Taiwan, a gem in Asia, is a country of unparalleled beauty. Just a short flight from Singapore, it’s a gateway to a nature-filled paradise waiting to be explored.
We were prepared for hills painted in autumn shades during our second visit to Taipei in November. However, Typhoon Kong-rey had just passed through, leaving dense mist and unstable weather behind. Despite this, we adapted our plans and found joy in the volcanic hot springs and quiet atmosphere, even though Yangmingshan National Park was cloaked in fog.
Thankfully, the weather improved in Taipei City, and we took the opportunity to hike the 4 Beasts Trail—a city-friendly hike with breathtaking panoramic views, easy access, and solid trail infrastructure. It’s the perfect urban nature escape, especially if you want something manageable but rewarding.
About the 4 Beasts Hike
In Taiwan, in general, and in Taipei, there are plenty of hiking routes to explore; if you search for hiking in Taipei, you will probably find the Famous Elephant Mountain hike, which is, to my taste, way too crowded. The four beasts hike is one of the best hiking trails in Taipei and is named after Elephant Mountain, Tiger Mountain, Leopard Mountain, and Lion Mountain.
The quiet route starts at an impressive temple with walls covered by carved Chinese figures. The path behind the temple leads up to the mountains through a path covered with trees, boarding the city of Taipei.
During this hike, we looked for the four beasts. Each beast is represented by a silhouette cut from a circular black metal panel. These figures can be found in lookouts facing the skyline of Taipei.
How to get there? To get to Songshan Fengtian Temple, we took an Uber from our accommodation near Taipei 101, but public transport is efficient in Taipei, and I am sure you can figure out the best way to get there from your hotel. How long is this hike? This 5-km hike, including the visit to Songshan Fengtian Temple, will take two and a half hours. Tips to prepare for your hike: During our visit, there were some stretches with mud, and we were happy to wear our hiking boots. As the weather can be unpredictable, we carried an umbrella that covered us from the rain and, eventually, the sun. As always, take some water with you. There are no shops along the way, but we did encounter several toilets. Map This hike starts at Songshan Fengtian Temple and ends at the Xiangshan metro station near Taipei 101. The GPX or KML route is available on the Map under details.
Songshan Fengtian Temple
When the taxi dropped us at the street-side entrance of the temple, we had no idea what to expect. After going upstairs, we were impressed by the grandeur of this colorful temple. It was much bigger than expected! We didn’t know where to look as we were overwhelmed by the carved figures of brave Chinese warriors riding horses and striking their swords. What a masterpiece to carve all the figures in solid wood.
The temple was full of gold ornaments and the typical Chinese red.
Behind the temple is a steep stone staircase leading up to the mountains and the start of this hike.
For a full-day hiking adventure outside the city, check out my guide to Yangmingshan and Qixing Mountain—Taipei’s highest peak with volcanic terrain and hot springs.
The path toward the Tiger lookout
At the beginning of our hike, we could see the lags of the storm. A thick tree trunk lay, its roots wholly exposed over the broken stone path.
Fortunately, the rest of the path was walkable, and even if it was a little misty, a calm, fresh wind accompanied us.
During November, we sporadically encountered some passants. From the tiger lookout, we could see the famous Taipei 101 hidden behind the mist.
The path toward the Leopard Peak
While we walked, it rained; luckily, we had our raincoats and umbrellas with us. The rain was not heavy, and the road was mainly a broad street, Songshan Road, in front of a temple.
After a while, we reached the signs directing us to the Leopard lookout. At this point, signs will mark the road, and toilets will also be available along the route.
The view was beautiful even if a dense mist still covered the high buildings of Taipei city that loomed through the dark clouds.
Where is the Lion?
After passing in front of the realistic statues of Songshan Lingyin Temple, we almost missed the sign indicating to turn right toward the Lion lookout, as we needed to walk over fallen branches and mud. The path would have been much cleaner if not for the recent storm’s struggles.
We managed to reach the lookout, watching our steps carefully. The day before climbing Mount Shamao, we dodged by a hair the venomous brown-spotted pit viper, an endemic reptile of this region.
A diverse hiking route
The trajectory to Elephant Mountain was the most varied and picturesque.
We passed by a small temple and in front of a Pomelo Orchard that looked so delicious; after all, it was almost lunchtime.
Following the path download, we were surprised to encounter a giant statue; on Google Maps, it is marked as the Statue of the Most Holy Master/Tianbao Holy Dao Palace.
Return upstairs from the same road you came to continue hiking to the Elephant Peak.
The Famous Elephant lookout
We continued climbing the stone stairs until we reached a broad asphalted street leading to a Temple: The North Star Palace. At this point, there were many stone stairs to climb up, and some steps had motives of trees and leaves carved in them.
Love hikes with panoramic city views? You’ll also enjoy the Dragon’s Back Trail in Hong Kong—another stunning ridge walk near a major city.
There are several lookouts at Elephant Peak, and despite the weather, we encountered some crowds. I can not imagine how crowded it can get with good weather.
After taking some pictures and strolling around, we headed for the stairs that would take us directly to the city.
Getting to the city
The stairs leading to the city were crowded. Most of the people were going up, and we were going down. The most well-known route is walking up to the Elephant Lookout and down again.
We reached Xiangshan Park, where we ate some delicious, sweet, fresh pineapple that an ambulant vendor was selling. We walked until we reached the end of our hike at Xiangshang metro station.
There are many places nearby where you can have lunch. Our favorite spot is the Indian Palace in the Food court at B1 of Taipei 101 Shopping Center. They have vegan and vegetarian options.
If you’re interested in cultural and historical landscapes, visit Gyeongju in South Korea—a city filled with ancient temples and scenic trails.
Final thoughts
The Four Beasts hike was a good alternative because we could not hike in Yangmingshang due to the bad weather. We enjoyed the hike, which was a mix of nature and temples.
We also enjoyed stopping at the different lookouts to admire the city. The hike is relatively easy with a few steep stairs, but it is perfectly durable for beginners. The Elephant Lookout was too crowded, but it was an easy shortcut to reach the city and end our hike.
The 4 Beasts hike is a great route you should take advantage of in Taipei!
🌄 Love Scenic City Hikes? Don’t Miss These Trails
If you enjoyed the views from Taipei’s Four Beasts Trail, here are more hikes that combine nature, skyline panoramas, and peaceful getaways near the city:
🌋 Yangmingshan Qixing Mountain – Hiking Between Volcanoes & Misty Peaks
🌲 Mount Shamao – An Easy Escape Near Taipei’s Yangmingshan
🐉 Dragon’s Back Hike in Hong Kong – Coastal Views & Jungle Trails
🌆 Hike Lion Rock in Hong Kong – Epic Views Over the Skyline
🌳 Southern Ridges in Singapore – Walk Above the Trees With Ocean Views
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