Qixing Mountain Trails in Taipei

Qixing mountain(七星山) is located in the center of Yangmingshan (陽明山) National Park (YMS NP). It is the highest mountain (elevation 1120m) in Taipei City. Qixing Mt can be also spelled as Chihsing or called as Seven stars Mt. 

The main peak of Qixing Mt.

There are not only skyscrapers and fine food in Taipei. If you have a whole day' time in Taipei, and the weather is good, climbing the mountain wound be a wonderful experience for you.

There are three trails to the Mountain top, which are from the Miaopu(苗圃) , Xiaoyoukeng(小油坑), and Lengshukeng(冷水坑) entrances.

There are parking lots near the 3 entrances. Otherwise, you may take the  Bus 260 from the Jiantan MRT station to the Yangmingshan Terminal Station,  and then take the  Bus 108 which goes around the YMS NP in a clockwise direction, and it will stop at the 3 entrances. The Taipei bus cooperation adjusts the transportation according to the weather conditions. The Bus S15 runs between Lengshukeng and Jiantan MRT station, and it is also a good choice of visiting the mountain.

The Miaopu trail entrance (elevation 570m) is the nearest one from Taipei city, but It is the  toughest one. The Xiaoyoukeng trail (elevation 811 m)  is the easiest one,and you can enjoy the gorgeous volcanic view at the same time.  You can feel the hot air came out from the fumarole ,and smell the unpleasant odor of sulfur compounds from the deep of the Earth. Although the volcano is still active, but don't worry, the last eruption was just 200 thousand years ago.  Menghuan pond  (夢幻湖) which is famous for its underwater plants is near the entrance of Lengshukeng (elevation 750). If you have enough time, you can walk to Qingtiangang (擎天崗) from Lengshukeng (1.7km, 50mins). Qingtiangang is the biggest meadow in northern Taiwan, and the meadow was formed after wildfires.

The entrance of Miaopu trail

The forest part of Miaopu trail

The entrance of Xiaoyoukeng

The fumarole on the Xiaoyoukeng trail

Menghuan pond

The trail in the arrow bamboo. 

It may take 2 hours for the Miaopu trail and 1.5 hours for the Xiaoyoukeng trail (just oneway up). And you can choose anyway up or down. Toilets and drinking water are available at the visitor centers near each trail entrance. There's only one toilet in Qixing park on the trail.

The view of Xiaoyoukeng from the Qixing main peak

The view of the east peak of the Qixing Mt from the main peak

I am on the top of Taipei city.

The top and the northern side of the Qixing Mt is covered with silvergrass (芒草) and arrow bamboo(箭竹), and the special landscape is due to perennial strong wind from the north. Besides it is cooler, autumn is the best season of visiting the mountain because of blooming of silvergrass.

You may see many animals on the trail, such as butterflies and lizards. The chestnut tiger butterflies (青斑蝶) have brilliant wings to warm the predators "poisonous",  and they will not fly away when you close up to them. (They think you are scared, too.) The blue-trailed skink (麗紋石龍子) is famous for its bling-bling tail, and it is a frequently-encountered sunbather on the trail. If you are lucky enough, you may meet a family of bamboo partridges(竹雞). In the forest of Miaopu trail, squirrels and birds are seen commonly, and they also make noises.

The chestnut tiger 

The blue-tailed skink 

The bamboo partridge

On the top of the mountain, you can see the best view of Taipei. There are numerous buildings in the Taipei basin and Taipei101 would be easily recognized among them. Several rivers wind through the basin. You can see the ocean of the northern Taiwan island. The mountain top of Daba (大霸尖山) may be visible, if the weather is so good. A poet said that Taipei basin is like a cello, but I think it's more like a cradle which raises up 6 millions of people at daytime and makes them sleep well at night.

The rivers wind through the Taipei basin.

The weather may change quickly in the high mountain area, therefore be sure to have a raincoat with you.  It is always windy on the mountain top , and do not stay there when thundering. Bringing enough water with you is strongly recommended, since it may be hot under the sun. Luckily, cellular phone is OK at most area of the trails.

Road sings every 200 m on the trail. 

Simple info :

Qixing Mt main peak, elev 1120m.

Miaopu , elev 570 m, 2.5km, 2 hr

Xiaoyoukeng,elev 811m, 1.5 km, 1hr 20min

Lengshukeng,elev 750m, 2km, 1hr 40min

Bus 260 from Jiantan to YMS terminal, then Bus 108  to the 3 entrances.
The bus stop near Miaopu entrance is "Second parking lot/Visitor Center".
Bus 108 Range Car runs between YMS terminal and Erzihping (bidirectional), which pass Second parking lot only. 

Bus S15 runs between Jiantan and Lengshukeng.