The Mount Shamao Hiking Trail is easily accessible from Taipei City and is immersed in nature. We did this route on the first day of our visit to Taipei. On the second day, we were awe-struck by the beauty of the impressive Yangmingshan National Park, which is one of the most beautiful routes we have done so far.
About Shamao Hike
This route was conveniently located just a few meters from our hotel in Taipei, “Check in Select Taipei Yangmingshan.” We found a lot of wildlife during our walk, which made this walk unique. It is located within the Yangmingshan area in the Beitou District; Taipei Shamao Mountain is located south of Qixing Mountain, with an altitude of more than 600 meters.
We walked from our hotel, but if you are in Taipei City, there are several ways to get there, including public transportation. Buses go to the Yangmingshang bus station from MRT Jiantan Station, MRT Beitou Station, and Taipei Station. It is a short walk to the start of the hike. This hike lasts around 2 hours and only takes 1km to get to the top. There are several entrances, but we started here; the hike is a loop and ends here.How to get there?
By taxi, Uber works well in Taipei.About this hike
Volcanic Geography and Hot Springs
The Yangmingshan area is known for its thermal baths and hot springs. We did not expect to see immense reddish rocks with abundant falling water next to the track. The smell was sulfuric, and you could see the steam coming from the hot springs. The Baiyun Falls on the side of Yangde Avenue were an nice way to start our walk.
Uphill path with many stairs
As soon as we started the route, we encountered numerous stairs—be prepared to climb many! But the panorama was serene. Beautiful trees and plants accompanied us, and the good weather was in our favor—it was not raining or very hot.
The steps end, and the path becomes flatter
At a certain point, the numerous steps finished, and the ground became flat; we walked along a green path to the viewpoint.
Animals we encountered
While walking, we encountered a macaque eating fruit at the top of a tree. We also saw several lizards along the way, and we were lucky enough to capture one with vibrant blue colors.
View of Mount Qixing
We reached the top, and it was worth climbing so many steps. We were looking right at Mount Qixing, the tallest mountain in Yangmingshang National Park. We would be there the next day!
Chinese tombs
After admiring the view for a few moments, we continued our walk and came across some tombs. The tombs were designed like those at Bukit Brown Cemetery in Singapore.
According to Feng Shui, this half-moon shape helps concentrate good energy. Some tombs were protected by lion statues, symbolizing strength and vigilance.
End of the hike in Mount Shamao
Then, we began to descend several stairs until we reached the exit. On the way to our hotel, we passed Qianshan Park Public Bathhouse next to the Yangmingshan bus station.
Final thoughts
The hike was pleasant, and the views were impressive, but if you have to choose, I recommend hiking directly to the top of Qixing Mountain. It is much more varied, and it is fantastic to walk among the volcanoes. You can read about it in our detailed guide: Yangmingshan National Park: Hike to Qixing Mountain.