In this article, I will share my experiences in one of the most beautiful places I have visited: Yangmingshan National Park.
I knew that Taiwan had beautiful natural features, impressive mountains, and hot springs, and I was eager to explore during my first visit to Taipei City. However, we had limited time, so we decided to visit Yangmingshan National Park because of its proximity to the city.
About Yangmingshan National Park
Yangmingshan National Park is a must-visit if you are looking for nature near Taipei City. I enjoyed its stunning volcanic landscapes, hot springs, and scenic hiking trails. The highlight of our trip was exploring Qixing Mountain, the park’s highest peak, and enjoying panoramic views of Taipei.
Combining our trip with a visit to The Yangmingshan Hot Springs was a relaxing retreat, perfect for unwinding after our hike.
Yangmingshan National Park’s weather is ideal for outdoor activities, with cooler temperatures year-round. Its proximity to Taipei City and Taipei International Airport makes it an excellent day trip destination.
We stayed at the Check Inn Select Taipei Yamgmingshan Hotel, where we took a leisurely walk and hopped on bus 108. The bus conveniently dropped us at the entrance of the Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Center. We found the journey straightforward and stress-free. If you are in Taipei City, there are several ways to get there, including public transportation. From MRT Jiantan Station, MRT Beitou Station, and Taipei Station, buses go to the Yangmingshang bus station. From there, take the 108 Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Center. This 5.2 km hike takes around two and a half hours, including small breaks to contemplate the views. The trail is well-maintained and relatively challenging, with a few steep sections. The terrain varies from rocky paths to lush greenery, providing a diverse hiking experience. We started our hike at Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Center and finished at Lengshuikeng Visitor Center. Download the map and use it in Google My Maps (not to be confused with Google Maps) or apps such as Outdoors Active or Maps Me.How to get there?
About this trail
Map: where do we start?
The start of the hike
Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Center is the entrance to Qixing Mountain Trail, which we decided to follow after brainstorming all the possibilities. The park is extensive, and it is challenging to choose one trail; fortunately for us, the employees working at the visitor center were helpful and friendly.
They were hikers themselves, and after asking us a couple of questions to understand our level of hiking and the available time, they recommended we follow this trail. We are happy that they did it because it did not disappoint us!
Xiaoyoukeng fumaroles
What a surprise to find the fumaroles just a couple of meters from the visitor center. We knew that this area had sulphuric grounds because of its volcanic presence. We even enjoyed warm, sulphuric natural hot springs in our hotel.
But watching the fumaroles right before us, which got lost in the beautiful blue sky surrounded by the mountains shaped by post-volcanic activity, was the best beginning we could imagine!
Many steps ahead of us
After enjoying the fumaroles, we started ascending the group of stairs. We did not count them, but I can tell you that there were a lot!
The path was well-marked, and there were few people that day. The weather was also perfect for our first hike in Taipei. It could be unpredictable in June, with much rain, humidity, and heat!
Vivid green grass
Mt. Qixing serves as a barrier against the Monsoon. The plants in this area are super strong and can stand still and strong against strong winds!
The stunning and vivid green grass results from the sulfur vapor that covers its environment, creating a unique and beautiful natural phenomenon.
Views of the Datum Volcano Group
Yangmingshan National Park is the only national park in Taiwan that has volcanoes. The volcanoes were active between one million and 200,000 years ago.
Some scientists have found magma below the volcano group. Given the city’s proximity and the towns, this would be fatal if the volcanoes were active. Taiwan experiences around 1,000 earthquakes yearly while on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The landscape is serene and varied. The vegetation’s colors contrast with the rocks, and a soft breeze accompanies us. Even though the sky has dark clouds, we feel it will rain at any moment.
Incredible vistas of Taipei city
We’ve reached the point where we have incredible and rewarding views of Taipei City. Despite the cloudy sky, we can see Taipei nestled in the middle of the basin. Nearly 7 million people live in metropolitan Taipei!
Reaching the highest point of our hike
Finally, we reached the highest point of our trail in Yangmingshan National Park, Mount Quixing Main Peak. At 1120 m.a.s.l, the wind was strong, and we even had to hold on to the rocks and grab our belongings so the wind wouldn’t blow them away.
The vistas were spectacular, and we stayed there for a while, admiring the landscape and the tranquility of the surroundings.
On the way to Lengshuikeng
After reaching the highest point, we started our descent toward Lengshuikeng. The sky became darker, threatening to begin pouring on each moment. But there were still many steps ahead of us, up and downhill. The views were stunning; we even found a path with many beautiful butterflies.
The End of the hike
We have reached the Lengshuikeng Visitors Center. We had no idea what to find there, but surprisingly, there were clean restrooms and places to refill our water bottles.
After a long and rewarding hike, we got a little hungry and were ready to enjoy some typical warm Taiwanese comfort food and a good cup of coffee in the restaurant in the visitors center.
We returned to our hotel, and it was a short taxi ride! We were lucky that a few taxis dropped off passengers at the parking slot, and we could grab one quickly.
Final thoughts
If you are visiting Taipei and are a nature lover, we recommend visiting Yangmingshan National Park. It is the ideal day trip because it is near the city and accessible by public transport and Uber!
The weather at the beginning of June was perfect, but it is always good to get information about Yangmingshan National Park weather and prepare for rain and wind, depending on the season.
Attractions nearby-Hotsprings
Relax in the delicious thermal baths known for their healing properties in the area. Where can you find them? Our hotel, Check Inn Select Taipei Yamgmingshan, has thermal baths for guests. We were lucky to stay in a room with a spring tub!
We came across Qianshan Park Public Bathhouse beside Yangmingshan bus station but checked before going because it seemed temporarily closed. You can also check Beitou Public Hot Spring, Spring City Resort, and Longnice Hot Spring, but I have not visited these places and can not share my personal experience.