Yushan Main Peak Trail
Yushan Main Peak Trail is the classic 2-day, 1-night out-and-back route inside Yushan National Park, built around an overnight stay at Paiyun Lodge and a pre-dawn summit push. It runs from Tataka Saddle trail access up to the Main Peak (3,952 m) with a Day 2 climb timed for sunrise.
Typical structure is Day 1 Tataka Saddle to Paiyun Lodge (about 10.9 km one-way) with the summit attempt saved for Day 2. Day 2 includes a short but steep summit push from Paiyun Lodge to the Main Peak, then the same way back.
The climbing is a sustained high-altitude effort rather than technical scrambling: Day 1 gains to the 3,400 m lodge, and the summit day rises from there to 3,952 m. Expect the summit section to be the most demanding part of the itinerary, and plan for early starts (headlamp needed) to reach the summit before sunrise.
Permits and lodge beds are the real gating items. To hike in the Yushan Ecological Protected Area, you need a park entry permit and the Paiyun Lodge application/bed arrangement; the Paiyun Lodge approval is treated as the practical permit/booking link for the overnight.
Starting point access is via Tataka Trailhead, which is reached through the Paiyun Mountaineering Center at Tataka. After getting the needed permits, you check in at Paiyun Mountaineering Center for the overnight, then continue along the main trail for the summit attempt.
Seasonality matters because conditions at the higher sections can turn hazardous. Winter snow/ice can require proper snow gear and know-how (ice axe, crampons, helmet); if you lack required equipment you may be restricted to Paiyun Lodge and not allowed to advance farther during safety controls.