Miaoli Sanyi Huoyanshan Nature Reserve

Huoyanshan, or Fire mountain, located in Sanyi Township in Miaoli County, is 602 meters above sea level, which marks the divide for the distinctively different weathers in central and northern Taiwan. If one passes by it on the highway at dawn or at dusk, one could see the large mountain side red as flame. This area is geologically sensitive where landslides could easily occur, therefore no paved hiking trails have been built in the reserve, but only some grassy paths. Most forests in Huoyanshan are composed of Formosa acacia and laurel trees. Horsetail pine trees were once prevalent here, however, the species quantity has been greatly reduced due to pine wilt, an infection caused by pine wilt nematode vectored by sawyer beetles.