Alishan Sisters Ponds

Located within the Alishan Forest Recreation Area, the Alishan Sisters’ Ponds are two of the most popular tourist spots of the area. The ponds are two different sized high mountain ponds connecting to each other. They are renowned for the picturesque natural surrounding sceneries and a sad yet beautiful story.  The story is about a couple of Tsou sisters fell in love with the same man. Not wanting to hurt the sisterhood and not able to have the man for themselves, they jumped into separate ponds to end their lives, which are now known as the Elder Sister Pond and Younger Sister Pond. Two cypress pavilions known as the “Missing Pavilions” with wooden bridges connecting the shore were later built on the Elder Sister’s pond with a 180-meter plank surrounding the ponds.

The two Sisters’ Ponds are sized differently. The Elder Sister Pond shapes a bit rectangular with a size of approximate 530 sq. m and the Younger Sister Pond is rounder and smaller with a size of 120 sq. m.  The pond water is rather clean and peaceful without disturbance, just like a mirror reflecting the surrounded sceneries. The ponds are usually high on water level during summer and rather dry during winter.  The Alishan Sisters’ Ponds had a hard time in 2002.  The ponds were drought and the bottoms were seen for the first time.  The nearby ecological areas might have sudden changes with the sky clear and bright in any moment, and mist covering the ponds in the next second.

Words are not enough to describe the loveliness of the Sisters’ Ponds, visit the site and appreciate the natural sceneries!  Along the forest plank near the Sisters’ Pond, the Three Brothers, Four Sisters, Golden Pig Lookalike Tree, Hearted Shaped Tree and many others are waiting for your explorations.