Xueshan

Xueshan, formerly known as Mount Sylvia and by other names, is a mountain in the Heping District of Taichung, Taiwan. It is the 2nd-highest mountain in Taiwan and in East Asia, at 3,886 m (12,749 ft) above sea level. It is located in the Shei-Pa National Park and is visible in good weather from hills near Taiwan's capital Taipei.

Xueshan
Snow Mountain
The summit as seen from the east peak
Highest point
Elevation3,886 m (12,749 ft) [1]
Prominence1,932 m (6,339 ft) [1]
ListingUltra
100 Peaks of Taiwan
Coordinates24°23′00″N 121°13′48″E [1]
Geography
Xueshan
The location of Xueshan
(Shei-Pa National Park)
LocationHeping District, Taichung/
Tai'an, Miaoli County, Taiwan
Parent rangeXueshan Range
Climbing
Easiest routeMaintained trail, snow/ice climb during some winter months
Xueshan
Chinese雪山
Literal meaningSnowy Mountain
Former names
Chinese三叉山
Literal meaning3-Prong Mountain
Tsugitakayama
Chinese name
Chinese次高山
Literal meaningNext-Highest Mountain
Japanese name
Kanji次高山
This is about the shorter mountain currently known as Xueshan. For the taller mountain on Taiwan formerly known as Xueshan, see Yushan (mountain).

Names

Xuěshān is the pinyin romanization of the Chinese name 雪山, meaning "Snow" or "Snowy Mountain". The same name was romanized as Hsüehshan using the Wade-Giles system.

During the Qing Dynasty, the mountain was known to Westerners as Mount Sylvia.[2][3][4] It was also known as Shan-chas-shan[2] (properly, Sānchāshān) from a Chinese name meaning "3-Forked" or "3-Prong Mountain". During Japan's occupation of Taiwan, improved surveys showed that Xueshan was shorter than Yushan on Taiwan but taller than Mount Fuji in the Japanese Islands. Its name was accordingly changed to Tsugitakayama(次高山), meaning "Next-" or "Second-Highest Mountain", in 1923.

History

The Japanese governor-general designated Xueshan part of the Tsugitaka-Taroko National Park by the Governor-General of Taiwan on 12 December 1937.

Climbing Xueshan

Xueshan is a part of the Shei-Pa National Park and so climbers are required to apply for a park entry permit. This can be done 7–30 days in advance. After that a police mountain entry permit must be applied for. This can be done at the police station in Wuling Farm on the spot.

There are two cabins on the trail. The first, Chika Cabin, is at the 2.0 kilometers (1.2 mi) mark. The second, 369 Cabin, is at the 6.9 kilometers (4.3 mi) mark. Both cabins are spartan, and contain bunker style beds. Hikers must bring their own sleeping and cooking gear.

The peak is at the 10.9 kilometers (6.8 mi) mark.

  • Xueshan Main Peak
  • Shengleng Trail (Holy Ridge Trail)
  • Cirque or Landslide Valley #1
  • Cuei Pond

See also

References

Citations
  1. "Central and Eastern China, Taiwan and Korea" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-24.
  2. EB (1879), pp. 415–6.
  3. Campbell (1896), map.
  4. Davidson (1903), map.

Bibliography
  • "Formosa" , Encyclopaedia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. IX, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1879, pp. 415–17.
  • Campbell, William (1896). "The Island of Formosa: Its Past and Future". Scottish Geographical Magazine. 12 (8): 385–399. doi:10.1080/00369229608732903.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Davidson, James W. (1903). The Island of Formosa, Past and Present: History, People, Resources, and Commercial Prospects: Tea, Camphor, Sugar, Gold, Coal, Sulphur, Economical Plants, and Other Productions. London and New York: Macmillan. OL 6931635M.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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