Yushan Southern Peak
Yushan Southern Peak (玉山南峰), also known as Yushan South Peak, Jade Mountain South Peak, or Yushan Nanfeng, is one of the spectacular high summits surrounding Yushan, Taiwan’s highest mountain. Rising from the rugged southern ridge of the Yushan massif, it is distinguished by steep rock faces, jagged pinnacles, and a dramatic summit ridge that Yushan National Park describes as resembling a dragon.
Official Taiwanese sources generally give Yushan Southern Peak an elevation of 3,844 meters (12,612 feet), making it one of the five highest named summits in Taiwan. Peakbagger, using Taiwan NLSC topographic mapping, lists a somewhat higher elevation of 3,857 meters (12,654 feet). That difference is worth noting because the two figures come from different modern mapping and mountaineering sources.
Unlike the more commonly climbed Yushan Main Peak, the Southern Peak presents steeper, rougher terrain and requires considerably more caution. It is one of Taiwan’s famous Baiyue, or “100 Peaks,” and is also recognized among the island’s celebrated steep and rugged high mountains.
🏔️ Overview
Yushan Southern Peak forms part of the great Yushan massif in southern-central Taiwan. The massif includes Yushan Main Peak as well as its East, North, South, West, and Front peaks, creating one of the most spectacular concentrations of high mountains on the island.
The Southern Peak stands south of the main summit within Yushan National Park. Rather than forming a simple rounded high point, the summit area consists of interconnected rocky pinnacles, steep gullies, and an irregular ridge.
Yushan National Park notes that the horizontal arrangement and curve of these pinnacles gives the mountain a dragon-like appearance. Older park literature has also associated the ridge with the name Tianlong Mountain, or “Dragon Mountain.”
Although it is technically a subsidiary summit of the greater Yushan massif, Yushan Southern Peak is an important mountain in its own right. It is individually included in Taiwan’s famous Baiyue list and has enough prominence to stand distinctly above the saddles connecting it to the surrounding high ridge.
For a broader look at the island’s alpine landscape, see Mountains in Taiwan.
⚡ Fast Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Continent | Asia |
| Country | Taiwan |
| State/Province | Kaohsiung City |
| County/Region | Yushan National Park |
| Mountain Range | Yushan Range |
| Parent Peak | Yushan East Peak (Peakbagger line parent) |
| Official/Common Elevation | 3,844 m (12,612 ft) |
| Peakbagger Elevation | 3,857 m (12,654 ft) |
| Prominence | 177 m (581 ft) |
| Isolation | Approx. 2.6 km (1.61 mi) |
| Nearest Higher Neighbor (NHN) | Yushan Main Peak |
| Coordinates | Approx. 23.4466° N, 120.9590° E |
| Peak Type | Sub-peak of Yushan |
| Protected Area | Yushan National Park |
| Notable List | Baiyue — 100 Peaks of Taiwan |
📍 Location
Yushan Southern Peak is located in Kaohsiung City within Yushan National Park in southern-central Taiwan.
It belongs to the Yushan Range, one of Taiwan’s five principal mountain ranges. The range lies west of the Central Mountain Range and contains an exceptional concentration of summits exceeding 3,000 meters.
The Yushan massif dominates the range. Its Main Peak rises to 3,952 meters (12,966 feet), the highest elevation in Taiwan, while several subsidiary summits rank among the highest mountains on the island.
Yushan Southern Peak lies along the rugged southern portion of this massif. Nearby high points include Yushan Main Peak, Yushan East Peak, Dongxiaonanshan, and other summits forming the complex high ridge south of Taiwan’s highest point.
Its Peakbagger coordinates are approximately 23.446608° N, 120.958960° E.
📏 Elevation, Prominence & Isolation
The elevation of Yushan Southern Peak is one of the more interesting details about the mountain because major sources do not agree completely.
Yushan National Park gives the summit an elevation of approximately 3,844 meters (12,612 feet). This is also the figure traditionally used in Taiwan’s Baiyue rankings and places Yushan South Peak fifth among the island’s highest named summits.
Peakbagger gives an elevation of 3,857 meters (12,654 feet) based on Taiwan National Land Surveying and Mapping Center topographic data.
The 13-meter difference does not change the mountain’s geographical importance, but it does illustrate why summit elevations sometimes vary between official park literature, traditional climbing lists, and newer topographic datasets.
Using its own 3,857-meter summit figure, Peakbagger calculates:
- Prominence: 177 meters (581 feet)
- Key col: approximately 3,680 meters (12,073 feet)
- Isolation: approximately 2.6 kilometers (1.61 miles)
- Nearest Higher Neighbor: Yushan Main Peak
- Line Parent: Yushan East Peak
The distinction between the line parent and nearest higher neighbor is important. Peakbagger identifies Yushan East Peak as the mountain’s line parent through its prominence hierarchy, while Yushan Main Peak is the nearest summit with higher terrain.
🪨 Geology
Yushan Southern Peak is part of Taiwan’s exceptionally active and geologically young mountain landscape.
Taiwan developed along the collision zone between the Philippine Sea Plate and Eurasian Plate. Compression between these plates uplifted rocks that had once been beneath the sea, eventually forming the island’s dramatic mountain ranges.
Yushan National Park describes much of the terrain around Yushan as belonging to the Shingao Group, with metasandstone and slate among the characteristic rocks.
Continuous uplift has been accompanied by equally intense erosion. Earthquakes, heavy rainfall, typhoons, freeze-thaw processes at high elevations, and steep slopes continually fracture and remove material from the mountains.
These forces help explain the Southern Peak’s striking appearance. Instead of a broad grassy summit, the mountain consists of broken ridges, sharp rock projections, steep gullies, and exposed slopes.
Yushan National Park describes the summit area as a series of connected, jagged rock peaks separated by steep rocky channels.
That rugged structure makes Yushan Southern Peak visually very different from some of Taiwan’s smoother alpine summits.
🌿 Flora & Fauna
The environment surrounding Yushan Southern Peak belongs to the highest vegetation zone in Yushan National Park.
The park has an extraordinary range of ecosystems because its elevation extends from warm subtropical valleys to exposed terrain above 3,900 meters.
Above approximately 3,600 meters, the park identifies an alpine vegetation belt. Plants capable of surviving here must tolerate cold temperatures, intense ultraviolet exposure, strong wind, thin soils, and periods of snow.
Vegetation in the high Yushan area can include:
- Yushan juniper
- Alpine rhododendrons
- Hardy grasses and herbaceous plants
- Low shrubs
- Other cold-adapted alpine vegetation
Immediately below the alpine zone is a high-elevation fir belt dominated by Taiwan white fir (Abies kawakamii). Yushan cane can form dense growth at slightly lower elevations and along protected slopes.
The wider Yushan National Park provides habitat for an impressive variety of Taiwanese wildlife, including Formosan black bears, Taiwan serow, sambar deer, Taiwan macaques, Mikado pheasants, and many smaller mammals and birds.
Animals may be far less obvious on the exposed upper ridges themselves, but the forests and valleys surrounding the massif form an important protected ecosystem.
🥾 Hiking & Climbing Yushan Southern Peak
Yushan Southern Peak should not be confused with the standard route to Yushan Main Peak.
The main summit is reached by one of Taiwan’s best-known high-mountain trails, but the Southern Peak involves steeper, rougher, and less straightforward terrain.
Yushan National Park specifically warns that both Yushan East Peak and South Peak are steep mountains where hikers need to take extra precautions.
Routes toward the Southern Peak pass through the wider Yushan Peaks Trail system. Hikers traveling into the southern part of the massif may use the high-country facilities around the Yuanfeng area as a base for exploring the southern summits.
Conditions can include:
- Steep rock
- Loose gravel and scree
- Narrow or exposed sections
- Cliffs
- Poor visibility
- Strong wind
- Cold temperatures
- Snow and ice during winter
- Less clearly maintained trail sections
The park particularly warns that some trails toward the South Peak are less clearly maintained than the main Yushan route.
This is therefore a mountain for experienced hikers comfortable with Taiwan’s high-alpine environment rather than an easy addition to a casual Yushan trip.
Permits, trail access, accommodation availability, and seasonal restrictions can change, so hikers should check the current Yushan National Park and Hike Smart Taiwan information before planning an ascent.
🏔️ Field Guide Tip: Do not assume that reaching Yushan Main Peak means you are automatically prepared for Yushan Southern Peak. The southern summit involves more rugged terrain and route-finding challenges. Carry navigation tools, warm and waterproof clothing, sufficient water, a headlamp, emergency equipment, and gear appropriate for the season.
🌤️ Best Time to Visit
Yushan Southern Peak is a high-alpine mountain, and conditions can change rapidly at any time of year.
Yushan National Park receives substantial annual rainfall, with its main rainy period generally occurring from May through September. The early portion of this period includes seasonal rains, while summer and early autumn can bring thunderstorms and typhoons.
Late autumn can therefore offer some of the more favorable periods for high-mountain hiking when stable weather develops.
Winter presents an entirely different challenge.
The park identifies the approximate high-mountain snow season as December through April, although the amount and duration of snow vary considerably from year to year.
Snow and ice can transform steep rocky terrain into serious mountaineering ground. Yushan National Park advises hikers without suitable snow equipment or winter skills not to attempt snow-covered high routes.
Spring can bring beautiful mountain conditions but may still include lingering snow, cold temperatures, cloud, and rain.
No season guarantees good conditions. Always check current trail status and a mountain-specific weather forecast immediately before departure.
🧭 Nearby Mountains & Attractions
Yushan Southern Peak sits amid some of Taiwan’s most spectacular high-mountain scenery.
Yushan Main Peak is the defining summit of the massif and the highest mountain in Taiwan at 3,952 meters (12,966 feet). It is also the nearest higher neighbor of Yushan Southern Peak in Peakbagger’s database.
Yushan East Peak rises on the eastern side of the massif and is another steep, rugged Baiyue summit. Peakbagger identifies it as the line parent of Yushan Southern Peak.
Dongxiaonanshan lies in the southern part of the Yushan high country and provides a contrasting landscape compared with the jagged Southern Peak.
Yushan North Peak is famous for its views toward the main summit and for the high-altitude weather station located near its summit.
Yushan West Peak lies on the western side of the massif and has a more forested character than the bare upper ridges of the southern and eastern peaks.
The broader Yushan National Park protects not only the famous summits but also extensive forests, river valleys, historic trails, wildlife habitat, and remote wilderness.
💡 Fun Facts About Yushan Southern Peak
- Yushan Southern Peak is one of the celebrated Baiyue, or 100 Peaks of Taiwan.
- Official Taiwanese sources commonly list it as Taiwan’s fifth-highest named summit at 3,844 meters.
- Peakbagger’s topographic dataset instead gives the summit an elevation of 3,857 meters.
- The mountain has approximately 177 meters of topographic prominence according to Peakbagger.
- Its nearest higher neighbor is Yushan Main Peak, only a few kilometers away.
- Yushan National Park describes the Southern Peak as a chain of sharp rocky points whose shape resembles a dragon.
- The Southern Peak is substantially more rugged than the standard route to Yushan Main Peak.
- It forms one of the major summits of the Yushan massif, along with the Main, East, North, and West peaks.
- The summit rises well above the 3,600-meter boundary where Yushan National Park’s alpine vegetation zone begins.
- Winter snow and ice can make the already steep terrain considerably more dangerous.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How high is Yushan Southern Peak?
Yushan National Park and the traditional Baiyue list generally give an elevation of 3,844 meters (12,612 feet). Peakbagger uses newer Taiwanese topographic mapping and lists 3,857 meters (12,654 feet).
Where is Yushan Southern Peak?
It lies in Kaohsiung City within Yushan National Park in southern-central Taiwan.
What mountain range is Yushan Southern Peak in?
It belongs to the Yushan Range.
Is Yushan Southern Peak the same as South Yushan?
No. Yushan South Peak (玉山南峰) is a high subsidiary summit of the Yushan massif. South Yushan (南玉山) is a separate mountain farther south and is considerably lower, at roughly 3,383 meters. The similar English names can easily cause confusion.
What is Yushan Southern Peak’s prominence?
Peakbagger calculates approximately 177 meters (581 feet) of topographic prominence.
What is the nearest higher neighbor of Yushan Southern Peak?
Its nearest higher neighbor is Yushan Main Peak, Taiwan’s highest mountain.
What is the parent peak of Yushan Southern Peak?
Peakbagger lists Yushan East Peak as its line parent. This is different from its nearest higher neighbor, which is Yushan Main Peak.
Is Yushan Southern Peak one of Taiwan’s 100 Peaks?
Yes. It belongs to the famous Baiyue, or 100 Peaks of Taiwan.
Is Yushan Southern Peak difficult to climb?
Yes. It is considerably more rugged than the standard Yushan Main Peak route. Yushan National Park warns that the South Peak has steep terrain and that portions of the trail are less clearly maintained.
Does Yushan Southern Peak get snow?
Yes. Snow and ice can occur in the Yushan high country during winter. The park generally identifies December through April as the high-mountain snow season, although actual snowfall varies.
🔗 Related Articles
- Mountains in Taiwan — Explore Taiwan’s major ranges, highest peaks, geology, and mountain culture.
- Beidawushan — Discover another of southern Taiwan’s great high mountains.
- Asia Mountains — Explore mountain guides from across Asia.
🔗 Related Hiking and Safety Guides
- The Ten Essentials for Hiking: What Every Hiker Should Carry
- What to Do If You Get Lost Hiking: A Step-by-Step Survival Guide
📚 Sources
- Peakbagger — Yushan – Nanfeng, Taiwan — elevation, prominence, isolation, coordinates, line parent, and nearest higher neighbor.
- Yushan National Park — Mt. Jade South Peak — official 3,844-meter elevation, summit form, and description of the jagged dragon-like ridge.
- Yushan National Park — Yushan Peaks Trail Important Notes — trail difficulty, winter hazards, permits, water availability, and South Peak safety information.
- Yushan National Park — Geology — tectonic formation of Taiwan and the geology of the Yushan area.
- Yushan National Park — Climate and Flora — high-mountain climate, snow season, rainfall, alpine vegetation, and ecological zones.
