Xiangshan

A scenic day hike at Elephant Mountain, also known as the Nangang District Hiking Trail was a nice green escape.

This easily accessible trail offers stunning panoramic views of Taipei, perfect for capturing breathtaking photos or simply soaking in the city's vibrant atmosphere.

The moderate climb provides a refreshing workout, and the well-maintained trail makes it suitable for hikers of most fitness levels.

After conquering the hike and enjoying the stunning cityscape, treat yourself to a well-deserved reward on your way back down. Look for the red elephant sign and indulge in a refreshing lime touch ice cold dessert, the perfect way to cool down and conclude your evening adventure.

A must-visit place when you are in Taipei. The hike up is stairs only to the peak so brace yourself. About 40 mins hike up and down. Many tourists here to take up the challenge, but it’s understandable as it’s a quick hike with great views. Free view of Taipei compared to $600 paid when you go up the 101 observatory, plus the satisfaction when you climb it yourself. Please bring water or bubble tea, climb to see the sunset.

One of the easier place where you can have beautiful views of Taipei. The climb is quite steep, there are few paths to get to the highest viewpoint but regardless of which one you choose, all require some physical effort. The total ascent is about 140m but because it is quite short, it is pretty strenuous. Good news is that all paths are stone stairs, more convenient even if there is some rain.
There are multiple viewpoints along the way.
Bring water and a small sweat towel.
Even though easier on the way down, be careful as your legs will use different muscles and you will feel it for sure unless you are very fit.
Well worth it the effort.

Good place to slot some hiking into your travels. Located in the city, it promises a great view of Taipei city and Taipei 101. A lot of stairs are involved, so it might not be suitable for some people. Otherwise, it took me around 1 to 1.5 hr. If you want to do more hiking, you can continue the trail for other areas aka Tiger, Lion, Leopard Mountain

Great place for trail. Take note lots of stairs but the view is worth it. Can link to other trails also. Less than an hour to reach peak. Can prepare hot coffee or tea and chill there also. Enjoy the scenery and fresh air. Help lift up spirit and get away from city life.

One of the trekking to be done in Taipei!!! There a short one and a long one. Make sure to just not go during the beginning of the afternoon, because probably to warm ! Ideally , in the morning , you can see the beautifull view on the top , just amazing!! You will see so nicely Taipei 101 , incredible ! Just be aware quite some people will take pictures…

Hike up the well paved trail to Elephant mountain/Xiangshan. For a person of average health and fitness, it takes between 40 to 50min to get to the peak. From there you have various options/paths to continue or commence your descent. Perfect if you want to combine some moderate physical activity with taking some great pictures of the Taipei 101 tower!

Great place to go hike up for some gorgeous views. It can get pretty dark in certain areas once the sun sets as not all parts have light posts. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a jacket and enjoy the walk

185m above sea level. Lots and lots of uneven height stairs. 2-4 check points for a breather and photo shoot.
It can be tempting to give up, but push on. The view at the peak is worth it.
Tips: 1. Bring water. 2. Target to reach the peak around sunset and wait this the buildings light up.
20-30min is about the time to reach the peak.

Xiangshan is a mountain with several hiking trails leading to amazing views. If you take the subway to Xiangshan station, the signs will navigate you through the park towards the hiking trails. The hike is very steep with uneven trail, so if you are planning to arrive at a specific time (sunrise or sunset) I would add extra time to the Google Maps estimate (especially because the place gets pretty crowded around this time). Children can definitely complete this hike but I broke quite a sweat.
Luckily, you don't have to reach the top in order to enjoy some nice Taipei 101 views.

Stairs, stairs, and more stairs!! Not for the faint of heart, but if you grind it out you'll be rewarded with a stunning view of Taipei and Taipei 101. You might need a flashlight, but the stairs are generally well-lit. Best to go at sunset/nighttime. Feel the burn LOL

It makes you heart beat as if you’ve seen you crush 😅. The stairs are not for the weak heart, some steps are too narrow. The elevation is not too hight but you can see the Taipei 101 and Taipei skyline. No entrance fee and after your hike/cardio there’s a free water below provided by the monks

If you want a nice view of the city, Taipei 101, and the city lights, this is a great place to see all three.
How to get there via MRT? Take the Tamsui-Xinyi Red Line to Xiangshan Station, go out exit 2. Walk straight out along the road on the right side of the park. Go left at the end, follow the road up and over to the trailhead. Begin your journey up.
As mentioned in other reviews, there are two routes up. Climb the initial steps from the trailhead, when you get to the fork, you choose your difficulty level. Go left for an easier climb. The right will be steep; the initial steps you climbed before the fork in the trail is a preview of what you need to expect on this route. I went left both times.
I went up twice; once during the day and again to catch the sunset and city lights. I had great luck on my second trip as the weather was perfect for the sunset.
This is a hike worth making.

A local friend recommended hiking Elephant Mountain when I asked for weekend activities. It was a great outdoor activity to get some fresh air and exercise, and you get stunning views of Taipei 101 from the various lookout points and viewing decks. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get to the midlevel paths, and about the same to get to the top paths. When you get to those levels, there's a circuit that you can walk which takes you to various viewing decks and lookout points.

The upward climb can be pretty steep and humidity + heat can be oppressive if you climb in the later afternoon to catch the sunset, so make sure to pack enough water to hydrate. There's also an Arabica after the temple before you start the climb, in case you need some caffeine.

Perfect place to see 101 tower. The hiking track is a stair but it is slipery when the rain comes. The track is pretty steep. Make sure to bring a bottle of water and an umbrella.

I took bus no.22 nearby TAIPEI MAIN STATION to Wuxing Elementary School, walked about 10mins towards the hiking start point. The journey was very easy and cheap via their public bus in less than an hour time.

Really enjoyed the hike at my own pace, the steps could get very steep at some areas but overall it is quite safe for everyone including kids. The view is rewarding and the nature that they have is refreshing. There are handrails installed for safety. Bring some snacks and drinks as you may stop by for little picnic. No ticket needed.

The hiking trail has different routes ( though some sections are quite steep) to suit different hikers wirh different physical and mental limits. It is worth the hiking experience anytime of the day during the winter when the weather is dry and cooling throughout the day. When making your way down the mountain, you can stop by an oden stall (near the entrance) for a bite to replenish your energy. It is run by a friendly old lady who ensures the oden soup is prepared with the freshest vegetables with no added salt. Even her home made mala sauce contains 20 types of premium ingredients.

Well-maintained stair climb all the way to the top, with toilet facilities and plenty of rest stops along the way! The view at the summit was surprisingly less impressive than at some of the viewpoints along the way. A must-see for visitors!

Good viewing pt to catch Taipei 101. If you are up for a good short exercise, go here. We sweated, even in Winter!

Take MRT Red line to the end - Xiang Shan. Exit 2 and walk across the park. If you are lazy, grab the Youbike. Cycle to the end, there is another station to deposit the bike there.

Take a left up the hill. When you reach the end, turn around to take a pict. Its worth it!

Then turn right and at the corner, you will see the plaque - Elephant Mountain there.

Prepare to walk up the flight of stairs. Its a short 20mins for a fairly fit person. Max 40mins. Keep right all the way, as there are many turning off to other paths.

There are 2 view points we went to. One at midway (270m) and another one at 270m.

I feel both are about the same, so if you are tired after 270m, it should be suffice to stop there.

I went just before sunset (missed the sunset, but wouldn't matter as it was cloudy). I saw Taipei 101 with light and after dark. Prefer the one after dark.

Bring a torch if you want to climb after dark. Though the path is superbly well lighted, it helps (and also as a back up flash for the nice pictures :))

Recommended.

One of the best experiences I had when I visited Taiwan. It was red moon and I visited/hike the mountain. It has the most magnificent of Taipei 101 and scenic view of illuminated Taiwan. PS. Bring a bottle of water and extra tshirt.