Decided to get in the car and just drive yesterday. I really enjoy the fact that I don’t know where I am going and that I will end up somewhere I like. Today’s trip took me to an area I have been to several times before, located about an hour away from Tainan city in the Tainan County mountains. The name of the place is the Wu Shan Scenic Area (烏山風景區).

I always enjoy the ride out there, if not for just the trees and promise of fresh air, then just for the change of pace that comes with a drastic change of scenery. Passing near Grass Mountain Moon World is always special too.

If you see this guy, then you should go down that road and keep your eyes open!

There are several large temples on the way to monkey mountain, also known as Nan Hua, or the Wu Shan Monkey Preserve (烏山獼猴生態保護區). The temples offer beautiful views off of the mountain. Make sure to take your best camera if you go.

Then it was on to the Zi Zhu Shi temple, at the top of the road. You will need to go left when the road splits somewhere up the mountain. Here is an audio file of the music they were playing:

Going back down the mountain and getting back on the main road, you wil eventually find the Long Hu Shi temple. One thing that really makes this temple special is the huge Guan Yin statue located in the parking lot, and overlooking the mountainside.

Again, they were playing some music through a megaphone:

On monkey mountain you can find many Formosan Macaque’s (Macaca Cyclopis 台灣獼猴) hanging around, playing, fighting, climbing, and doing all of the things you’d expect from semi wild monkeys. They are used to being fed by visitors, so get some bananas for them. I went there a while back with Fili. Always be careful though, as they are still wild and may decide to steal from you, or even fight if they feel threatened.