Beyond Elephant Mountain - The best viewpoints of Taipei 101 and the city

 


The Sishou and Nangang mountain ranges, which include the very touristy Elephant Mountain, offer numerous stunning viewpoints that can be covered in a half-day hike. But which one is the best viewpoint? Hard to tell, but have a look at the photos and judge for yourself. As for me, it’s definitely not Elephant Mountain, and not just because of the annoying crowds. 

Below, you'll find the route map and images with captions from the full hike, starting at Houshanpi Metro Station and ending at Xiangshan Metro Station. 

Tip: If you want to avoid the crowds, start the hike in reverse, beginning at Elephant Mountain when it’s still relatively quiet. I did it this way because after the hike, I wanted to check out a few more viewpoints—see my separate posts about Fuzhoushan Park. 

Hike in Google Maps 


Maps of the area. 



Walk from Houshanpi Metro Station to trailhead. 



Yes, you have to enter Songshan Fengtian Temple and go up one floor to get to the trailhed. 





The trailhead starting from inside the temple ground. 



View from the stairs. 


You reach a road, but follow the trail up the stairs. 





A boulder with the first good views. 







Continue on the trail. 



A shelter with views. 





Continue on the trail. 






Hushan Peak. 











Continue on the trail. 





Reaching an asphalt road, continue on the road. 



A cluster of temples and other buildings. 





Baoshan Peak. 








You can go up to a couple of temples but you will have to return the same way. 

















The trail is just next to the upper temple but it is closed with this door, so you have to descend and then climb back again. 


The trail up goes next to the temples. 



The closed door between the temple and the trail, from the trail side. 


Continue on the trail. 




On maps, it looks like there is a shortcut, but it is closed. There is a reason for this: the starirs do get close to the trail at the top, but the last bit is impassable. So stay on the path! 



Continue on the trail. 


A shelter with views. 







Continue on the trail. 


























This is where the shortcut would have joined the trail, but it's a cliff. There used to be ropes but they were removed and now there is a warning that this way is not possible. 


Views from the trail. 







Shelter at an antenna with limited views. 





The path to the left skirts around Jiuwu Peak. 


Jiuwu Peak offers views to both sides of the range. 








Continue on the trail. 


Cargo ropeway station. 





The marking of Mount Nangang's peak, just off the path. 



Continue on the trail. 



Rest area with views. 







Continue on the trail. 



Nangang Mountain South Peak. 










Continue on the trail. 






Wayside shrine with partial view. 










The path to Muzhishan (Thumb Mountain) branches off to the left right after the shrine. 








Muzhishan (Thumb Mountain) peak offers a full 360° panorama. 













Back on the main path. 





Rest area with views and a resident squirrel. 











Continue on the trail. 





Wayside shrine. 






Partial views from the trail. 




Continue on the trail. 






The path to Shishan Peak leads next to a temple with a big statue. 





Reaching the asphalt road, Shishan Peak is to the right, then left in the woods. 






Shishan Peak has a very limited view, but since it is part of the Four Beasts, you might want to stop by. It's not much of a detour. 




Back on the asphalt road. 




Temple with a little view. 





Continue on the trail. 




Viewpoint near Elephant Mountain. 





Elephant Mountain viewpoint. 





Continue on the trail. 



Viewpoint near Six Boulders. 






Six Boulders. 



Viewpoint near Six Boulders. 






Continue on the trail. 



Viewpoint. 





Partial view from the path. 


The trail shortly before reaching the city. 





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