Taitung · South Cross-Island
Bortle 2 · Pristine dark sky ｜ Elevation 2320m ｜ SQM ~21.7 ｜ Best view South
Around the Xiangyang Forest Recreation Area on the Taitung side of the South Cross-Island Highway (~2,320 m), ringed by no towns — one of eastern Taiwan's purest dark skies. Facing south toward the Central Range, the rising Milky Way has almost no ground glow.
Last reviewed: 2026-07
Xiangyang’s strength is remoteness. On the Taitung side of the South Cross-Island Highway, it sits far from city glow, with little ground light when the Milky Way rises. It rewards observers who check road access, restrictions and supplies in advance.
Access on the South Cross-Island Highway can change with typhoons, rockfall, works and time restrictions, so current road notices are essential. Arrive from the Taitung side in daylight and confirm parking, hut or lodging plans before dark.
Supplies around Xiangyang are limited, and there is no reliable night-time food or hot drink stop. If combining huts or hiking with stargazing, plan lighting, warmth, water and turnaround time as a mountain itinerary, not as a casual viewpoint.
Facing the Central Range, Xiangyang has very clean southern and southeastern skies during the March to October Milky Way season. Spring favours pre-dawn core rise; summer brings earlier viewing, and dry eastern air can make stars look sharper than many western mountain sites.
This is a place for quiet Milky Way images: ridge silhouettes, fir forest, trailhead structures and a sky with very few headlights. A tracker can be useful for deep-sky or core details; without one, wide landscape frames still benefit from the low glow.
The South Cross-Island Highway is not a casual hill road; rockfall, fog or closures are hard to solve at night. Do not push in alone without backup. Share your plan, carry warmth and offline maps, and postpone if road or weather signals are wrong.
🌌 Tonight the Milky Way core climbs to a shootable altitude around 20:11, sinks back near 02:41, and peaks around 22:21 at roughly 38° in the South.
The Xiangyang section of the South Cross-Island Highway (Highway 20); mountain conditions and opening hours change often — check road closures and night-time restrictions before going.
Forest recreation area, mountain huts (permit required) and parking; limited night-time supplies — come prepared.
Mar–Oct Milky Way season; watch for seasonal South Cross-Island access rules.
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