Hiking Elephant Mountain for the Best View of Taipei

THE ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN 

Elephant Mountain  is the most famous of the “Four Beasts Mountains ” of Taipei, Taiwan and the most easily accessible.  

Elephant Mountain is the most popular of the mountains for a good reason.  Being the closest to the city not only means easy access, but it means stunning views of Taipei, especially Taipei 101

Despite being dethroned as the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2009 by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, Taipei 101 is a spectacular building and impressive to see in person.

      The main entrance to the Elephant Mountain  hiking trails.

The main viewing area of Elephant Mountain has a bunch of big boulders that you can climb onto to get a great view of Taipei City.

 Elephant Mountain is a serene place to relax and blow off the stress of the city below.

Though you can see Taipei 101 from many spots in Taipei, there is one place that is known as having the best view of the building: Elephant Mountain. Not only does it have great views of Taipei city, it’s also a popular spot for locals to exercise and tourists to hike. It’s easy to get to, free and a nice activity for all visitors.

So if you want to get that wow photo of Taipei, you have to head to Elephant Mountain. Here is all you need to know about visiting.

Tips for Elephant Mountain

• Try to go early in the morning on a weekday if you don’t want to be around crowds. I went on a Tuesday morning around 9 AM and there weren’t many people there, mostly locals exercising. But come around 4 PM on the weekend for the sunset, it gets crowded. So stake out a spot if you want that epic sunset photo of Taipei.
• Wear sneakers/running shoes. It’s not a long hike but like I said, it’s steep and you’ll need comfortable clothes and good shoes.
• It’s a short trail so no guide needed, there is no entrance fee.

How To Get There? 

From Taipei 101:
From the base of Taipei 101, walk east on Xinyi Road for two blocks until you reach MRT Xiangshan Station, only a 15 minute walk from 101and completely worth it. To get there faster, take aYouBike from the station across the street from 101 (MRT Exit 2), then return the bike at the park nearby the trail entrance.

By MRT

After arriving at Xiangshan station, the terminus of Red Line 2, leave from Exit 2 and continue walking alongside the edge of the park. At the end of this road, take a left and follow until the entrance for Xiangshan Hiking Trail, total 650 metres, around 20 mins.

Youbike

The closest station is located along the street next to the park at the base of the trail. Another station is located across the street from Taipei 101.

NATURE LOVERS and CHERRY BLOSSOMS

YANGMINGSHAN NATIONAL PARK 

Yangmingshan National Park located between Taipei and New Taipei City. The districts that house parts of the park grounds include Taipei's Beitou andShilin Districts;
 and New Taipei's Wanli,Jinshan and Sanzhi Districts. The National Park is famous for its cherry blossoms, hot springs, sulfur deposits, fumaroles, venomous snakes, and hiking trails, including Taiwan's tallest dormant volcano, Seven Star Mountain(1,120 m).

Yangmingshan National Park was officially the third national park established in 1985. Situated on Mt. Yangming, one of the most well known mountains in Taiwan, Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Taiwan. It features volcanic formations and fragrant blooming flowers during all four seasons. Because of the variety of beautiful plants and colorful flowers that flourish in the park, some people regard Yangmingshan National Park as the “backyard of Taipei”. Due to its tropical climate, Yangmingshan is an ideal location for plants and animals to grow.

Being the only national park in Taipei City, Yangmingshan National Park has become increasingly popular amongst Taipei citizen as well as foreigners. It is one of the best choices for families, couples, friends, and hikers to visit. The park also features popular scenic sites such as Qingtiangang and the Zhuzihu Scenic Spot. In addition to the scenery, visitors may also enjoy delicious wildlife cuisine at the national park. 

Overall, Yangmingshan National Park is one of the perfect places to get close to the nature in Taipei City!

How to Get There? 

By Bus

From MRT 2 Jiantan station  leave Exit 1 (Shilin Night Market), and walk to the left-side bus station, busses heading north. Take either city bus R5 or small bus(PREFERRED) S15 or S17 to Yangmingshan station.  Fare is NT$15, payable by cash or Easycard. This station serves as a base to explore the mountain, and the area has a few shops like 7/11 and a Starbucks. Bus 260 also leaves from Taipei Main Station, although Jiantan is recommended. Bus S15 from Jiantan is best, as it travels past the main transfer station to other destinations such

as Xiaoyoukeng,  Lengshuikeng , and Qingtiangang Grassland Trails.

A GREAT PLACE TO RELAX.

BITAN

BITAN SCENIC AREA

Bitan is one of the eight famous attractions in Taiwan which is near by MRT Xindian station and a good place for people to relax and enjoy their weekend.

BITAN SCENIC AREA 

Bitan is a stretch of the Xindian River that has been dammed and turned into a recreational area. The name Bitan means "emerald lake", and is derived from the natural, emerald-turquoise color of the water (except after heavy rain). Paddle boats can be hired, and there are some great river-side coffee shops (the ones furthest from the station, such as 'Waterside Bistro', are recommended) offering views over the river and the lush green mountains beyond. While it is not worth traveling a long distance to visit, enjoying a coffee at Bitan is certainly a very pleasant and relaxing way to round off a day of bathing in the hot springs of nearby Wulai.

BITAN BRIDGE 

BITAN PARK

It is also name Green Lake in Chinese, this park is a great getaway from the city. Only 40 minutes away from Taipei Main Station at the southern terminus of the MRT green line, Xindian Station this riverfront park is home to a wide variety of restaurants and is a great place to relax.

Besides the ample choices for food at the riverfront, the interior road is home to a night market selling a variety of Taiwanese and pan-Chinese snacks, calledxiǎochī (小吃), as well as select favorites from all over the world.

Spanning over the Xindian River is the Bitan Suspension Bridge connecting the two neighborhoods on the east and west side of the creek, making it one of the landmarks of New Taipei City. 200 meters long, the bridge was completed in 1936, the bridge is unique in that it is illuminated by light beams that change in color, creating a random effect and mini light-show.

The area along the east bank is home to a large amount of restaurants and food shops, carnival activities, park amenities, as well as paddle boat rentals. Grab some snacks and jump in a boat with some friends!

RELAX AND ENJOYED THE SCENIC VIEW IN BITAN AREA

Xindian also known by its historical spelling Hsintien and alternative spelling Sindian, is a district located to the south ofTaipei where the apartment complexes of the Taipei metropolitan area meet the northern end of the Central Mountain Range.

The districts of New Taipei are generally considered to have a less salubrious environment than those in Taipei City, though Xindian is an exception. Built later than many of the county's other municipalities, Xindian is a spacious suburb with good recreational facilities. Besides the famous Bitan Lake, the city also boasts good hiking areas in the mountains that surround the city. In recent years, IT industries have also expanded rapidily in Xindian, and this has greatly increased the affluence of the area. There are three large shopping complexes in Xindian, as well as a bustling downtown. The Hwa-yuan Xin-cheng (New Garden City) area of Xindian was developed in the 70s and 80s with the aim of attracting artists and writers. Thirty years later, the green hills, quiet environment and relatively inexpensive real estate prices of Garden City still attracts the art crowd, and in addition, many Westerners have settled there. New Garden City is located about twenty minutes from downtown Xindian, off the road to Wulai.

How to Get There? 

By MRT

The city is accessible through the MRT Xindian (Green) and Xiao Bitan (Light Green) Lines.

By bus

The Xindian Ke-yun buses criss-cross the city and connect Xindian with Taipei and other cities in Taipei County.

From Taoyuan International Airport

From the Taoyuan International airport, you can take the bus number 1968(City air Bus)[2] until the terminal Xindian MRT Station. You can take the bus from Xindian to Taoyuan between 4:40am and 11pm (every 20 minutes). From Taoyuan to Xindian the bus start at 6:40am until 00:40am.

T

Take the Green Line 3 to Xindian (新店), the southern terminal station. After exiting, turn left and up the stairs across the road to access the riverfront.

Although there is a station named Xiaobitan (小碧潭), this station is primarily for commuters and does not provide access to the Bitan scenic area.

SUMMER VACATION SOMEWHERE IN FULONG BEACH AND SANDS SCULPTURE

FULONG BEACH 

Fulong Beach is located adjacent to Fulong Village at the mouth of the Shuang River in Gongliao District of New Taipei City. Frequently visited by Taipei residents during the summer due to its easy access from the city, Fulong is one of the more popular beach destinations in northern Taiwan.

The sand on the beach is golden in colour, a rarity for Taiwan, attracting visitors from all over the island.

WE LOVE SUMMER OUTING 

Taiwan is blessed with plenty of natural resources that can be used to draw visitors, such as the three kilometer-long golden beach between Yanliao and Fulong in the Northeast Coast. For its soft, highly cohesive white quartz sands, this beach is acknowledged by the World Sand Sculpting Association to be the best for making sand sculptures in Taiwan.

It has been ten years since the Administration held the first Fulong International Sand Sculpture Festival in 2008 to promote sand sculpting art in Taiwan. 

Fulong International Sand Sculpture Festival 2016

Taipei, May 7 The Fulong International Sand Sculpture Arts Festival kicked off at Fulong beach in New Taipei Saturday, with the participation of sculptors from more than 12 countries.

This year's festival, the ninth since 2008, features sand sculptures by artists from the United States, Canada, France, Lithuania, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Latvia, Russia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

The team from Singapore has made President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) the subject of their work, while other teams have chosen to depict the world's tallest building, the most expensive painting in the world, and Taiwan's bustling night markets.

The theme of this year's festival is "Glory of Golden Sand," which alludes to the fine soft sand on Fulong beach.


Visitors to the festival are advised to take the train to Fulong and walk five minutes to the beach area, said one of the sponsors, the Northeast and Yilan Coast National Scenic Area administration under the Tourism Bureau.

Address:

No.40,Xinlong St.,Gongliao District,New Taipei City,Taiwan (R.O.C.)

opening hours:

Fulong Beach: 08:00-18:00 (Ticket counter opens up to 17:30/Closed from October-May of the following year)
Fulong Tourist Information Center
Jan-May & Sep-Dec: 09:00-17:00
Jun-Aug: 08:00-18:00

expenditure brief:

Ticket Price:
Adult: TWD 100
Discount ticket for elders over 65 & students: TWD 80
Group ticket for group of more than 20 people: TWD 90
Special ticket for children under 110cm: TWD 10
Special ticket for visitor with disability & when water area is closed from October - May of the following year: TWD 40
The above fees are for reference purposes only; actual costs are informed at the actual venue and we do NOT give any prior notice.

From Taipei Main Station, Songshan Station (MRT Green Line 3), or Nangang Station (MRT Blue Line 5), take any northbound train besides a Keelung-bound one to Fulong Station (福龍車站). The journey should take around 75-90 minutes depending on train type.

Returning to Taipei City, Train Times in the Afternoon:
14:08 Chu-Kuang (莒光) - Reserved Seating and Limited Stops
14:25 Local (區間車)
14:50 Tze-Chiang (自強) - Reserved Seating and Express Service
15:22 Local (區間車)
16:10 Local (區間車)
16:51 Local (區間車)
17:23 Local (區間車)
17:36 Chu-Kuang (莒光) - Reserved Seating and Limited Stops