Chiayi · Yushan
Bortle 2 · Pristine dark sky ｜ Elevation 2610m ｜ SQM ~21.7 ｜ Best view South
The western gateway to Yushan National Park at ~2,610 m — the darkest belt along the New Central Cross-Island Highway. Far from city lights with a clean southern sky; the Milky Way framed over the Yushan range is the signature shot.
Last reviewed: 2026-07
Tataka is the western gateway to Yushan National Park at about 2,610 m, and the darkest stretch of the New Central Cross-Island Highway. Quieter than Hehuanshan and with a cleaner southern sky, its signature shot is the Milky Way framed over the Yushan range.
Climb from Chiayi on Highway 18 (the Alishan road), or from Xinyi (Nantou) on Highway 21 — the two meet at Tataka. There is no direct public transport, so self-driving is best. The park has night-time rules, so check Yushan National Park notices and road conditions before you go.
The Tataka recreation area has a visitor centre, car park and toilets (mostly daytime). Lodging is available around Dongpu and Shang-Dongpu. Observe from the car parks and viewpoints, heed national-park rules and bear-activity notices, don’t feed wildlife, and pack your rubbish out.
Milky Way season is Mar–Oct; the clean southern horizon is ideal for the core rising toward Yushan’s main peak. Spring air is especially transparent — great for deep-sky and Milky Way detail. Plan around new moon and start after astronomical night (full darkness).
The signature is a landscape-Milky-Way with the Yushan peaks; use the highway, hemlocks and any cloud sea as foreground. A fast wide lens on a tripod works, and a star tracker yields cleaner stars if you have one. Don’t pack up before dawn — Tataka’s cloud sea and twilight colours are just as rewarding.
At over 2,600 m nights are cold — dress warm and let your body adjust to altitude. Roads are winding and fog-prone, so avoid drowsy driving. The park has night-time management rules; stay on trails, keep out of restricted or hazardous areas, respect the ecology, and protect others’ dark adaptation by minimising white light.
🌌 Tonight the Milky Way core climbs to a shootable altitude around 20:12, sinks back near 02:42, and peaks around 22:22 at roughly 38° in the South.
The Tataka recreation area where Highway 18 (Alishan) meets Highway 21; observe national-park rules and heed bear-activity notices for overnight stays.
Visitor centre, car park and toilets (mostly daytime); lodging nearby.
Mar–Oct Milky Way season; spring air is especially transparent.
See the nearby city's stargazing calendar
Bortle class and SQM are estimates for well-known sites, used to compare darkness — not on-site measurements.
Related tools: Taiwan Dark-Sky Map · Stargazing & Moon Viewing Score · Meteor Showers