The world-famous Yangmingshan National Park covers the volcanic mountain range behind Shilin and Beitou. There are hiking trails, hot springs and numerous areas to relax and fill your lungs with fresh air. Within the mountain range, there is also a cultivated area famous for its flowers, which are especially stunning in the spring. From Beitou, bus 230 plies the route every thirty minutes. It is a short walk from the bus terminal station to the cultivated area of the park. Hikers will enjoy the walk up to the peak of Qixing-shan (Seven-star Mountain).
Admission to the park: free.
Getting around the park
The mountains are covered in a network of roads, and there are several mini-buses that leave from Zhongzheng Road (directly in front of exit 1 at Shilin MRT Station) that traverse the mountains.
For just NT$60, you can take the 108 bus around the park an unlimited amount of times during its operating hours (0700 - 1730). There are plenty of stops at various locations around the park, but you may have to wait 15 or 20 minutes between buses, so plan accordingly.
Getting back to Taipei:
Bus 260: Every 10 minutes, from Zhongzheng Road in Shilin, traveling along Zhongshan North Road, stop directly behind Taipei Main Station.
Bus Red 5 leaves from the park every 15 minutes, takes 40 minutes to Jiantan MRT Station, Taipei and costs NT$30.
Admission: Free
What to do in the Park?
Hiking
The mountain peaks are accessible by a network of well maintained hiking trails.
Tianmu Trail (天母古道), a pathway up the side of Yangmingshan from Tianmu (天母), the end of the Zhongshan North Road Sec. 7. The entrance is marked with a large signboard and map (in English). Up the trail about 1000 step stairway, you can see a historic water pipe line along the trail, built in 1940s. End of the steps, the trail becomes flat and comfortable, walk along in the forest and enjoy the clear air. Great! This trail is today one of Taipei's most popular day hiking destinations. You can take the MRT (Danshui line) to Zhishan Station and take the 220 bus from the intersection of Zhongshan North Rd and Zhongcheng Rd to the terminal station, then walk north up Zhongshan North Road past the circle about to the end of the road (about 5 minutes), and you can see the entrance with a large signboard.
Places to bathe in the Park
Lengshuikeng Public Baths - Open until 21:00. Free. Nude, men and women in separate buildings. Make sure to bring your own soap and wash cloth. The rules insist that you much pre-wash before entering the smallish 40 degree Celsius tub, and the attendees will insist too. Not many foreigners find this place, so if one, be ready to intimately meet the locals. The hike from the bus terminal takes about an hour and a half, and if planing to huff it back after dark, bring a flashlight.
External links:
0 comments:
Post a Comment