The forest is composed of Japanese Cedar, planted Chinese Fir and natural temperate broadleaf trees, mainly from the Fagaceae and Lauraceae families. Typical plants are Camphore, Incense Nanmu, Red Nanmu, Blue Japanese Oak, Pyrenaria shinkoensis, and Tumor-footed Fern. However, the most beautiful tree is the Taiwanese Azalea, which blossoms from March until April. The road outside the forest is surrounded by Taiwanese Cotton Rose, which blossoms each autumn. Its color changes from pink in the morning to rose at noon, and red in the evening, earning the flower the nickname of “Versatile Beauty.” Throughout the day, visitors can listen to the beautiful songs of the melodious Laughing Thrush and Strong-footed Bush Warbler in the grasslands of Giant Miscanthus, The music composed by cicadas, mole crickets, 7 species of frogs and 43 species of birds resonate throughout this mountainous area. Self-guided trails with descriptions of plants and tools (such as cables, trams and wooden tracks) used by the logging industry in the early days are specifically noted. These descriptions provide visitors with the opportunity to learn about the mysteries of nature and serve as reminders of difficulties faced in the olden days. If visitors still desire to know more, it is recommended that they complete the entire 7.4-kilometer “Dongman Trail,” which leads to the Manyueyuan National Forest Recreation Area and showcases the rich biodiversity in this area.

The abundance of biological and geological resources in Dongyanshan provides numerous exciting opportunities for hiking, bird-watching, sightseeing, and learning about plants and the lay of the land. Since this recreational area also has an ecosystem showroom and classroom, it is considered the best model for natural history education among all the national forest recreational areas.