Streamed through by Fuyuan Creek, Fuyuan National Forest Recreation Area boasts an extensive mountain trail system with Long-Ying Suspension Bridge and Fuyuan Waterfall hidden deep within. The environment is serene, perfect for bird- and butterfly-watching, taking a forest bath, as well as hot spring bath, offering visitors diverse touring experiences.
Approximately a one-hour drive from Hualien City will take you to the Recreation Area also reputed as the “Butterfly Valley”. Formerly the east endpoint of “Kuanmen Historic Trail” dated back to the Qing dynasty; it is now a pleasant artificial forest featuring camphor trees aged around 40 years. As for the virgin forest, there are representative tree species of low altitude forest such as Subcostate Crape Myrtle and Thick-fruited Sloanea, together with the dense layers of epiphytes, as if you are in the forest of the movie Avatar.
The Recreation Area boasts a rich ecology. The trees beside the trails have clinging rare Lomariopsis cochinchinensis and Weeping Phlegmariurus, amidst which there are low-altitude bird species such as Taiwan Blue Magpie and Taiwan Hwamei (Garrulax taewanus). Green-backed Tits and Yellow Tits migrate here in the winter time as well. The various species of elegant butterflies in abundance, as well as the fireflies in spring and autumn nights, are among the most splendid treasures of Fuyuan!