Taiwan Trails and Tales

a guide to get you out of the city and into the hills

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xizhi district

XIZHI LION’S HEAD MOUNTAIN (汐止獅頭山)

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Sometimes you feel like a grand adventure somewhere far from home, but other days call for a backyard adventure. This walk is perfect for one of those days.

AUTUMN COLOURS at GONGBEI TEMPLE (拱北殿賞楓行)

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An easy wander in New Taipei's Xizhi District. Come in November or December to enjoy the bright red leaves.

NANGANG TEA MOUNTAIN TRAIL (南港茶山步道 )

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If you picture Nangang District in your mind what do you see? The train station? The exhibition centre? The giant software park? I bet you didn’t envision quiet hillsides cloaked with neat rows of tea. This trail offers an insight into a side of Nangang that not so many people know about.

TAMSUI-KAVALAN TRAILS: XIZHI to RUIFANG (淡蘭古道:汐止/暖暖/瑞芳)

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The northernmost span of the Tamsui-Kavalan Trails follows the course of the Keelung River upriver from Taipei almost as far as the coast before veering south towards Jiufen. The section between Xizhi and Ruifang jumps from small town to small town, passing lots of temples and traces of history along the way.

RUYI LAKE and JINMING SHAN (如意湖/金明山)

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A small, but perfectly formed hike tucked away in a corner of New Taipei City’s Xizhi District. Despite being only a couple of kilometres long, this walk manages to pack in some ridge climbing, a small lake and a few views.

XIN SHAN to DREAM LAKE and KEZILIN RIVER POOL (新山/夢湖/柯子林天然游泳池)

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Excitement, adventure, great views, a hidden lake and a wild swimming pool just outside of Taipei. This is a great loop walk with all sorts of rewards for those who attempt it in the warmer months.

DA JIAN SHAN via XIUFENG FALLS (秀峰瀑布/大尖山)

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An easy hike with a waterfall and city views in Xizhi District.

XIAO NANGANG HILL TRAIL (小南港山步道)

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Xiao Nangang Hill is a peaceful, scenic wander within walking distance of the MRT.

CUEI LAKE AND NEIGOU SHAN TRAIL (翠湖/內溝山步道)

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img_7482 Fun scramble through a hidden valley just to the east of Taipei.

Taiwan Trails and Tales Facebook

Taiwan Trails and Tales Facebook
When the stonemason’s skill set doesn’t do you justice… A magnificent multitude of mushrooms. This spectacular colony had moved in to grow on the body of a tree that had fallen in a dry creek bed. While this week’s post isn’t visiting somewhere I hadn’t been before, it does offer a new (to me) way of experiencing it. The Qixing Mountain Three-Way (yes, I took some liberties with that translation of the Chinese name because it entertains me to do so), is the best way to ensure you see all aspects of Taipei’s tallest mountain.

Note: Taiwan Trails and Tales has been going for over eight years now, so there are a fair few dead links and bits of information that need updating on the site. If you find one, I would greatly appreciate it if you let me know either by commenting on that post or by dropping me a line in the contact form (on the "About" page) so that I can remove or update it.

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After a decade of running Taiwan Trails and Tales, I’ve come to the conclusion that it is time to make some changes. From now on, the trail details on some new guides (maps, transport and difficulty info) will be made available to members only. Don’t worry, though: all 500+ existing guides will stay completely free, as will the stories and photos on every new post.
Read why I’m making this change →

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