Yaming Mountain

Yaming Mountain is a breath of fresh air and only a quick trip away from the crowded streets of Taipei. It's a great place to go to see a little greenery and breath more freely.

Yamingshan Park (at the end of the bus route) is a nice area to begin exploring. There are flowers, ponds, hiking trails, and waterfalls in this area. It's really enjoyable, but can get a little old after a few visits.

Other parts of the mountain are also worth exploring. On the parts of the mountain that are not part of the national park, there are many small coffeeshops or restaurants, which are fun places to relax. Some even offer outdoor seating or views of the leaves changing color in the fall.

Inside the national park are also many other areas to explore. There are a variety of hiking trails, recreation areas, waterfalls, and fumeroles to explore.

Quick Tips:

The best source of information that I've found about Yaming Mountain actually came from the Taipei City MRT maps! There is one map they publish that contains the MRT map on one side and information about local sights on the other (all in English). Under the "natural sights" on that map were several Yaming Mountain areas described. Pick up a copy of the map in English and Chinese, and you'll have more luck asking for help if you get lost (the maps are identical, just printed in different languages, so find what you're looking for on the English one, find the same place on the Chinese map, and point!).

Best Way To Get Around:

There is a bus up to the mountain, but once you get up there, it's hard to get around. On the weekends and holidays there is another shuttle bus that will take you around, but I've never used it (I try to go on the weekdays to avoid the crowds). To really get out into the park, I prefer to ride my scooter up the mountain (although coming down is a little scary if there's lots of traffic!!).

Seven Star Mountain (Chihsingshan) is the tallest mountain within Taipei City and can have great views. However, in the afternoon, the clouds may roll in and obscure any view (as it did on the day I hiked to the top). In spite of that fact, it's a fun hike and then you can say you've been to the tallest mountain in Taipei City! As you're hiking up, you may think that you've come to the top (the trail goes up and down a couple of times), but you'll know you're at the top when you come to some benches and a directional post with a thermometer on it.

Sulfur Valley is an interesting area of geothermal springs--these aren't bathing springs, but they're definitely worth a look! It's interesting to see the steam rising out of the ground and the different colors on the rocks from the geothermal activity. You can hike all around the area, and the nature is pretty, too.

Although it's part of Yamingshan Park, it is most accessible from New Peitou. Take the MRT to that stop and walk or take the bus from there. Ask at the New Peitou visitors center if you need directions.

On the north side of Seven Star Mountain is a fumerole, which releases steam and gas continuously. There are also some small pockets of hot springs. All this is definite proof of Taiwan's continued geologic activity! It's an interesting area - better worth the trip than Sulfur Valley.

The waterfall was much smaller and much less interesting than the brochure had indicated. Perhaps it's better at other times of year, but I was not impressed!

The Yamingshan flower festival is a great time to visit the mountain for scenic views - there are cherry blossoms and lots of other flowers in bloom in February/March (check the local paper for exact times). There's also a separate calla lily festival around the same time of year - also beautiful, but somewhat commercialized.

The only downside to the flower festival is that everyone else is trying to go at the same time. Don't go on the weekend (it's a madhouse), and do allow yourself enough time when you go - you may have to wait for one or two buses to come by before you actually get on one.