Taiwan – Jia Ming Lake
Taiwan – Jia Ming Lake
Jiaming Lake (3310m) is located in Siangyang (Hsiangyang) Forest Recreation Area near Taitung, in the southern part of Taiwan. It is Taiwan’s second highest lake and popularly known as Angel’s Tear because of its teardrop shape. The lake, which is 120m long, 80m wide and 10m deep is said to be formed some 4–10 thousand years ago by a meteor strike.
There are 2 mountain lodges along the trail to Jia Ming Lake.Siangyang Cabin (向陽工寮, Xiàngyáng Gōngliáo) located at the 4.3km mark of the trail and 2-3 hours hike from the trail head is better maintained, has water and toilets with flowing water. Jiaming Lake Cabin (嘉明湖避難山屋, Jiāmíng Hú Bìnàn Shānwū; 3350m) located at the 8.4km mark of the trail and 5-7 hours hike from the trail head is more rundown and smaller. The water supply here is also unreliable and has no running water in the toilets.
About The Climb
Jia Ming Lake trek is a 13km trail from Siangyang Forest Recreation Area to the lake and covers 2 of the 'top 100' peaks in Taiwan - Mt Siangyang (3602m) and Mt Sancha (3496m). Like Yushan and Xueshan, the Jia Ming Lake's trail is clear and well marked. The route begins in a pine and hemlock forest in the lower terrain. As you ascend beyond Siangyang Cabin, the forested area soon open up to become a ridge line of rolling hills filled with rhododendron bushes and wind-twisted alpine juniper all the way to Jia Ming Lake Cabin. From Jiaming Lake Cabin to the lake, the trail runs along the lower edge of a ridge skirting a chain of rugged peaks. The lake itself is down from Mt Sancha (Sānchā Shān; 3496m) in an open area.
Most trekkers do a 3 days trek to the lake and back to Siangyang Forest Recreation Area. Those who want to take a more leisurely trek can opt for a 4 days trek.
Experience Required
Good to have below 3000m trekking experience. You will be trekking for three days from the trail head to the summit with a 5-6kg backpack load. At times, when there is a dry spell and water is not available in the mountain huts, you will be expected to carry drinking water for the trek, which can increase the backpack load to 8-10kg. Though hiring of porters is possible, the cost is high (about S$200/day). Therefore, it is more realistic to train and be prepared to carry your own load. Ice and snow can be expected during the winter months till early spring from December to March.
Equipment and Gear
You will need a lightweight base layer, quick dry t-shirt and long trekking pants for the trek. A water and wind proof outershell is essential to protect from the weather elements. When at the mountain lodges and after sundown a fleece or lightweight down jacket are needed to keep warm. A good sleeping bag is also needed and provided.
A packing list will be provided for all our participants. Please refer to our Resource Centre page to read about the layering system to be better prepared and choose the right gear/equipment for your climb.
Permits need to be applied 4 months in advance. Register by the following dates:
17 Dec 2019 (26 - 30 Apr 2020)
22 Jun 2020 (01 - 05 Nov 2020)
Above price based on group size of 6 - 16 people. For less than 6 people:
| Duration | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people and above |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Days | $1650 per person | $1220 per person | $990 per person | $860 per person | $795 per person |
| 6 Days | $1800 per person | $1330 per person | $1115 per person | $960 per person | $895 per person |
You can also form a private group for this trek. For enquiry, send an email to us at contact@aceadventure.com.sg
NOTE: For private groups with trek dates that start on a Saturday, there is an additional fee of $25 per person. This additional fee is due to the higher weekend hotel rate.
This 5D itinerary is a more compact itinerary from the 6D's. The second day of trek is a long day from Siangyang Cabin to Jiaming Hut and Jiaming Lake, starting at pre-dawn and takes about 10 hours.
| Day | Description | Meals | Altitude at Rest Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Taipei. Flight arrival before 1pm. Transfer to Hualien (4 hours drive). | -/-/D | 900m |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Jiaminghu Trailhead (2370m) - trek to Siangyang Cabin. | B/L/D | 2850mm |
| Day 3 | Trek to Mt Sancha Peak (3496m) via Jiaming Hut - Jiaminghu (3310m) - Jiaminghu Hut. | B/L/D | 3350mm |
| Day 4 | Descend to trailhead. Transfer to Taipei (7 hours drive). | S/B/L | 346m |
| Day 5 | Depart Taipei. | B/-/- |
This 6D itinerary is a more leisurely itinerary from the 5D's, breaking the trek to Jiaming Hut and Jiaming Lake to 2 separate days. The second day of trek is from Siangyang Cabin to Jiaming Hut and third day of trekking from Jiaming Hut to Jiaming Lake and back to Jiaming Hut.
| Day | Description | Meals | Altitude at Rest Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Taipei. Flight arrival before 1pm. Transfer to Hualien (4 hours drive). | -/-/D | 900m |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Jiaminghu Trailhead (2370m) - trek to Siangyang Cabin. | B/L/D | 2850m |
| Day 3 | Trek to Jiaming Hut. | B/L/D | 3350m |
| Day 4 | Trek to Jiaming Lake (3310m) via Mt Sancha Peak (3496m). Back to Jiaming Hut | B/L/D | 3350m |
| Day 5 | Descend to trailhead. Transfer to Taipei (7 hours drive). | B/L/D | 346m |
| Day 6 | Depart Taipei | B/-/- |
Inclusions
- One way airport transfer to Hualian (non-deductible if not utilised)
- One way airport transfer from Taipei (non-deductible if not utilised)
- All land transfers as indicated in itinerary (non-deductible if not utilised)
- Meals as indicated in itinerary
- Boiled drinking water during trek
- Accommodation: Twin/Triple sharing in Hualian and Taipei, dormitory bunk beds in mountain lodges
- Camping equipment: Sleeping bag
- Trek support: Trekking guide
- Permits & Fees: Conservation, National Park fees and permit
- Taiwan insurance on rescue fee by land transfer. Helicopter evacuation is handled by the states.
Exclusions
- International air tickets, airline taxes and fuel surcharge
- Visa Fee (if any).
- Single Supplement
- Meals not indicated in itinerary
- All tipping
- Climbing certificate
- Personal porters
- Personal travel insurance (mandatory to cover travel agent insolvency and trekking up to 4000m)
- Personal expenses like shopping, laundry etc
- Personal travel & trekking gear – warm clothing, shoes, backpacks etc
- Compensation for damaged or lost of personal items (eg: climbing/trekking gear and equipment, cameras and any valuable items etc)
- Emergency evacuation and medical expenses
- Any expenses including accommodation, meals & transfer outside the stipulated trek/climb itinerary – i.e. any person leaving the group for personal travel, illness/injury or any form of extension of stay
Support from Ace Adventure Expeditions
We provide pre-trip support to prepare you for the climb:
1. Trip briefing and information kit
2. Gear list and gear discount from selected Singapore outdoor outfitters
3. Training guideline kit
4. Rope skill workshop (For climbs that require rope up and/or fixed rope skill)
We carefully select and establish strong working relationship with our local trek operator to ensure safe participation by everyone. Our local climbing guides have extensive experience in guiding treks in Taiwan, possess intimate knowledge of the local surroundings, conditions and culture and are trained in wilderness 1st aid and emergency rescue.
Grading: 2B
Training: Regardless of your level of fitness and physical conditions, it is advisable to train prior to embarking on a trekking or mountain climbing trip.
Pure cardiovascular fitness is NOT enough.
Focus your training effort in the following areas, assuming that you are in good health and injury-free:
- Climbing conditioning – stairs and load training.
- Cardio training - Jogging/running and interval training like CrossFit or HIIT.
- Strength training for the lower body, shoulder, back and core
- Flexibility training - eg: Yoga and stretching exercises
A good three months of training would be a good preparation for this trek.
A recommended training guide specific to the trek or climb will be given to you upon signing up.
Refer to our Grading chart for an overview on the technical difficulty and fitness required for this trek.
Refer to our Training Guide for tips on trekking and mountain climbing training.
