Watching the sun rise on a new day is always a memorable experience, but a sunrise seen from the city's highest summit is doubly so. The changeable weather up on Mount Qixing makes it challenging for sunrise seekers, but if you do manage to beat the odds, and get good weather it feels like you've won the jackpot.
Author: taiwantrailsandtales
DENGMIAO TRAIL (登廟步道)
The majority of Dengmiao Trail is in Changhua County, but for a brief moment it will take you over the border into Nantou County. It's a casual, Sunday afternoon type wander with a good chance of spotting some Formosan rock macaques.
BIRD DIVINATION PAVILION TRAIL (鳥占亭步道)
This trail on the fringes of Dabang tribal village is a short walk that climbs to a pavilion with cultural significance for the local Tsou population.
MOUNT JINGANSHU (金柑樹山)
A perfect Nantou day hike with tea plantations, mist-filled bamboo forests, and the dramatic earthquake-caused landscape of Wangyou Forest Lake.
SHIGUANG HISTORIC TRAIL (石光古道)
This easy walk in Hsinchu's Guanxi Township takes hikers along a historic trail and past a unique Catholic Shrine.
XINPU WANDER (新埔走走)
This leisurely stroll around the rural Hakka town of Xinpu takes in a hillside park, a series of temples, historic houses, a market, and some temple unusual artwork.
FENQIHU CEDAR BOARDWALK TRAIL (奮起湖杉林步道)
This short and pretty loop in the hills near Fenqihu will get you away from the crowds of the historic railway town and onto quiet and beautiful forest trails.
FENQI TRAIL (奮起步道)
This short and well-kept walk skirts around the historic town of Fenqihu in Chiayi's Zhuqi Township. Along the way, you can enjoy majestic bamboo forests and hear the melodic sounds of so much bird life.
YEHLIU PORT HILL and the CAMEL’S HUMP (野柳山/駱駝岩)
This wonderful pocket-sized adventure on Taiwan's northern coast is almost a perfect half-day hike.
RAKNUS SELU DAY 9 (樟之細路D9)
Day 9 on the Raknus Selu trail was a pleasant day. After a comfortable night spent in a B&B beside Mingde Reservoir, we walked along historic trails to arrive in the town of Shitan.
RAKNUS SELU DAY 8 (樟之細路D8)
Day eight on the Raknus Selu Trail was a long day. It saw us travelling about 24 kilometres from Sanwan to the top end of Mindge Reservoir via trails, track, and roads.
NEIHU TWIN HEARTS TRAIL (內湖雙心縱走)
Normally trails draw me because they offer some specific feature or summit. Maybe a waterfall, a unique temple, or a view that stretches for miles and miles. This walk does indeed have many peaks, some temples, a waterfall, and some views, but the real attraction of this trail is the double heart-shaped route it traces on the map.
MOUNT MAOLAN (貓蘭山)
This short and very easy trail can be done as part of a visit to Nantou's Sun Moon Lake. Along the way you'll learn a little about the history of tea in Taiwan, and tick off another of the 100 Minor Peaks.
FENGZILIN SHAN and NIAOYUE SHAN (楓子林山/鳥月山)
This slightly rough-around-the-edges walk is probably not going to be everybody's cup of tea. But if you've done lots of the popular hikes around Taipei and are looking for something a little quieter then this might just be the walk for you.
EWEISHAN PADDY TERRACE and PINGJING STREET CHERRY BLOSSOM (鵝尾山水田/平菁街櫻花巷)
There are lots of cherry blossom viewing spots dotted around Taiwan, and taking a walk to enjoy the pretty pink petals is something that many locals like to indulge in at least once a year. This sakura spot in Yangmingshan National Park is an easy and convenient location to enjoy the pink petals.