What's up, Hivers and Pinmapple peeps? Where have you been recently? The weather was great last weekend, and I couldn't resist the allure of the silver grass blooming at Mt. Qixing in Yangmingshan. So, I quickly got out of bed, took a shower, grabbed my breakfast, and dressed up like I'm going to the gym, lol! Then, I headed straight to Xiaoyoukeng, where the trailhead of Mt. Qixing is located.
What's up there, 
Come along on my awesome hiking trip to Mt. Qixing! Check out cool pictures and find out how to get there. Don't miss the fun – read on for a hiking story that might just spark your own adventure! 🏞️🥾
Let me start with a brief information about Yangmingshan :)
Yangmingshan National park
Yangmingshan National Park, situated north of Taipei, Taiwan, is famous for its volcanic scenery, hot springs, and dormant volcanoes. Mount Qixing, the highest point in the park, offers stunning views of Taipei. Visitors can enjoy diverse plants and animals, soak in natural hot springs, and hike on well-kept trails, making Yangmingshan a favored spot for nature lovers and those looking for a peaceful getaway close to the busy city.
Mt. Qixing
In fact, this isn't the first time I've visited Yangmingshan and climbed Mt. Qixing. Living in the center of Taipei, it's the quickest getaway for me to either hike a mountain, cycle to the mountain or just relax and enjoy the cold breeze and amazing scenery. Below, I am sharing a picture of me in cycling attire with my bicycle in front of one of the craters of Yangmingshan. But don't be confused, this photo is from few months ago and I am reserving it for another blog 😁
Mount Qixing, found in Yangmingshan National Park near Taipei, Taiwan, is the tallest hill around, reaching 1,120 meters (3,674 feet). It's known for its cool views of Taipei and interesting landscapes.
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Getting there from Taipei Main Station to Xiaoyoukeng
By Bus
- Go to Taipei City Mall Exit Y4
- Catch the bus #260 that will take you to MTC Bus Yangmingshan Stop. There is a bus #260 every hour.
- From MTC Bus Yangmingshan Stop, walk a bit to Yangmingshan Bus Terminal
- There you want to catch the bus #108 going to Xiaoyoukeng Service Center
- And the Qixingshan Trailhead - Xiaoyoukeng is just beside the Xiaoyoukeng Service Center.
By Motorcycle
- Exit to Taipei City Mall Exit Y8
- From there it is a 350m walk going to KYMCO 世崧車業行 (Motorcycle Rental Shop)
- Make sure to bring your International Driver's License if you aren't a local.
- From there you could follow this route going to Xiaoyoukeng
By Uber/Taxi
Of course, if you want a hassle-free travel you can always take a taxi or uber to get there. If you are a foreign traveler, I highly recommend getting an Uber instead of Taxi.
Arriving at Xiaoyoukeng
One reason why I love hiking in Taiwan, especially in the National Parks, is that the places are always supplied with the basic necessities to make you well-prepared and comfortable for your trip. You'll always find paved roads, parking lots, toilets, vending machines, and a lot of road signs that will guide you for a safe and comfortable journey.
Parking lot
If you are planning to get here by your own or rented vehicle there is a parking lot for you! although keep in mind that the parking lots can get full during peak hours and days.
Toilet
Around Xiaoyoukeng you'll find few buildings with toilets where you can peepee, poopoo or change your attire.
Bunkers
Interestingly, you'll see some bunkers hiding around the mountain of Yangmingshan. These areas are restricted to tourists.
Hiking the Mt.Qixing
On to the trail!!
Although it's only an hour's motorcycle ride from my place, I arrived a bit late in the morning. You can see that the trail is quite bright as the sun is nearing noon, and the silver grass reflects the sunlight all over the path.
Mt.Qixing Silver Grass
During the fall, something special happens on Mt. Qixing – the silver grass blooms. This means the grass turns silver and looks really pretty. It happens in autumn, making the mountain even more beautiful. People come to see this amazing sight and enjoy the changing colors of nature.
I found this picture awesome and funny at the same time because we lined up to take photos of the scenery and ended up including each other in the frame. It's like we're in Inception. Imagine all the hikers along the trail are doing this at the same time hahaha!
Mt.Qixing Steaming Craters
The Mt. Qixing trail is well-paved with stairs throughout the hike. Along the trail, you'll encounter a few steaming rocks that have a very strong smell. It can be reminiscent of a fart, but strangely, it reminds me of the smell of "balut," a boiled quail egg from the Philippines.
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View Deck
As I mentioned, it was getting late in the morning, so we came across a lot of hikers who were finishing their hike. If it's your first time here, you'll be surprised to see groups of elderly locals climbing mountains. It's just their usual weekend activity. No wonder there are more elderly than young people in Taiwan. They are healthy. And you'll also see their kids tagging along with them like hiking is nothing but fun.
Here is the view from the first stop of the trail. You'll see the path you have walked through and the parking lot where the bus stop and trail head is also located.
For the Gram
Well yeah, we're not only here to make ourselves tired and have a good food and good rest afterwards. We are here for the gram!
I think my outfit doesn't match the colors of the mountain haha!
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I saw 阿公 (ā gōng - grandpa) bravely standing in this steamy land. I thought it was perfect for my Instagram! But not long after, I realized that it is so hot to stand here. I felt like I was in an outdoor sauna. BTW, Im not smoking, I was chewing a bamboo stick haha!
Mt.Qixing Peak
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Around 12 o'clock we are half way to the peak. Fortunately the trail going there is covered by drawf bamboo tunnels. It helped us survive the heat of the direct sunlight.
This cute and afraid dog prooves that this trail is just a play ground. lol!
And we made it to the peak! It wasn't that hard. How beautiful is that scene!?
I highly recommend this short hike if you are traveling to Taipei and looking for a nearby trail that can be easily reached from the city center.
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Fair warning, the taking photo with the pole will take you 30 mins as there is a long line of hikers wishing to have it for the gram!.
Yangmingshan offers more than this short hike trip to Mt.Qixing. You may also go to nearby hot springs or other trails and parks like Qingtiangang Grassland which is a topic for my next blogs!
I am ending my blog here, I hope you enjoyed reading through and looking at the awesome photos of Mt.Qixing's scenery. I hope it helps you plan or makes you interested in visiting this place if you are planning to travel to Taipei!
Thanks for reading through!再見!
-krios
Other blogs
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A Weekend Retreat: Camping, Waterfalls, and Scenic Views in Yilan County, Taiwan |
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My gears:
- Canon D200 II
- Insta360 One x2
- DJI Mini 4 Pro
- Xiaomi 11 Lite
All photos are mine unless otherwise stated and/or referenced