← All Guides
Last fact-checked: 2026-08-18
Climbing Yushan legally requires two separate approvals, both handled through the official Hike Smart Taiwan portal (hike.taiwan.gov.tw):
Local Taiwanese hikers apply through a competitive lottery. Foreign passport holders (and ARC holders) get a real advantage: a dedicated daily quota through the "Paiyun Lodge Advanced Application" option, separate from the lottery pool. This quota currently sits at 18 spots per weekday night (Sunday–Thursday only), reduced from the usual 24 while Paiyun Lodge undergoes renovation work — check the portal for the current number before you plan, since this changes periodically.
To use this route, select Yushan National Park Headquarters → Yushan Trail → "2 Days (Tataka–Yushan Trails–Tataka) (Paiyun Lodge Advance Application)" when you start your application.
Applications open 4 months to 35 days before your intended hike date, and the portal accepts submissions daily between roughly 07:00 and 23:00 Taiwan time. Popular weekday slots fill up quickly once the window opens, so applying on day one of eligibility gives you the best odds. If you miss the foreigner priority window, you can still try the general applicant pool 30–60 days out, though that route is lottery-based and far less certain.
The Paiyun Lodge fee is NT$480 per person, which covers both your lodge bed and the park entry permit — there's no separate permit fee on top of this for the standard route.
Since you will need to stay online to track weather updates, permit status changes, and pickup logistics after descending, setting up an Airalo eSIM for Taiwan before you land means no need to hunt for a local SIM card once you arrive.
If approved, expect an email roughly 30 days before your hike date with payment instructions — respond within the stated window or you risk losing your spot. Once paid and confirmed, log back into the portal to complete the Mountain Entry Permit step (Check Status → Apply for Mountain Permit). About a week before your hike, you'll also need to arrange your sleeping bag rental and meal package for Paiyun Lodge separately through the lodge's concessionaire — the contact details for this are provided after your permit is confirmed, since the operator has changed in the past.
The official permit covers a 2-day, 1-night route, but many experienced trip organizers actually recommend treating it as 3 days, 2 nights by adding a pre-hike night at Dongpu Lodge near the trailhead. This isn't part of the permit quota itself — it's simply a smart acclimatization step that meaningfully improves your odds of a comfortable summit push, especially if you're arriving from sea level.
A typical structure looks like:
The Tataka trailhead is most commonly reached via Chiayi or the Alishan area rather than directly from Taipei. Most international travelers base themselves in Taipei first, pick up any last-minute gear there, then travel south by train and bus or a private transfer to the trailhead region the day before their hike.
If basing yourself in Taipei before or after the hike, Agoda has hotel deals in Taipei, and it is worth browsing Klook Taipei tours and activities to fill rest days around the trip.
Don't panic — the system maintains a waiting list, and spots do open up from cancellations. You can also update and resubmit your application. Keeping your travel dates flexible by even a few days meaningfully improves your odds.