Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Taiwan. Located in the north of Taipei City, it is also called the “backyard of Taipei” because even locals visit here on weekends regularly! In this article, we are going to introduce you all the things you need to know about Yangmingshan National Park, including how to get to Yangmingshan from Taipei city center, the must-visit attractions, the best hot springs and hiking trails in Taipei.
History of Yangmingshan
During the Japanese Occupation of Taiwan, Yangmingshan was called “Caoshan”(“Grass Mountain”) because it was all covered with grass and people seldom visit the place. After World War II, the government established a national park here and renamed it as “Yangmingshan”.
What’s Special About Yangmingshan?
Yangmingshan National Park is the only national park in Taiwan that has the volcanic landform and hot springs. The gorgeous scenery and the excellent location (that it is close to Taipei) has made Yangmingshan National Park both a perfect weekend getaway option for locals and a fine holiday destination for tourists.
Taipei to Yangmingshan by Public Transport
So here comes the question: How can I get to Yangmingshan from Taipei? If you did not rent a car or a scooter, here are 2 options to get to Yangmingshan by public transport.
Bus No.260
Bus 260 will take you from Taipei Main Station to Yangmingshan Station, which is the last stop. And then take Bus 108 to reach Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters & Visitor Center.
Bus Red 5
Another option is to take Red 5 from MRT Jiantan Station, the bus will drop you off at Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters & Visitor Center.
⭐️For detailed information, please refer to Yangmingshan National Park.
Top Attractions in Yangmingshan
Qingtiangang Grassland
Qingtiangang Grassland used to be a tea plantation farmland and a cattle farm back in the period of Japanese Occupation. Nowadays, it is one of the largest grasslands you can find in the Taipei Metropolitan Area. Some cattle remain to roam free around Qingtiangang, which attracted a lot of tourists here to have a stroll and take pictures!
Zhuzihu
Tucked between the volcanic mountains of Yangmignshan, Zhuzihu is also a must-visit site in the national park. Known for its gorgeous calla lily fields, every year during March and April, Zhuzihu attracts innumerable local and overseas tourists to appreciate the sea of flowers here.
Datun Nature Park
Datun Nature Park has been replanted and restored to create this wonderful natural environment that we have today. It cultivated numerous kinds of plants, insects, and birds. Moreover, thanks to the gorgeous scenery, Datun Nature Park has become one of the most popular places for couples to take wedding photos.
Yangmingshan Hot Spring
The volcano landscape is the most special part of Yangmingshan National Park, and the hot springs attract both local and overseas tourists to enjoy and relax. You can find an endless list of the hot spring spa resorts in Yangmingshan, but there are still a few wild hot springs that are free of charge and open to the public.
Yangmingshan Hiking Trails
Mainly consisting of the Datun Volcano Group, the geologic structure of Yangmingshan National Park is primarily Andesite. The volcanic cones, volcanic domes, craters, and crater lakes have formed a unique geographic landscape of Yangmingshan. And here are the 3 best hiking trails in Yangmingshan National Park, Mt. Qixing & East Peak Trail, Mt. Datun Trail, and Erzihping Trail.
Mt. Qixing & East Peak Trail
1120m above sea level, Mt. Qixing is the highest peak in Taipei City. “Qixing” stands for “7 stars” in Chinese, the name came from the 7 hilltops of the mountain which looks like the Big Dipper. Mt. Qixing trail is one of the most popular trails in Taipei, visitors can enjoy the magnificent 360-degree view of Taipei on top of Mt. Qixing.
- Location: Beitou, Taipei
- Length: 5.7 km
- Time: 220 minutes
- Difficulty Level: 🌕🌑🌑
Mt. Datun Trail
Located inside Yangmingshan National Park, Mt. Datun has an elevation of 1092m, and it’s the best place in Taipei to enjoy the sunset, sea of clouds and night view. Autumn is the best time for visitors to enjoy the sea of Silver Grass here, make sure to bring your cameras!
- Location: Beitou, Taipei
- Length: 0.9 km (one-way)
- Time: 90 minutes (round-trip)
- Difficulty Level: 🌗🌑🌑
Erzihping Trail
Erzihping Trail is the most suitable options for beginners, the trail is flat and with beautiful scenery from the starting point till the end. If you are hiking with children, this is the best choice! There are endless kinds of colorful butterflies to keep you company.
- Location: Beitou, Taipei
- Length: 1.8 km (one-way)
- Time: 80 minutes (round-trip)
- Difficulty Level: 🌕🌑🌑
If you are interested in going to Yangmingshan National Park for enjoying the hot spring or hiking, try to head for the park during weekdays to avoid the crowd on weekends. Remember to bring enough water and snacks with you, a bottle of sunscreen or a hat is highly recommended. Most importantly, have a good time in Yangmingshan and make sure you have access to the internet!
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