玉山：亞洲最鮮為人知的祕境Jade Mountain offers more than an impressive view 玉山所擁有的不只是瑰麗美景by Ashley Dakin
Without a doubt, Taiwan is a beautiful, mountainous island. But among all the island's natural wonders, Jade Mountain (玉山）really stands out.
A world of natural wonder
At 3,952 meters, Jade Mountain is the highest peak in northeastern Asia and the central feature of Yushan National Park （玉山國家公園）. A natural treasure, the park contains the island's largest wilderness area - a wealth of mountains, forests and wildlife. As you ascend any of the park's mountains, the climate and ecology change from warm and subtropical to a chilly alpine zone.
Within the park, hikers can glimpse Formosan rock monkeys, deer, wild boar and even the rare Formosan black bear. The park is also a cultural center for the Bunun (布農族）aboriginal people, who still live throughout the area today. One a recent visit to the park, I was able to climb Jade Mountain. The climb to the top can take up to three days to hike and covers plenty of rough, steep terrain. Fortunately, the park provides hikers with free cabins, some of which have solar-powered lights and, in one case, showers.
Becoming a park
Jade Mountain hasn't always been a major tourist destination. The area has long been inhabited by the Bunun tribe and has occasionally been the site of violent conflict. Today, several of the park's attractions serve to remind us of the area's difficult past. The Batongguan Trail (八通關越道 ), which crosses the park, was built by soldiers trying to gain control of the area.
Visitors can also stop at the Kesipanan Monument ( 碦西帕南紀念碑 ), near the park's Nanan Walami Visitor Center. (南安瓦拉米遊客中心 ). The monument was built in memory of the Bunun warriors, who fought against the Japanese during the colonial period. When the Japanese did take control, they logged the region heavily, leaving many areas nearly bare of trees. It wasn't until Jade Mountain was found to be higher than Japan's Mt. Fuji that the area's fame grew. Taiwanese and Japanese hikers have flocked to the area ever since.
Eventually the park gained an even broader following. In fact, Jade Mountain is currently one of 28 finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature contest.
Grammar:
But among all the island's natural wonders. Jade Mountain really stands out.
"to stand out" =to be noticeable, =to be easily noticed or seen.
"to stand out " -
If you go to a job interview wearing a clown outfit, you will stand out, but it is no guarantee that you will get the job.
James spent more hours on his art projects than any other student , so it's not surprising that his artwork stood out at the school exhibition.
Vocabulary Tips:
mountainous -a lot of mountains on it.多山的， mountain -山
*Mountainous waves raised right in front of us. 大浪掀起如高山的。
*The mountainous country is famous for its rich natural resources.
alpine (adj)- from " the Alp (n) "阿爾卑斯山。 -refer to " high altitude", no tree to grow there.
*These alpine plants are rarely seen. 高山植物，難得看見的
*The alpine resort is world renowned for its beautiful scenery and good price. 高山度假村
solar-powered : 太陽能 solar-利用太陽光的
*These solar-powered streetlights turn on automatically when it is dark.
*The students won first prize at the science fair for their solar-powered car.
aboriginal people-原住民 people live in a place since long, long time ago.
inhabit-居住 people live there. "hab"-“保持”之意。
*many aboriginal people inhabit this coastal area.
*This remote valley was only inhabited by tribal people.
attraction-bring attention, brings interesting. 吸引人的事物，受歡迎，遊樂場，
*Taipei 101 is the Taipei attraction.
*Magic Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in L.A. county.
*The space shuttle is the main attraction of the museum.
*Everybody can sense the mutual attraction between Patrick and Gina. 互相吸引，相互感興趣
colonial (adj)-殖民地的，殖民式的 colony (n)-殖民地，the area or group people controlled by another area or group of people.
*The restaurant is in a colonial style house.
*The island had been under the colonial rule of Spain for decades.多年在西班牙的統治下
monument-紀念碑a status or building make to honor a special person or special event.
conflict - fight against
tourist - a person who travel for interest or study.
flock - 群a group of animal such as " a flock of birds"
flock (v)- in a large group, in a large number of people.
eventually- after the long time... "at the end"
broader- more than just (hikers)
following- people who are following to to there.
glimpse- get a quick look of something.
terrain - the surface of the land.
ecology-system of life, living together each other in same environment.
stand out- noticeable, easy to be seen and remember.
treasure- valuable, beautiful, precious.
natural - in nature
wilderness - 曠野。far away from city.
Chat Room:
mountaintop-apex, peak, summit 山頂
peak- the top of the mountain, refer to mountain itself.
*climb a peak- 爬一座山峰。
summit- is mountaintop.
* reach a summit, summit can not climb. must say "reach" 抵達山頂
apex -the highest point of the mountain, mountaintop, summit. 頂端，尖端，最高峰。
mountain range- 山系，由一連串的peaks 構成
Jade Mountain is the highest peak in northeastern Asia.
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When the Japanese did take control, they logged the region heavily.
log-原木，伐木。砍伐樹木
timber -加工的木材，木料。
"timber"- 當哈伐木工人每砍倒一棵樹，在樹要倒地之前，會大喊“timber ”提醒人小心哪。
fell-fall 的過去式 , fell-繫到，打倒，砍倒一棵樹。
Not seeing the forest for the trees (idiom)- 專注于一棵樹而看不見整片樹林。意即“見樹不見林，太注重細節，忽略了整體大局。
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