Leaving behind the Inner Sea portion of the trail and moving on to the Canal portion, day two on the MSTW was another easy bike ride through increasingly less urban or industrial, and more rural or agricultural landscape.
Author: taiwantrailsandtales
SANXING MOUNTAIN (三星山)
The Mount Sanxing Trail is a steep and pretty walk through varied forest landscapes to the highest summit within the boundaries of Taiping National Forest Recreation Area.
SANXIANTAI (三仙台)
Sanxiantai is a former isthmus — now islet — located on Taiwan's southeast coast, just north of Changbin. People are drawn here to admire the arresting sight of the eight-arched bridge that connects the coast to the islet, and most never go much further than the mainland-side end of the bridge. However, if you push on a little further, the islet has much to explore, including sea caves, snakes, and fossilised corals.
XIAOXUESHAN HEAVENLY POND TRAIL (小雪山天池)
Xiaoxueshan’s Heavenly Pond is a beautiful alpine pool sitting at an elevation of over 2,000 metres within Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area. It’s accessible via a very easy, mostly flat trail from Xiaoxueshan Visitor Information Station.
MOUNTAINS to SEA GREENWAY DAY 1 (山海圳國家級綠道D1)
Day one on the MSTW is an easy bike ride inland over ground formerly covered by Taijiang Inner Sea.
CHERRY BLOSSOM in LOHAS PARK (樂活公園櫻花季)
Every sakura season, the otherwise non-descript Lohas Park becomes a crowded riot of colour as the full blooms of cherry trees attract hoards of sightseers and photographers. More blossom and some easy walking can be found along the banks of Neigou Creek, which straddles the boundary between Taipei and New Taipei.
MIANYUE LINE (眠月線)
The Mianyue Line hike has to be one of the most photographed hikes in Taiwan. Kilometre after kilometre of trestle bridges, mossy tracks, and abandoned tunnels stretch out through beautiful old forests, high up in the clear air of Chiayi. It is not hard to see why this hike has become popular.
YINGZAI PEAK and CHAOYIN CAVE TEMPLE (鷹仔尖/觀音山潮音洞)
This short but strenuous walk in New Taipei's Wugu District offers steep ascents, lots of temples, and (in the right season) cherry blossom and black kites.
YAKOU LOOKOUT TRAIL (埡口觀景台步道)
If you’re heading to Daxueshan National Forest Recreation Area and want to do a walk with views, this short hike to a panoramic lookout platform is undoubtedly the walk for you.
CHERRY BLOSSOM at CAOPINGTOU (草坪頭櫻花季)
Caopingtou Yushan Tourist Tea Garden is one of Taiwan's premier cherry blossom viewing spots. Each year, thousands of trees paint the slopes in beautiful shades of pink, drawing in blossom lovers from far and wide.
RAKNUS SELU TRAIL – DAY 14 (樟之細路D14)
Day 14 was the final day of hiking on the Raknus Selu Trail's main A route. We passed through many orchards and were rewarded with our first ever sighting of a pangolin.
TAIXINGYAN TRAIL (太興岩步道)
This short walk in Chiayi's Meishan Township offers pretty mountain scenery and a gentle way to stretch your legs on the drive up to Ruitan or Fenqihu.
RAKNUS SELU TRAIL DAY 13 (樟之細路D13)
Day 13 on the Raknus Selu Trail is a gentle day spent following mostly rural roads between the Hakka town of Zhuolan and the Tayal village of Shuangqi.
JINMIAN SHAN SUNRISE HIKE (金門山日出)
Mount Jinmian — or more accurately, Scissors Rock —offers one of the best spots from which to catch the sunrise over Taipei and watch the city waking up.
XIAQIGU WILD HOTSPRING (下七股野溪溫泉)
This very short walk in Yangmingshan National Park's northern reaches offers you the chance to soak in a milky-watered hot spring pool while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.
Taiwan Trails and Tales 