Anyone stayed at the HeHuan cottage before? What is it like? Can I sleep in the dorm even if I am alone or do I need to be in a group?
They’re usually pretty friendly people there.
Normally they will, in exchange for 600$, put you in one of the 6-person tatami rooms with whoever is there already (functional, clean, electric blankets, quilts provided). If you ask politely they may try to arrange a dorm that has only one or two others. At weekends the rooms may be full and they will give you a space in the skiing center dorm rooms over the road - probably a better chance of snagging an empty dorm room there.
Of course you can just go for the $2,000+ private rooms (have never used them), or book out the whole dorm room…
Ask about eating dinner at the ‘Cottage’. Usually good value, convenient and filling.
Damned if I can find a link or remember what it’s called, but if you continue west on the road about 5-10mins there is a great little lodge that provides superb sunrise view right from your room. It’s on a wicked righthand [going West] hairpin. The young guy who runs it for his parents is extremely friendly, little bit of hiking right in the area, the main lodge has tons of tidbits to look at, and there’s a bunch of geese on the property. I can’t remember the price, but it wasn’t too bad, I’d guess in the ~1000NT range.
We stayed there after we tried the lodge and it was full of high school students. Very glad we did as the price was better and the experience muuuuch cooler.