Forest Bathing at Lalashan
Written by Kay Poranee
Last Saturday morning, mist drifted above the ridges of Lalashan Mountain as a silver Volkswagen van slowly climbed the winding road that snaked around the mountain like thread wrapped around a spool. At 2,031 meters above sea level, behind the steering wheel was Mr. Mark, a middle-aged Taiwanese driver whose driving was as gentle as silk. The soft hum of the engine blended with the mellow tones of Chinese jazz playing quietly on the radio, the melody flowing like warm steam rising up from a teacup.
Mr. Mark drove my friend and me to the visitor center at the entrance of Lalashan National Park, where we met Yi-lan, a petite local guide with a fresh face and eyes that sparkled with vivacity. Every movement of hers was agile and quick—I could hardly believe she was already 63 years old!
Before entering the forest, Yi-lan had us inhaled the aromatic essential oil of Hinoki cypress. She explained that oil extracted from this type of pine helps heal the mind, reduce stress, and slow the heartbeat.
Yi-lan led us on a journey to visit all 24 giant trees in the national park.
“These trees are over a thousand years old. Compared to them, I’m still just a little child,” she laughed, her voice ringing clear through the forest.
As we walked deeper into the woods, I breathed deeply, filling my lungs completely and feeling as though my body and soul were being healed by nature itself.
The giant tree standing majestically before us had an enormous trunk with a circumference of over 30 meters, soaring more than 40 meters high. Its roots spread like dragon wings embracing the forest floor. I placed my hand on the rough bark, my palm sensing the coolness and solidity, as if receiving power from an ancient master of this primeval forest. Bird songs harmonized with the sound of wind through the treetops, sunlight filtered through green leaves onto the ground, and the earthy fragrance of the moist forest brought surprising calmness to my heart.
For a city dweller like me, being able to walk among these towering trees and breathe fresh air is a therapeutic activity that helps reduce stress, calm the mind, and heal the spirituality—a connection people are increasingly losing in the modern world. This contrasts with those Thai villagers who live near forests and mountains, for whom entering the woods is an ordinary part of their life. Rural Thai communities have rituals and beliefs related to forests, such as forest ordination, because traditional ways of life are inherently connected to nature.
Japanese scientists call this experience “shinrin-yoku” or “forest bathing”—a concept that began in the 1980s and has spread worldwide as a natural approach to healthcare. Forest bathing isn’t about hiking for exercise or reaching mountain peaks; it’s about stopping along the way, being still, listening, and connecting with nature through all our senses. It restores balance to body and mind, allowing our ego to become just a tiny part of the magnificent natural world before us. When we walk slowly beneath the canopy, breathing consciously in and out, we give our hearts a chance to rest and our bodies to restore balance without relying on any medication.
Numerous studies consistently confirm that spending just 2-3 hours in the forest reduces cortisol stress hormone levels, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and strengthens the immune system. Forests don’t just calm the mind—they directly impact physical health.
That evening, as we sat in the van returning to our accommodation, Mr. Mark told us:
“You know, in Chinese, if you combine the character for ‘person’ with the character for ‘mountain,’ you create a new character.”
“Really? What does it mean?”
“This new character is pronounced ‘Xian’ and originally meant ‘People who live with mountains.’ Later it came to mean ‘People who live long lives.'”
I smiled to myself, thinking, “Just like the word ‘Xian’ we understand in Thai, which means ‘Mystical being.'”
My forest bathing trip to Lalashan in Taiwan last week was a journey that helped restore my life energy from pure nature. Whenever I close my eyes and reflect on that vast forest with its thousand-year-old giant trees, I could still feel that serenity in my heart. It has extended my life, giving me the strength and energy in both body and mind to continue coping with the concrete jungle of chaos called Bangkok.
