed
- Limits
- Not listed
Dates last checked: 14 October 2026
The season
In cold, damp years the sweetgum stays red into January
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area climbs from 1,100 to 2,600 metres in Renai Township, Nantou, and holds an intact native Formosan sweetgum forest. You reach it by driving a winding mountain road from Taichung or Puli, and the sweetgum trail starts from the park's car park.
Formosan sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana) is not a maple but a deciduous tree in the family Altingiaceae, with three-lobed leaves that go from green to yellow to red in winter; in Taiwan the season is still called maple viewing. Peak colour usually runs from mid-November to late December. The park says that in years of steady cold and damp air the leaves turn faster, and red leaves can still be seen from December into January.
The sweetgum trail in the main park is gently graded and needs no hiking experience. After rain the fallen leaves are soft and wet, and the trail is more slippery than usual.
Booking
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Prices and ratings checked 13 Oct 2026
Tickets and tours
Ren'ai, Nantou
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area ticket
Driving yourself? Buy the entry ticket first. While renovation work is under way, the former half-price ticket applies to all adults.
from NT$95
See pricesRen'ai, Nantou
Aowanda maple viewing & Wujie village day tour
Hotel pick-up in Taichung, about 7–8 hours, Chinese-speaking guide. The mountain road is winding, and this saves you the drive.
from NT$1,387
See pricesSun Moon Lake, Nantou
Sun Moon Lake & Cingjing Farm day tour with lake cruise
Hotel pick-up in Taichung (07:30–16:30) with the Sun Moon Lake boat ticket. Meals and Cingjing Farm entry are not included.
from NT$1,077
See prices
Details
Peak colour runs from about mid-November to late December, and in cold, damp years red leaves last into January. Most people drive up from Taichung or Puli, and weekend traffic is heavy in the leaf season, so plan to be off the mountain before dark.
Location and the tree
Aowanda National Forest Recreation Area is in Renai Township, Nantou County, and holds an intact native Formosan sweetgum forest. Sweetgum belongs to the Altingiaceae, not the maple family, and its leaves turn from green to yellow to red as the weather cools.
When the leaves turn
Peak colour runs from about mid-November to late December. The park says leaves turn faster when cold weather persists and the air is damp, and red leaves can still be seen from December into January. Timing shifts with the weather each year.
Getting there: driving from Taichung or Puli
Most visitors drive from Taichung or Puli, about an hour and a half on a mountain road, and the park has a car park. The road has many bends and gets busy on weekends in the leaf season, so plan to drive down before dark.
Entry fees and opening hours
Aowanda is a national forest recreation area with separate entry and parking fees. Full fares, concessions and opening hours are set out on the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's national forest recreation website, which is the authority for current prices.
Where to stay and planning the day
The park is off most travel routes and the round trip by road takes about three hours, so it usually needs a full day. To get in early, stay the night before in Puli or around Renai. Besides the sweetgum trail, the suspension bridge, waterfall and birding trails fit into the same day; bring binoculars for the birds.
Mountain weather and the trails
Winter mornings up here are cold, so pack a warm jacket, a hat and a wind- and waterproof layer. After rain the fallen leaves make the trails slippery, so wear shoes with grip. On the suspension bridge and narrow trails, don't block the way for long while taking photos, and keep your voice down on the birding trails.
Good to know
- Colour season
- About mid-November to late December. The park says leaves turn faster when cold weather persists and the air is damp, and red leaves can still be seen from December into January.
- Location
- Renai Township, Nantou County, from 1,100 to 2,600 metres above sea level, with an intact native Formosan sweetgum forest.
- In the park
- Mid-elevation broadleaf forest with about 120 recorded bird species, plus a suspension bridge, waterfall and birding trails.
- Getting there
- Most visitors drive from Taichung or Puli, about an hour and a half on a mountain road, and the park has a car park.
- Entry
- A national forest recreation area with separate entry and parking fees. Fares and opening hours are listed on the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's recreation website.
- Tree species
- Formosan sweetgum (Liquidambar formosana) belongs to the Altingiaceae, not the maple family; in Taiwan, watching it change colour is still called maple viewing.
FAQ
6
Where in Nantou is Aowanda?
In Renai Township, Nantou County, between 1,100 and 2,600 metres above sea level, a mid-elevation forest with an intact stand of native Formosan sweetgum.
Is Formosan sweetgum a maple?
No. Liquidambar formosana belongs to the Altingiaceae, a different family from the maples (Acer). Its three-lobed leaves turn red in autumn and winter, so in Taiwan it is part of maple-viewing season.
How long is the drive from Taichung to Aowanda?
About an hour and a half on a mountain road from Taichung or Puli. The park has a car park, and the sweetgum trail starts from there.
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. Aowanda is a national forest recreation area with separate entry and parking fees. Fares, concessions and opening hours are listed on the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency's national forest recreation website.
What else is in the park?
Mostly mid-elevation broadleaf forest with about 120 recorded bird species, plus a suspension bridge, waterfall and birding trails that fit into the same day as the sweetgum trail.
What should I wear to Aowanda in winter?
Winter mornings are cold, so bring a warm jacket and a hat. After rain the fallen leaves make the trails slippery, so wear shoes with grip.
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