You won’t find Matcha Mountain on any official maps, but that hasn’t stopped this spot becoming one of the hottest places for tourists to visit in Taiwan. An easy (if long) trail takes hikers up through pleasant forest to a summit with spectacular views of hills cloaked in shimmering grasses. Once you’ve made it to the top, it’s easy to see the appeal.
TAIWAN 100 MINOR PEAKS
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.
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.
GUANDAO MOUNTAIN (關刀山)
Guandao Mountain is located in Miaoli's Dahu Township and is number 36 of Taiwan's 100 Minor Peaks. The walk is exceptionally pleasant and offers hikers a shady forest trail with occasional views and the chance to sample the region's famous ginger tea.
MOUNT DAGANG and PANLONG CANYON (大崗山/盤龍峽谷/天靈洞)
This easy trail in Kaosiung's Alian District is full of interesting details. There's a twisty slot canyon, a temple in a cave, and one of Taiwan's 100 Minor Peaks.
HENG SHAN (橫山)
This easy walk straddling the border of Changhua and Nantou Counties takes in number 48 of Taiwan’s Xiao Bai Yue.
MOUNT DONGYAN (東眼山)
This beautiful trail in Taoyuan's Fuxing District takes you up to the summit of Mount Dongyan via some incredibly pretty forest footpaths.
TIEZHAN SHAN (鐵站山)
Tiezhan Shan is an easy walk with lots in the way of random art/weirdness to distract you from the fact that it’s not much of a walk. This is one of the Minor 100 Peaks that you could bring your gran to.
MOUNT DULAN (都蘭山)
For travellers to Taitung, climbing Mount Dulan - or Dugus A Du Lan in the language of the local Amis people - would make a wonderful day trip. The 1,190m peak sits close to the coast in Donghe Township, and on clear days visitors can enjoy views both of the Pacific Ocean, and the East Rift Valley.
MOUNT GONGZILIAO and GONGZILIAO FORT (槓子寮山/槓子寮砲臺)
The hills around Keelung are home to numerous old defensive structures left over from various periods in Taiwan's history. The remains found here at Gongziliao Fort are the most extensive and well preserved out there.
SOUTH GUANYIN MOUNTAIN (南觀音山)
This enjoyable loop trail in Taichung will take you to number 42 of Taiwan's list of 100 Minor Peaks. It is well-known in Taiwan's hiking circles for the odd sight of a giant golden hand at the summit.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 10B
This section of the Taipei Skyline Trail packs a lot of interesting spots into its not-quite-14km length. There are not one, but two Xiao Bai Yue, and one of Taipei's most impressive land god temples.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 9A
This section of the Taipei Skyline Trail is unique in that it is almost a loop. It covers conjoined ridges that form a horseshoe-esque shape stretching from Sanxia, out towards Daxi, and then back to Sanxia again.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 8
This leg of the Taipei Skyline Trail (best done in one concerted push), takes you through along a pleasant and mostly very gentle ridge. As you make your way towards the centre of Taiwan's ceramic industry, you'll pass multiple peaks, an ancient banyan tree, and a legendary rock.
TAIPEI SKYLINE TRAIL: SECTION 7A
Section 7A of the Taipei Skyline Trail sees you scaling Mount Guanyin the hard way, before leading you along a quieter stretch of path to the place where Taiwan's Robin Hood (allegedly) met his end.
Taiwan Trails and Tales 