A trail guide to get closer to Taiwan's mountains and forests!

A trail guide to get closer to Taiwan's mountains and forests!

Taiwan has a varied topography, ranging from plains, basins, and hills to coastlines. It is especially rich in mountain and forest resources. Its mountainous areas cover about 73.64% of the area, and alpine regions with altitudes above 1,000 meters account for 46.73%. This small island has seven mountain ranges, including Jade Mountain, the highest peak in East Asia. Therefore, the government has built many beautiful and unique trails for tourists to go and learn about the importance of ecological conservation and get close to nature. On the basis of these forest activities, this guide lists popular trails in Taiwan that beginners can easily access to the mountains and forests for your reference. Each trail is suitable for those who love nature, want to get away from the hustle and bustle, and love hiking. Before reading the guide, I would like to add that since most of the trails are in the suburbs, you need to drive there. If you do not have a car, the guide also lists trails that can be reached by public transportation to meet different needs. Please evaluate your needs when planning your itinerary. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask 😁
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Easier to get there by public transportation

Junjianyan Hiking Trail
@Wei-Lai
Junjianyan Hiking Trail is about a 10-minute walk from the nearest MRT station, with an altitude of 185.6 meters. The hiking trail is about 3 kilometers, and the total length is about 5.7 kilometers. The walking time is about 2 hours and 7 minutes. Its most famous rock is Junjianyan, and it is also the most beautiful place on the trail. It is a 30-minute walk from the MRT station to the rock and is very suitable for families or couples to come here for an outing.
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Jinan Mountain Trail
@Wei-Lai
Jinan Mountain Trail is next to downtown Dazhi and can be reached in about twenty minutes on foot. The trail is a circular route and can be easily completed in around two hours. At the top of the mountain, there is an observation deck where people can overlook the Taipei scenery. There is a dam on the creek on the way, which has the function of flood regulation. There is also a stone bridge to enjoy, suitable for an outing at any time.
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Xiangshan Hiking Trail
@Wei-Lai
The Xiangshan Hiking Trail is located in the Xinyi District, with 1,450 meters long, and at an elevation of 183 meters. The whole journey takes about one hour and forty minutes to complete. Its geology is mainly composed of sandstone. In addition, yellow-brown steep rock walls and boulders can be seen around. The huge rocks and the wide variety of creatures and birds in the natural environment make the entire mountain a natural ecological paradise. It is a beautiful greenwood for people to access easily and enjoy leisure time outdoors.
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Fujhoushan Park
@Wei-Lai
The Fuzhou Shan Park trail has three characteristics. First, the trails are made of wooden stacks and gravel according to the changes in the terrain. Second, there are no artificial structures mixed in, trying to restore its natural appearance. Third, it is close to the bustling Xinyi Shopping District that you can overlook from the top of the mountain. The trail takes about 30 minutes, making it suitable for those who have limited time but want to go for an outing to visit.
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Xianjiyan Hiking Trail
@Wei-Lai
The top of the Xianjiyan Hiking Trail is the highest in the surrounding area, and it takes only thirty minutes to reach the top. There is a wide variety of green vegetation along the way. You can overlook the streetscape of Taipei Basin not only along the trail but also from the top of the mountain. ​Starting from the archway on the side of the road, after passing the two stairs, steps 78 and 100, respectively, there is a densely shaded green trail with tranquil and pleasant scenery.
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Honglushishan Trail
@Wei-Lai
The total length of the Honglushishan trail is 12.9 kilometers. The top of the mountain is flat with a broad view, attracting many mountaineers and hikers to visit. You can overlook the Taipei Basin and see the Guanyin Mountain and the volcanic Datan Mountain Range in the distance. The Honglushishan is one of the few famous tourist attractions where you can overlook the night view of the greater Taipei area from a southern perspective. It’s worth going there to check it out.
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Erziping Trail
@Wei-Lai
The Erziping Trail is located on the southwest side of Datun Mountain. It has flat roads and beautiful scenery. Not only is it the most approachable trail in Yangmingshan National Park, but it is also the first barrier-free trail in Taiwan, which is suitable for family travel. The Erziping Trail is one of Taiwan's top ten landscape trails, along with Alishan and Taroko. Due to the growth of nectariferous plants, you can see a rich ecology of butterflies and insects from May to July yearly, making it one of the three major butterfly viewing spots in Taiwan. It is the most popular. This relaxing trail is perfect for families and children to enjoy the phytoncide in nature together, and it is comfortable to take a walk here to escape the heat in summer!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I am Jiun-Wei from Tainan, Taiwan. I have been living in the UK for around a year. Over the past year, I have traveled to 19 countries on the European continent with a backpack. Overall, I have visited nearly 35 countries around the world since I was a child. Old towns, atmosphere, local food in the alleyways, architecture, etc., always bring me inexplicable peace. While traveling, I also carry on my job to find a balance between my life and career. Especially working in a variety of places can give me more inspiration and sparks. Not only did I earn a bachelor's degree in Tourism and Culture in Taiwan, but I have just graduated with a Master's degree in Tourism Management from Bournemouth University. Meanwhile, I obtained the status of tour guide and tour leader. During the period of schooling, it fostered my deep interest in culture and history. Moreover, exploring and tasting delicious food worldwide is one of my interests. Hence, the itineraries and the advice I arrange and make for customers are planned around slow-based and historically significant sights and cuisine to provide an enjoyable but alternative travel experience in such a fast-paced society. I have a deeper understanding that each country has unique characteristics and culture after traveling to a number of countries. For instance, the most stunning scenery I have seen is in Iceland; the most mysterious country is Armenia; the place with unexpected scenery is Malta; the most impressive is Jordan, while the most friendly country is Taiwan. Hence, all of memories I gained makes me want to digitize the travel experience and share them more specifically. I hope to help people all over the world feels effortless to plan each of adventure by compiling travel experience into well-organized guidebooks and itineraries that contains my personal travel tips and advice!
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Hsinchu County, 台灣
Taipei City, 台灣
Keelung City, 台灣
Yilan County, 台灣
Changhua City, 彰化縣台灣
Tainan City, 台灣
Nantou County, 台灣
Taichung City, 台灣
Pingtung County, 台灣
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Taoyuan City, 台灣
New Taipei City, 台灣
Green Island, 綠島鄉台東縣台灣
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Hualien County, 台灣
Chiayi County, 台灣
Miaoli County, 台灣
Taitung County, 台灣
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