Sheding Nature Park is located next to Kenting Forest Recreation Area, covering an area of 128.7 hectares. The trees growing on the rocky terrain have been sculpted by the northeast monsoon winds, creating natural bonsai-like masterpieces, showcasing the remarkable work of nature. Within the park, you can find a rich diversity of flora and fauna, limestone caves, several areas with excellent viewpoints, lush grasslands, and unique “one-line sky” landscapes formed by coral reef rock crevices, all of which are highly valuable for observation and appreciation.
To preserve its ecology, the park has minimal artificial facilities, consisting mainly of simple trails and informational signs that follow the natural terrain. It remains a pristine and unspoiled natural park.
it’s just 0.5 kilometers away from the recreation area, and approximately a 7-8 minute drive from Kenting Main Street.
Location of Sheding National Park in Kenting Village
There are more than 329 plant species in the park, with a significant presence of native plants from the Aristolochiaceae, Rutaceae, and Rubiaceae families, which serve as food sources for nearly 50 butterfly species. Colorful butterflies can be seen fluttering in the park, making it an ideal area for butterfly observation and research.
The park also features over ten limestone caves, where you can witness stalactites, stalagmites, and limestone columns, showcasing the essence of limestone caves.
The formation of stalactites requires the right amount of moisture, suitable terrain, and geology. It takes about 5 years to form 1 cm of stalactite and can take up to 160 years in some cases. This highlights the challenging process of nature’s creation. It’s essential not to touch these formations as contact with sweat or oils from human skin can alter their chemical composition, rendering them unable to continue growing and essentially causing them to become lifeless.
In light of the excessive human-made developments seen in many domestic scenic areas in the past, this park has maintained a more simplistic approach with basic trails and small-scale viewing and interpretation facilities to preserve its natural and unspoiled charm. The eastern side of the park has been designated as a Formosan Sika Deer rehabilitation research area, serving its purpose in natural ecological conservation.
Another important activity, that comes up at the autumn season is Eagle Watching.
In September, the morning sessions take place from around 5:30 AM to 7 AM. During this time, visitors can witness raptor flocks gathering and heading southward over the sea, performing impressive aerial displays. The Lingxiao Pavilion in Sheding Nature Park (社頂凌霄亭) is an excellent spot for observing this phenomenon.
Lingxiao Pavilion in Sheding Nature Park (社頂凌霄亭)
As we wrote in the introduction, Sheding Nature Park covers an area of over 100 hectares, and most of the trails were originally small paths used by residents for grazing livestock. These paths form a grid-like network throughout the park, and in some areas, they may appear similar, making it easy to get lost. Unless you are familiar with the area, following the signage along the trails for navigation is advisable.
The trails in the park mostly offer expansive views, often with vast grasslands and a variety of tropical plants growing alongside them. During spring and summer, you can also frequently spot various kinds of butterflies fluttering about. If you’re lucky, you might even see herds of cattle and sheep grazing leisurely on the hillsides across from you, enjoying the serene and natural surroundings.
During the winter season, this park is often subjected to strong downhill winds, causing trees to grow predominantly in one direction, creating a wind-sculpted tree landscape. It resembles an artful bonsai that appears to have been meticulously pruned by hand.
Due to the emphasis on nature and ecological preservation in Sheding Nature Park, some rarely visited canyons and caves may harbor poisonous snakes. Visitors are advised not to enter these areas. Additionally, apart from a few shops near the parking lot, there are only two pavilions within the park, and no shops are available within the park itself. When visiting, please bring your own drinks and ensure not to leave any litter behind.
As we mentioned in intro, within the park, you can often find limestone caves showcasing formations such as stalactites, stalagmites, and columns. Since stalactites grow at an extremely slow rate, with 1 centimeter taking 5 years or even up to 160 years, it’s essential to protect these natural wonders. Please refrain from touching them, as the sweat and oils on your hands can alter their chemical composition, preventing further crystal growth.
Main Landscapes and Tourist Attractions in the Sheding Nature Park
- Natural Springs
- Small Gorges
- Chinese Banyan Trees
- Big Gorges
- Windy Gate (迎風門)
- Grasslands
- Hanbi Pavilion (涵碧亭)
- Lingxiao Pavilion (凌霄亭)
- Butterfly Dance
- Limestone Caves
- Stalactites
- Stalagmites
- Pillars
- Narrow Passageways
- Eagles & other bird watching
Facilities in the Sheding Nature Park
At the park entrance, there is a parking lot. Please do not park on the narrow road next to the park.
Restrooms are available at the parking lot and the “迎風門” (Wind Greeting Gate).
A shop is at the park entrance, but no shops are available inside the park. Since July 17, 2007, the Social Top Natural Park Ecotourism Service Center has provided high-quality ecotourism services and consultation for visitors at the park entrance.
Small Canyon (小峽谷) in Sheding Nature Park
Coral reef limestone naturally contains many joints (natural fracture surfaces in rocks). When it is subjected to long-term erosion by rainwater and the forces of gravity and wind, over time, it gradually splits along these joints to form a canyon-like terrain. Small Canyon is formed in this way.
Windy Gate (迎風門) in Sheding Nature Park
The two massive coral reef rocks in the picture stand on either side of the trail, resembling a stone gate, hence the name. If you visit here in the winter, you can experience the power of the “落山風” (downslope wind) in Kenting.
Grassland and Lingxiao Pavilion in Shending Nature Park
After passing through the Wind Gate, what meets the eye is a vast expanse of lush green grassland and the boundless Pacific Ocean in deep blue. This area is open and the original vegetation gradually transformed into the current grassland due to human logging, grazing by cattle and sheep, and the impact of strong winds.
It’s an excellent vantage point for sightseeing within the Sheding Nature Park; this area’s “Lingxiao Pavilion” is particularly noteworthy. From late September to mid-October each year, it becomes an excellent location to observe Red-bellied Kites and the “National Day Bird” Gray-faced Buzzards taking flight and heading south for winter. For the best chance to observe these birds, it’s recommended to visit in the early morning when, with luck, you may witness hundreds to thousands of these raptors spiraling and soaring up from the valleys, creating a spectacular formation as they head southward.