Situated in Lugu Township, the Sitou Forest Recreation Area (or the Sitou Nature Education Area) is one of the seven experimental forests that belong to the National Taiwan University. It is a popular recreation area with abundant natural resources, and its annual average number of visitors is around one million. Since the average temperature here is around 16.6 degrees Celsius, this recreation area is perfect for hikers, bird-lovers, and nature lovers.

Walking Trails:
The Sitou Forest Recreation Area has eleven trails for visitors to hike and to get close to the nature. Visitors may view a wide array of trees such as Japanese cypress, Taiwan red cypress, divine trees, ginkgo trees, as well as Moso bamboos. Also, bird-lovers many find a total of seventy species of birds along the trail, including Liocichla steerii, White-eared Sibia, Grey-cheeked Fulvetta, Green-backed Tit, Japanese White-eye, Streak-breasted Scimitar-Babbler, Rufous-capped Babbler, Formosan Yuhina, Black-throated Tit, Chinese Bamboo-Partridge, Vivid Niltava, Grey-capped Woodpecker, Grey-headed Pygmy Woodpecker and many others. 8x32 binoculars are recommended in order to view the birds.

Facilities:
The on-site facilities includes a bamboo cottage, a bamboo house, a camping area, a coffee shop, an exhibition center, a pond, an overlook and astronomical observatory, a pavilion, a plant nursery, restaurants, souvenir stores, meeting rooms, and lodging places. Visitors may see films about forest ecology, as well as animal specimens, wooden furniture, and bamboo furniture at the Forest Ecological Exhibition Center. Moreover, visitors may view beautiful sceneries at University Pond, Mt. Phoenix Overlook and Astronomical Observatory, and Prof. Wang Memorial Pavilion.

Overall, Sitou Forest Recreation Area is not only a place for hiking and bird-watching, but also a place to explore the natural beauties of Taiwan and expand their knowledge of ecology.

Directions:
Visitors may take THSR to Taichung Station, and transfer by Taichung Bus or Yuanlin to Sitou.