Jiujiu Peak Nature Reserve is a protected area spanning Caotun and Guoxing townships in Nantou County and Wufeng and Taiping districts in Taichung City, covering 1,198.4466 hectares and formally established in 2000. It takes its name from 99 conical hilltops arranged in close formation. The 1999 921 Earthquake triggered landslides across 729.36 hectares within the reserve, stripping away nearly all vegetation and leaving exposed grayish-white scree slopes as a stark testament to the disaster; the area was subsequently designated a nature reserve to record the process of natural vegetation recovery, which has largely recovered over the following two-plus decades.
Jiujiu Peak Nature Reserve covers 1,198.4466 hectares and was formally established in 2000, spanning Caotun and Guoxing townships in Nantou County and Wufeng and Taiping districts in Taichung City — not a single Nantou City jurisdiction. The 1999 921 Earthquake caused landslides across 729.36 hectares within the reserve; vegetation has largely recovered through natural succession over the following two-plus decades.
Highlights of Jiujiu Peak Nature Reserve
The terrain of Jiujiu Peak consists of gravel and sandstone deposits, and the dense arrangement of conical hilltops is a rare sight in Taiwan's topography. Before the 921 Earthquake, Jiujiu Peak was covered in dense vegetation; the post-earthquake landslides left the slopes completely bare, creating a visually striking expanse of exposed gray-white scree. Over the following decades, vegetation has gradually crept back up from the base — making this a rare, large-scale case study in post-earthquake natural succession.
Jiujiu Peak itself is not open to climbing, and the core purpose of the nature reserve is to allow the post-earthquake ecological recovery to proceed undisturbed. Visitors typically view the hillscape from outer roads or observation platforms, taking in the distinctive ridgeline formed by those conical peaks. Late-afternoon light coming from the west at a low angle reveals the texture of the scree most clearly.
Making the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there and time needed
- Jiujiu Peak lies on the border of Caotun and Nantou City. Drive along Highway 14 or Cao-Nan Road to reach the outer viewing spots. A private vehicle is most convenient.
- The core reserve area is not open to entry; sightseeing is done from the outside. Allow about half an hour to an hour; this pairs well with the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute in Caotun for a half-day outing.
Nearby connections
- The National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute in Caotun is about 15 minutes away by car and can be combined for a Caotun culture-and-landscape half-day trip.
- Heading toward Nantou City you'll find the County History Museum; continuing to Puli connects to the 921 Earthquake Education Park, forming a historical landscape route themed on the 921 earthquake.
Source: compiled from context data; some information supplemented from public sources. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which administrative areas does Jiujiu Peak Nature Reserve span?
It spans Caotun and Guoxing townships in Nantou County and Wufeng and Taiping districts in Taichung City, not a single Nantou City jurisdiction.
How large is the reserve and when was it established?
It covers 1,198.4466 hectares and was formally established in 2000.
How much damage did the 921 Earthquake cause here?
The earthquake triggered landslides across 729.36 hectares within the reserve, stripping away nearly all vegetation.
Sources
- 九九峰 - 維基百科 — 保留區面積、成立年份、跨縣市範圍、921地震崩塌面積