Nantou · Hehuanshan
Bortle 2 · Pristine dark sky ｜ Elevation 2750m ｜ SQM ~21.8 ｜ Best view South
The official stargazing deck of the Hehuanshan Dark Sky Park, with a dedicated observing car park. At ~2,750 m with an open southern view, it's a favourite for Milky Way arch and star-trail photography.
Last reviewed: 2026-07
Yanfeng is the most purpose-built observing stop in the Hehuanshan Dark Sky Park, with a viewing deck, parking and interpretation signs. Sitting lower than Wuling, it is a little easier on wind chill and altitude while keeping a clean southern sky for Milky Way arches over the Highway 14A ridgeline.
Yanfeng sits around the 14K mark on Highway 14A, before the road climbs fully toward Wuling. It works well as the first alpine stop: scout the parking, wind direction and turnaround space in daylight so you are not choosing a spot in the dark.
The deck and parking make Yanfeng safer than a random roadside pullout, but busy nights bring headlights and voices. Set tripods away from traffic lanes, use red light, and leave space for late arrivals so their headlights do not sweep across your foreground.
March to October is the useful Milky Way window. May to July favours pre-dawn arches; August and September let you start earlier after dusk. When low cloud pools over Qingjing and Puli, Yanfeng can sit above it, but mid and high cloud still decide whether the galactic core appears.
Face south for the Milky Way over the Hehuan ridge; face north for star trails with the deck, road or signs as foreground. Compared with Wuling, Yanfeng is better for images that show the culture of a stargazing night rather than a pure alpine skyline.
At 2,750 m it still gets cold and altitude symptoms can happen. Yanfeng is often treated as the easier Wuling alternative, but the night descent is long and winding; after a pre-dawn shoot, rest before driving if you feel heavy-eyed.
🌌 Tonight the Milky Way core climbs to a shootable altitude around 20:13, sinks back near 02:33, and peaks around 22:23 at roughly 37° in the South.
On Highway 14A near the 14K mark with a purpose-built stargazing car park; slightly lower, warmer and less crowded than Wuling.
Observing deck, car park and interpretive signs; no food service.
Mar–Oct Milky Way season; best around new moon.
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