Lingbo Temple Trail is a tiny little walk in Xizhi that’s probably only visited by a handful of locals. It takes you up to a temple with a view over the area, then heads back down along a fishing pond and past a cute little temple in a cave. It probably doesn’t deserve a spot in any guidebook, but it’s an unexpected little treasure right next to the city.
Distance: A touch under 3km.
Time: 1-1½ hours at a comfortable pace.
Difficulty (regular Taiwan hiker): 0.5/10 – Very easy, very short.
Difficulty (new Taiwan hiker): 1/10 – Short and sweet, just a few steps and a slightly overgrown path.
Total ascent: Around 80m.
Water: A single small bottle should suffice, the temple at the top of the hill has a water dispenser too, so you can fill up if need be.
Shade: Patchy. I’d have needed an umbrella if it had been a sunny day.
Mobile network: Perfectly clear.
Enjoyment: This isn’t a destination-type trail, but if you’re in the area and have a spare hour, then it’s worth the effort.
Route type: Point to point.
Permit: None needed.
Jump to the bottom of this post for a trail map and GPX file.
I came by scooter, but it is really very easy to access this walk from the train network. Leaving Wudu Station onto Chang’an Road, turn right then immediately left heading towards the thunderous sound of the raised road.
When you hit the imposing structure of Provincial Highway No. 5’s spur route turn right and walk through the scooter park to the next junction, then take a left onto Zhongxiao East Road.
The start of the trail doesn’t really look like the start of anything. In fact, it looks like a dead-end yard/second-hand car dealership. But it really does go this way (the lanterns with the temple’s name on them are perhaps the only clue that it goes somewhere).
At the back of the little carpark, look out for this trail on the left. It leads you around the bottom edge of an allotment before turning right and starting to climb.
The trail splits in two, take the one heading right/straight over (I think the one on the left just goes to a couple of graves).
This section of the walk is easy to follow, but it’s clear that it isn’t a much loved walk. Plants are trying hard to conquer the concrete steps, and even the plants which look like they were probably deliberately placed there now seem to be a little wild.
About half way up the climb, I spotted a little group of these brightly coloured beauties. I think they must be busy attracting mates at this time of year, because it was almost exactly a year ago that I last saw one.
Pressing onwards and upwards, I soon arrived at the north-facing altar of Ningbo Temple. Looking out towards Wudu I spotted the recognisable profile of Xizhi’s Lion Head Hill (a great little rural walk).
Walking beyond the first altar you’ll soon come to a second. (There is usually a third one immediately above this with a larger-than-life statue of Guanyin, but it was under renovation on this occasion.)
This second altar has a view over Xizhi, looking in the direction of Nangang. On the right are the arches of two bridges spanning the Keelung River, and beyond them, Taipei 101, and one of the peaks on the left is Xizhi’s Dajian Shan.
The walk continues down those steps in the middle of the floor, but before you head that way why not take a look at the rooftop statues (up and on the right), or head to the high point above the temple.
It’s just another 100m or so to this area with a too-small-looking pavilion and a concrete clearing that is gradually crumbling away at the edges (the furthest side has dropped down by a metre or so). From here I returned back to Lingbo Temple and headed down the steps.
Once down the steps, there are two paths. Take the one which cuts around the bottom edge of this white building – you can’t see it from here, but there are steps just beyond the rear of the structure.
Not just steps, but surprisingly well-maintained steps (given the state of the rest of this walk). An easy concrete trail cuts its way down through the bamboo – there’s even lighting here for nighttime visits (although who knows if it actually works or not).
Walking down for about five minutes will bring you to a flat area with a basketball hoop and some rows of vegetables. Keep heading straight on and you’ll soon find yourself in front of Fude Temple.
A rather lovely painting adorns the external wall of the temple, and one external altar bears the name of the temple.
The interesting part is inside though. Here you’ll find several alcoves carved into the wall at head height housing various deities.
The space is big enough not to feel claustrophobic, but I felt the need to duck down ever so slightly when I was inside. Both times I have visited there have been fresh lilies scenting the air, mixed together with the incense and damp, earthy smell of the cave it is quite atmospheric. There are lights inside, but I didn’t succeed in finding the switch, so I had to use my head torch to illuminate the space.
By the time I left the temple, it had started to rain. The fishermen and women around Sigupi seemed unperturbed though. Based on the name, there’s a belief that this irrigation pond was originally jointly owned by four families. From here the water would have flowed down to feed into to rice paddies that once covered the area that now makes up downtown Xizhi.
Take a right and follow the track down until it joins the road.
Head straightish over the junction, passing Chongde Parking Lot on your left. Then take a right onto Jiadong Road.
If you came by scooter you’ll probably want to take another right pretty quickly onto Zhongxiao East Road, but if you’re heading for the train station then just keep going straight until you pass under the train tracks.
Once you reach the railway line turn left and follow them another 300m or so until you reach Xizhi Station.
Getting there
Google maps address: The trail starts from Chongyi High School bus stop, and ends at Xizhi Station.
GPS location:
- Wudu trailhead – N25 04.530 E121 40.020
- Xizhi trailhead – N25 04.370 E121 40.150
Public transport: It’s really easy to access this by train. I started from Wudu Station and you can return from Xizhi Station.
Nearby trails:
- Cuei Lake and Neigou Shan
- Dajian Shan
- Nangang Tea Mountain Trail
- Ruyi Lake
- Tamsui Kavalan Trails – Wanhua to Xizhi
- Tamsui Kavalan Trails – Xizhi to Ruifang
- Xin Shan and Dream Lake
- Xizhi Lion’s Head Mountain
Lingbo Temple Trail Map
GPX file available here on Outdoor Active. (Account needed, but the free one works just fine.)
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Taiwan Trails and Tales 