Things to do in New Taipei, Taiwan: The Best Hiking Trails

Reviewed By szotdogs - Melbourne, Australia

This might not be the easiest place to get to, but the hike is definitely worth it for the stunning views. You can walk from the Gold Museum, or get a taxi up to the trailhead to shorten the walking time if you wish. I chose the former and the walk will take you along a stair trail that had some cherry blossoms in bloom as a nice bonus. You will have to walk on the road at some point to reach the trailhead but the roads are very quiet so there is no problem in doing so. There are also some nice views as you walk, which will give you an idea as to what to expect when you reach the teapot. The surface of the trail (from the actual trailhead) head varies between loose gravel and larger loose stones, stone steps and smooth dirt. Do take some care on the parts where there are loose stones as it would be very easy land the wrong way and fall. There is a pavilion close to the teapot where you can get some nice views, but since you're so close, why not go to the teapot and climb through it? There are some ropes to help you climb through it, and the opening is fairly narrow so if you are carrying a backpack you might need to remove it and place it overhead at the top of the teapot before you can climb through. Once you're out of the teapot, you will then need to cross a small gap in the teapot and scale down a very short, yet angled rock face to reach the 'end'. There is a rope line as well as foot holds cut out of the rock to help you. However the effort and views are completely worth it! Probably the best views I had in Taiwan were from here. If you go on a weekend there's a very good chance you'll find other people there who will help or encourage you if you need it.