The first plan for national parks in Taiwan was hatched during the era of the Japanese occupation in 1937. The Taiwan governor's office selected three areas: Jade Mountain and Mt. Ali; Taroko Gorge and Mt. Hehuan; and the area around Mt.
台灣地區早在民國廿六年，即由日據時代的「台灣總督府」，選定三處國家公園預定地，分別是今天的玉山、阿里山，太魯閣、合歡山，及大屯、七星、觀音山等三處。