Yangmingshan National Park - Mount Qixing Hike

Yangmingshan National Park
Mount Qixing Hike

Embark on a memorable Yangmingshan National Park Mount Qixing hike. Mount Qixing stands as the tallest peak in Yangmingshan National Park, and it boasts a unique history as a dormant volcano. As you hike to the summit, which reaches an elevation of 1,120 meters above sea level, you’ll encounter fascinating signs of its geothermal past, including steaming fumaroles that offer a glimpse into the park’s remaining geothermal activity.

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How to hike Mount Qixing at Yangmingshan National Park

3 trailheads:

Lengshuikeng (冷水坑)
Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑)
Miaopu (苗圃)

Recommended route:

Starting point: Lengshuikeng

Ending point: Xiaoyoukeng

Difficulty: Easy-Moderate

Time needed: ~3 hours

Lengshuikeng

Alighting at the Lengshuikeng Visitor Centre, take a short walk to the Jingshan suspension bridge and overlook the small milk lake along the way. The Visitor Centre also has a rather large parking lot and public restrooms available.

The trailhead is located right across the road form the Visitor Centre. The initial part of the hike starts off with rather steep steps but gets more manageable after a while. The view up the mountain covered with tufts of dried grass is amazing but don’t forget to turn around and catch the panoramic views! You can even see the cityscape and a miniscule Taipei 101 along the way.

Mount Qixing East Peak and Main Peak

About 45 minutes – 1 hour from the trailhead, you’ll reach Mt Qixing East Peak! Take a breather before continuing on for another 10-15 minutes to the summit, Mt Qixing Main Peak. There are some areas on the summit for you to rest after the grueling hike and take in the stunning view of the mountain landscapes.

Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Centre

After that, continue down the mountain towards Xiaoyoukeng. You will likely catch a waft of sulfur before being greeted by steaming furamoles. The trail down felt like a breeze after the tiring upslope climb but do be careful as there are still some steep areas.

Finally, reach Xiaoyoukeng Visitor Centre and parking lot after 30-45 minutes downhill. Be sure to catch the furamole viewing point a short distance from the Visitor Centre.

How to get to Yangmingshan National Park Mount Qixing Hike

Yangmingshan National Park is easily accessible from Taipei by public transportation.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT

From JianTan train station to Lengshuikeng Visitor Centre: Bus S15 (towards Qingtiangang)

Bus ride is 1-1.5 hours along a windy road uphill
Bus runs every 20 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends
The bus stop is right outside Jiantan station (on the same side as the train station). There will be multiple queues and can be quite confusing.
There are limited seats on the mini bus and priority goes to older adults. You can still board after the seats are filled up but would have to stand. Bear in mind that the entire ride is around 1-1.5 hours long and roads are windy with sharp turns that can test your balance
We recommend boarding from the first station (Jiantan) instead of other stops along the way as the bus is likely to be fully filled right from the first station

From Xiaoyoukeng back to Jiantan train station: Shuttle bus 108 to Yangmingshan stop then bus R5 to Jiantan station

Shuttle bus 108 from Xiaoyoukeng to Yangmingshan stop runs every 10-20 minutes on weekends and 30-40 minutes on weekdays
Bus R5 (红5) from Yangmingshan to Jiantan station runs every 5-8 minutes during peak hours and 12-15 minutes during non-peak hours
Similarly, the buses can fill up quickly but there would be standing room for those willing to stand for the entire ride.

What to pack for Yangmingshan National Park Mount Qixing Hike

Good pair of hiking boots or sneakers
Raincoat (weather is unpredictable)
Wind breaker (it can get chilly at the summit)
Water bottle and snacks
Hiking poles (if deemed necessary for your hike as some steps can be quite steep)

When to visit Yangmingshan

Yangmingshan National Park is indeed known for its stunning wildflower blooms during certain times of the year. The best time to witness these colorful displays can vary depending on the specific types of flowers you want to see. Here are some approximate periods for different flower seasons in Yangmingshan: