Yushan Permit Application Guide
How to Apply for a Jade Mountain Permit in Taiwan
Planning a self-guided hike to Yushan, also known as Jade Mountain? This guide explains how to apply for a Yushan permit, how the Paiyun Lodge lottery works, what foreign hikers need to know, and how to prepare for Taiwan’s most popular high mountain hike.
Please note that Taiwan’s high mountain permit rules change frequently. If you find anything here that is out of date, or if you have advice that would make this guide more useful, please contact us so we can update the page.
Applying for permits to Taiwan’s high mountain hikes can be confusing. Taiwan Adventures offers private guided Yushan hiking trips, but we understand that some hikers prefer to organise their own self-guided Jade Mountain hike.
Yushan is Taiwan’s highest mountain at 3,952 metres and by far the most popular high mountain hike in the country. Demand for permits is very high, so you should plan early, have flexible dates, and prepare backup options such as Snow Mountain, Qilai, Jiaming Lake or one of Taiwan’s many other excellent high mountain hikes.
Below is a detailed guide to applying for your own self-guided Yushan hike.
When to Apply for a Yushan Permit
Technically, you may be able to apply as little as 7 days before your hike. In reality, you are very unlikely to get a standard 2-day Yushan permit if you wait that long.
For the usual 2-day Yushan hike with one night at Paiyun Lodge, the best time to apply is usually 30 to 60 days before the start of your hike. Applications are drawn about 30 days before the hiking date.
Weekend permits are extremely competitive. If you apply for a Friday or Saturday night at Paiyun Lodge, your chances can be very low. Weekday permits are usually easier to get, especially if you can avoid public holidays and peak hiking periods.
You can apply through Taiwan’s official hiking application website:
https://hike.taiwan.gov.tw/en/apply_1.aspx
Foreigner Priority Places for Yushan
There is some good news for overseas visitors. Yushan National Park sets aside a limited number of priority places for non-Taiwanese passport holders.
After choosing Yushan National Park in the application system, you can select the foreigner priority option if your group qualifies. These places are usually for weekday Paiyun Lodge stays, from Sunday to Thursday nights.
To use this option, you normally need to apply well in advance, usually from around 4 months before your hike until about 30 days before your hiking date. Most of your group will need to hold non-Taiwanese passports.
You should prepare clear photos or scans of everyone’s passports before you apply.
These priority places can still fill quickly, so apply as early as possible if your travel dates are fixed.
After Your Yushan Permit Is Approved
If your Yushan permit is approved, Yushan National Park will usually email you with payment instructions about 30 days before the start of your hike. You normally have a limited time to pay and confirm the booking, so check your email carefully.
After your permit is approved and paid for, log back into the application website and use:
Check Status / Print Permit / Apply for Mountain Permit
There should be a button at the bottom that allows you to complete the mountain permit process. In many cases, the system now automatically sends your information to the police for the mountain entry permit.
Bring printed copies of your permits and make sure everyone in your group brings their passport or Taiwan ID. Rangers will check identification.
Paiyun Lodge Food and Sleeping Bag Rental
Most 2-day Yushan hikers stay at Paiyun Lodge before climbing to the summit early the next morning.
You can usually pre-order meals and sleeping bag rental for Paiyun Lodge through the current Paiyun Lodge food service website:
Paiyun Lodge is a basic mountain hut, not a hotel. Expect shared sleeping space, simple facilities, cold conditions and limited comfort. Even if you order food and a sleeping bag, you should still bring warm clothing, a headlamp, water bottles, snacks and your own personal hiking equipment.
Winter Rules for Yushan
Yushan is much more difficult to access in winter. When snow season is announced after the first snowfall, usually sometime between mid-December and late March, extra rules apply.
During snow season, the leader of your group may need a Taiwan-issued snow training certificate. Every member of the group may also need to submit photographic proof that they have hiked mountains over 3,000 metres in snowy conditions.
Winter rules can change depending on actual conditions and official announcements. If you want to hike Yushan in winter, check the current rules very carefully. For most visitors, winter is a good time to use an experienced local guide.
Single-Day Yushan Permits
It is possible to hike Yushan in a single day. Single-day permits are sometimes easier to get when Paiyun Lodge spaces are full, because fewer people apply for them.
You can usually apply for a single-day Yushan permit between 7 and 60 days before your hike. You may need to submit photographic proof that you have already climbed at least one mountain over 3,000 metres.
A single-day Yushan hike is not an easy alternative. You should expect around 10 to 12 hours of continuous hiking, possibly more depending on your fitness, weather and trail conditions.
You also need to pass Paiyun Lodge before 10:00am. If you arrive after that time, the ranger may not allow you to continue to the summit.
Do not underestimate this hike. Weather on Yushan can change quickly, even when the forecast looks good. Be prepared for cold, wind, rain, altitude and a long day on the trail.
Police Permits / Mountain Permits
Yushan hikers also need a police mountain entry permit, often called a mountain permit.
These days, this is often handled automatically through the main hiking application system after your park permit is approved and paid for. You may receive an email confirming the police permit process.
If you do not receive confirmation, the easiest option may be to apply at the police station near the ranger station at the trailhead. If you can handle the Mandarin interface, or the English approximation then you can also apply online here:
https://nv2.npa.gov.tw/NM103-604Client/
Do not leave this until the last minute. Check your permit status before travelling to Tatajia.
Day of the Hike
On the morning of your hike, you need to check in at the ranger station near the Yushan trailhead. Bring printed copies of your permits and passports or Taiwan IDs for everyone in your group.
The ranger station and police station are located about 100 metres up the road from the Tatajia parking area and Dongpu Hostel.
There is usually a shuttle van that takes hikers the 2.5 km from Tatajia to the main Yushan trailhead. It normally costs around NT$100 per person and is worth taking, especially if you want to save energy for the hike.
If you are doing Yushan as a single-day hike, arrive very early, usually around 4:00am. Put one copy of your permit in the mailbox and make sure your police permit is already arranged. It is best to complete the police permit the day before or online in advance.
Getting to the Yushan Trailhead
It is much easier to reach the Yushan trailhead with private transport, but public transport is possible with careful planning.
Chiayi High Speed Rail Station to Alishan
Buses run from Chiayi High Speed Rail Station to Alishan Recreation Area, but not all the way to Tatajia.
Typical bus: 7329
Common departure times include 09:30, 10:10 and 13:10, but schedules can change, so check before travelling.
Chiayi City to Alishan
Buses also run from Chiayi City to Alishan Recreation Area.
Typical bus: 7322
Common departure times include 05:55, 07:55, 09:55 and 13:55. Return buses from Alishan may include 09:10, 11:40, 14:40, 16:10 and 17:10, but schedules can change.
Sun Moon Lake to Tatajia / Alishan
Bus 6739 runs between Sun Moon Lake and Alishan and passes the Tatajia area.
Common departures from Sun Moon Lake may include 08:00 and 09:00, with return buses from Alishan around 13:00 and 14:00. Always check the current timetable before relying on this bus.
Public transport in the Yushan area can be limited and inconvenient for early hiking starts. If you are on a tight schedule, private transport is much easier.
Where to Stay Before Hiking Yushan
Dongpu Hostel / Tatajia
Dongpu Hostel is a basic hostel near the Yushan trailhead at Tatajia, with barrack-style bunk beds. It is the most convenient place to stay if you are doing a single-day Yushan hike or want the shortest transfer to the trailhead.
The booking website is mostly in Mandarin:
http://dongpu.mmweb.tw/?ptype=info
Alishan Recreation Area
When people talk about Alishan, they usually mean the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. This is a tourist and hotel area about 30 minutes by vehicle from the Yushan trailhead.
Alishan has budget hotels, restaurants, a 7-Eleven, short walking trails, the famous Alishan Forest Railway and the historic Alishan House hotel. You will usually need to pay an entrance fee to enter the recreation area.
It is normally easiest to book accommodation in Alishan through Agoda, Booking.com or directly with the hotel. Ask your hotel in advance how to arrange transport to Tatajia in the morning.
Backup Hikes if You Do Not Get a Yushan Permit
Yushan permits are competitive, especially for weekends. If you do not get a permit, consider another Taiwan high mountain hike.
Good alternatives include:
- Snow Mountain / Xueshan
- Qilai
- Jiaming Lake
- Nenggao Historic Trail
- Wuling Sixiu
- Nanhudashan
- Hehuanshan
Some of these routes also require permits or cabin bookings, so plan early and stay flexible.
Self-Guided Yushan or Guided Yushan Hike?
A self-guided Yushan hike can work well for experienced hikers who are comfortable handling permits, transport, accommodation, mountain weather, altitude, route decisions and emergency planning.
A guided Yushan hike is a better choice if you want help with permits, transport, meals, pacing, safety, local communication and backup planning.
Taiwan Adventures can arrange private guided Yushan hiking tours and other Taiwan high mountain trips. If Yushan permits are not available, we can also suggest suitable alternatives based on your dates, fitness and experience.
Plan a Yushan Hiking Trip
Contact Taiwan Adventures if you would like help planning a guided Yushan hike, a private Taiwan high mountain trip, or a backup route if your Yushan permit application is unsuccessful.
