4D3N DIY TRAVEL GUIDE TO TAIWAN

Taiwan Travel Guide
Day 1: Taipei City Touris Spots
Day 2: Taipei Expo Park, Yangmingshan, Beitou & More!
– Yangmingshan Travel Guide
– Beitou Travel Guide
Day 3: Keelung City, Yehliu Geopark, Shifen Old Street, Jiufen, Jinguashi and more!
Day 4: Taichung City, Taiwan

Yangmingshan National Park was established in 1985 and is next to Mt. Yangming, one of the most famous mountains in Taiwan.  It is massively popular and features volcanic formations with fragrant flowers during all four seasons. It is also known locally as the ‘Backyard of Taipei’ owing to the abundance of flora which thrives in its tropical climate, also loved by some of the unusual animals there.

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Being the only national park in Taipei City, Yangmingshan National Park has always been popular with locals and foreigners alike. The park not only has lots of popular scenic sites such as Qingtiangang and the Zhuzihu but unusually the opportunity to see some of the wild animals and then eat them in the cafes! Perhaps not such a politically correct idea these days!

Pre-booked Tours

It’s better to plan your travel so you don’t have to waste hours in thinking if a place to go when you are there. Instead, write it down on a paper/notebook or type it down on your phone. Plus book your activities online beforehand as its way cheaper than buying it when you get there.

Where to get cheaper tours?CaptureBased on our personal experiences, Klook Are a great company for discounted tours for your trip to Taiwan and we took the following from KLOOK.

Yangmingshan National Park & Hot Springs Tour

More Activities

How to get there?

You can get to the Park’s bus terminal (Yangmingshan Bus Terminal) in less than an hour and all the buses to other destinations within Yang Ming Shan National Park can be found there as well. The reason you will need to consider ongoing buses is that different features of the whole national park (see below) are pretty widely spaced, so unless you have your own transport, a bus is a logical option.

By Bus From MRT 2 Jiantan station (劍潭), leave Exit 1 (Shilin Night Market), and walk to the left-side bus station, buses heading north. Take either city bus R5 or small bus (PREFERRED) S15 or S17 to Yangmingshan station (陽明山). The fare is NT$15, payable by cash or Easycard. This station serves as a base to explore the mountain, and the area has a few shops like 7/11 and a Starbucks. Bus 260 also leaves from Taipei Main Station, although Jiantan is recommended. Bus S15 from Jiantan is best, as it travels past the main transfer station to other destinations such as Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), and Qingtiangang Grassland Trails (擎天崗).
To get to these destinations, you can take Bus S8 (小8).
*It operates from 7:00am to 5:30pm daily, with 5 to 8 minutes interval time.
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Favourite Attractions

Yangming Park, Flower Clock (陽明公園, 花鐘) 

Yang Ming Park is reachable by walking from the main bus terminal, probably taking about 30 minutes for this 2km walk. It seems like a long way for but trusts me, it is totally worth the effort as the scenery along the way is just totally awesome. You can pass by beautifully-landscaped garden compounds which are filled with purple lavender in the right season as well as roads lined with white cherry blossom. Even if your not a flower lover is an amazing spectacle!
Walking this route gives you access to massive Yang Ming Park.
It is most famous for it’s Flower Clock (花鐘), which compared to its pictures, I found a little disappointing – tribute to good photography I guess!!, even so, this is a great hiking place / budget-friendly tourist area which Is not that far to travel to from the city.
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travel.taipei

Suggested Months: 03、04、10、05、11

By Bus If you prefer not to walk, From Yangmingshan Bus Station, take Bus 125 to Yangmingshan Park.

 

Zhuzihu (竹子湖) 

The dinky little village of Zhuzihu is tucked between volcanic mountains in Yangmingshan and is another must visit place and is known for its calla lily fields. There are numerous paths into the fields and over waterways, and for a few hundred of the local currency you will be allowed to pick some of your own to take home – if you’re not into that you buy them in nearby stalls.

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Suggested Months: 02, 03、04、

By Bus
 From Yangmingshan Bus Station take Bus 131, S8, or S9 to Zhuzihu (竹子湖).
Take the S8 [ 小8 ] bus that leaves from Shipai MRT all the way to Zhuzihu [ 竹子湖 ] Once there you can take any bus that goes to the main visitors center in Yangmingshan and transfer to the S8 or S9 [ 小8 or 小9 ]

Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) 

Taipei’s very own dormant volcano.  Xiaoyoukeng is considered by most to be the most beautiful scenic spot in Yangmingshan National Park. You can understand why as you walk the scenic trail of Xiaoyoukeng. It is famed for the fumaroles, sulfur crystals, hot springs and spectacular ‘landslide terrain’ formed by post-volcanic activity.

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 Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑) (literal translation ‘Little Oil Pit’)is around 20 minutes away from Zhuzi Hu by bus and although it may look close on the map, don’t be tempted to walk, it’s further than it looks.

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The shuttle bus Take you to the bus stop for Xiaoyoukeng. It takes another 3 minutes walk to the observatory platform some 50 meters away from the pit. You can see the steam gushing out from the rocks with sulfur, and if the wind is blowing at you, you will get the heat and smell of sulfur as well.
Suggested Months: All Year Round

By Bus From Yangmingshan Bus Station take Bus 108 or 124 to Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑).

Mount Qixing

Mount Qixing (Seven Stars Mountain) is the highest peak in Yangmingshan National Park is a popular hiking trail and you can access it directly from the park headquarters (Miaopu entrance) and is known as the Mt. Qixing Hiking Trail (2.5 Kms.). About 1.6km into the trail, you’ll reach Qixing Park, which is a scenic rest area that also provides great views of the peak, as well as over the city of Taipei. Carry on up the trail and you’ll reach the summit of Mt. Qixing. There is an alternative 1.7km side route down to Lengshuikeng where you can grab a relaxing free dip at the public hot spring.img_0408

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mytaiwantour.com
https://www.mytaiwantour.com/blog/2016/04/25/mt-qixing-a-hike-you-cannot-miss-while-in-taipei/
https://www.mytaiwantour.com/blog/2016/04/25/mt-qixing-a-hike-you-cannot-miss-while-in-taipei/
https://www.mytaiwantour.com/blog/2016/04/25/mt-qixing-a-hike-you-cannot-miss-while-in-taipei/

Suggested Months: All Year Round

By Bus Board the 108 shuttle bus at the Yangmingshan bus station or Headquarters Visitor Center and alight at the Xiaoyoukeng.

Lengshuikeng (冷水坑)

Lengshuikeng is popular rest spot for visitors hiking or touring Yangmingshan National Park, has a visitor center with a small restaurant/café, a formal hot spring building (not for the bashful as you are separated into genders and must enter naked), as well as an outdoor foot-soaking. All hot springs are free to the public.

https://www.rtaiwanr.com/yangmingshan/lengshuikeng
https://www.rtaiwanr.com/yangmingshan/lengshuikeng
https://www.rtaiwanr.com/yangmingshan/lengshuikeng

Oddly translated into English as cold water pit, they are very much hot springs at Lengshuikeng but a little cooler than others in the area that can be 40c, so ideal for those not quite ready to be cooked! If you not ready for the full immersion experience, just try the easy foot soaking pool!

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Suggested Months: 01、02、10、11、12
Opening Hours: 09:00～16:30

By Bus From Yangmingshan Bus Station take Bus 108 or S15 to either Lengshuikeng or Lengshuikeng Visitor Centre.

Menghuan Pond

Menghuan Pond is an ecological conservation zone and if famous for the extremely rare Taiwanese Isoetes (a perennial aquatic fern) as well as other aquatic animals and plants. A chorus fit for a choir is a constant from the frogs, insects, and birds that live around the pond, and is quite something to hear. Qixing Park has a pavilion, corridor, and bathrooms, and if the weather is kind you can see great views of the green hills of Mt. Qixing, Taipei City, Mt. Shamao or the Syue mountain range.

img_0535img_0564img_0472Menghuan Pond is located next to Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), a cooler-temperature hot spring with public facilities.

Suggested Months: 01、02、10、11、12
Opening Hours: 09:00～16:30

By Walk Menghuan Pond is located next to Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), a cooler-temperature hot spring with public facilities.

Qingtiangang Grassland Trails (擎天崗) 

Qingtiangang is another location worth a visit in Yangmingshan National Park. It is a beautiful grassland area, 20 minutes by bus from Xiaoyoukeng. Originally it was a tea plantation and farmland which in the 1930s, was changed into cattle farms which all closed some years ago apparently due to low demand for traditionally reared cattle. Some cattle remain to roam free around the area, not to end up on your plate but because they are a tourist attraction! It’s a vegan-friendly place to visit!

You can access Qingtiangang easily by car or bus and a drop into the visitor center is very worthwhile as there is a free guided tours start (twice a day: 9:30 and 13:30). Once you are there follow the 2.4-kilometer-long circular trail to meet those grazing cattle on the grassland as well as a number of historic ruins on the way. Weather permitting, which is normally Spring, the Jinshan plain, and the Taipei basin crowd the uninhibited views to the horizon.

img_0456DSC_0449DSC_0450Suggested Months: All Year Round

By Bus From Yangmingshan Bus Station take Bus 108 or S15 to Qingtiangang (擎天崗).

Where to stay in Yangmingshan?


Best Budget Hotels in Yangmingshan

 
Gorgeous Hot Spring Resort
From around Php 2,400 / USD 46
CHECK RATES HERE
Hofeng Resort
From around Php 3,000 / USD 59
CHECK RATES HERE
 
Mellow Fields Hotel
From around Php 4,200 / USD 79
CHECK RATES HERE
The Mountain Star
From around Php 4,300 / USD 82
CHECK RATES HERE
 
Spring City Resort 
From around Php 8,000 / USD 150
CHECK RATES HERE		  
Landis Resort Yangmingshan
From around Php 1,350 / USD 153
CHECK RATES HERE

 

Transportation

A. Routes and Schedules
1.Shuttle Bus #108:

Round trip ticket is 60 NTD per person per day. Service Tel:+886-2-28616206

Routes: Yangjin Road (Highway 2A) , Bailaka Highway, Zhonghu Road of Armaments , Jingshan Road, Xingyuan Street.
Bus Stops: Yangmingshan Bus Station, Headquarters Visitor Center, Yangmingshuwu, Zhuzihu, Mt. Qixing, Erziping, Xiaoyoukeng, Zhonghu, Menghuan Pond, Qingtiangang, Lengshuikeng (to Bus Station), Songyuan, Juansi Waterfall, Yangmingshan Bus Station.
Bus schedule: 7:00～17:30 daily; Average interval of 10-20 minutes during weekends and holidays, on weekdays an average interval of 30-40 minutes.

 2. Minibus S15 (Capital Bus)

Jiantan MRT Station ←→ Qingtiangang (or Jingshan Recreation Area)
Weekdays Weekends and Public Holidays
5:40 10:20 15:00 5:40 12:00
6:20 10:40 15:20 6:20 12:30
6:40 11:00 15:40 6:50 13:10
7:00 11:20 16:00 7:20 14:00
7:20 11:40 16:20 8:00 14:30
7:40 12:00 16:40 8:30 15:00
8:00 12:20 17:00 9:00 15:30
8:20 12:40 17:30 9:30 16:00
8:40 13:00 18:10 10:00 17:30
9:00 13:20 19:30 10:30 19:30
9:20 13:40 20:50 11:00 20:50
9:40 14:00 22:30 11:30 22:30
10:00 14:20
14:40
Service Tel: 0800-000-866

3. #681:

Donghu ←→ Yangmingshan Second Parking Lot (06:00～18:30)

Weekdays:
 Departure times at Donghu:
05:30, 06:00, 06:15, 06:30, 06:45, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:40, 14:20, 15:00, 15:20, 15:40, 16:00, 16:20, 16:40, 17:00, 17:20, 17:40, 18:00
Departure times at Yangmingshan Second Parking Lot:
06:30, 07:10, 07:30, 07:50, 08:10, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:30, 13:30, 14:00, 14:40, 15:20, 16:00, 16:20, 16:40, 17:00, 17:20, 17:40, 18:00, 18:30, 19:40
Weekends and Public Holidays:
 Departure times at Donghu:
06:00, 07:00, 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 16:00, 18:30
Departure times at Yangmingshan Second Parking Lot:
07:30, 09:00, 11:00, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30, 17:30, 20:00

4. Minibus S9 (Danan Bus)

Beitou ←→ Zhuzihu
5:20 7:45 11:00 15:00 18:20
5:45 8:20 11:40 15:40 19:00
6:10 9:00 12:20 16:20 19:40
6:30 9:40 13:00 17:00 20:20
7:10 10:20 13:40 17:40 21:00
14:20 22:50
MRT Beitou Station ←→ Headquarters Visitor Center ←→ Zhuzihu
Service Tel: 0800-089-456

5. 1717 Royal Bus

Taipei ←→ Jinshan
Taipei→Jinshan Jinshan→Taipei
Weekdays Weekends and Public Holidays Weekdays Weekends and Public Holidays
6:30 14:30 7:00 13:30 6:00 15:20 7:00 14:00
6:40 15:30 8:00 14:30 7:00 16:00 8:00 14:30
7:00 16:30 8:30 15:30 8:00 16:40 9:00 15:30
8:00 17:30 9:00 16:30 9:00 17:00 10:00 16:30
9:00 18:30 9:30 17:30 10:00 18:00 10:40 17:30
10:00 19:00 10:00 18:30 11:30 19:00 11:30 18:30
11:00 10:40 12:30 12:30
12:00 11:40 13:30 13:00
13:30 12:40 14:30 13:30
Taipei(Bureau of National Health Insurance) → Headquarters Visitor Center → Mt.Qixing Bus Stop → Zhonghu → Jinshan
Service Tel: 0800-551-687

6. #260:

Taipei Railway Station←→ Yangmingshan Bus Station (6:00～22:30)
Peak Hour: Every 7～10 minutes
Off-Peak Hour: Ever 10～15 minutes
Service Tel: +886-2-28616206

7. #230:

MRT Beitou Station ←→ Yangmingshan Bus Station (5:30～22:45)
Every 30～45 minutes
Service Tel: 0800-089-456

8. Red#5

(Connects to MRT at Jiantan MRT Station):
Jiantan MRT station ←→ Yangmingshan Bus Station (5:30～24:40)
Peak Hour: Every 5～8 minutes
Off-Peak Hour: Every 12～15mintues
Service Tel: +886-2-28616206

Tips and Reminders

1.High-temperature areas such as fumaroles and geothermal springs are unstable. Always stay on the trail.
2.To avoid slipping and getting lost, please stay on the trial.
3.Trails may be slippery, walk slowly.
4.Use headlights at all times when driving on mountainous roads, in fog use fog lights and drive slowly.
5.Be prepared for changeable weather before climbing mountains and hiking.
6.If poisonous snakes or wasps appear on the trail, leave quickly and quietly.
7.Do not wear colorful clothes or use perfumes, so as to avoid attack by wasps.

Overall, Yangmingshan National Park is one of the perfect places to get close to the nature in Taipei City!

Day 3 Travel Vlog

Official Website: Yangmingshan National Park

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STAY IN TOUCH WITH OUR WORLD OF ADVENTURES BY CHECKING OUT:
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46 Comments

  1. Thanks for the informative and indepth post on visiting Yanmingshan. Has really encouraged me to explore the area before the end of my trip.

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  2. Hi there!

    Are there any buses to go the restaurants on top of Yangmingshan?
    For example like The Top Restaurant.

    Thanks!

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    Reply

  3. Very comprehensive guide! Thank you so much for this! Do you think we can visit the Flower clock, Xiaoyoukeng, and Lengshuikeng in two hours on our own?

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  4. Hi. Thank you for this helpful blog. Which places can you suggest for a half day tour without hike. Will be going there on November. Thanks in advance for the response.

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  8. Hello! I would just like to ask if we start to go at yangmingshan by noon, enough time na po b yung from noon to hapon to explore the place? We’re making our itinerary and we’ll be arriving sa taiwan before lunch. or do we have to allot the whole day para sa place na to? Thank you!

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  9. Hi! How much time did you allot for the tour: Yangmingshan National Park? We are planning to have it in DIY. Thank you for your detailed travel guide. 🙂

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  11. Hi, ask ko lang po if may option po ba na di kailangan mag-hike?! Want to visit Yangmingshan just to see the cherry blossoms and flower clock kaso I’m travelling with my parents who are not used to hiking. Thanks in advance

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  13. Hi Jay. Which 2 sites within the Yangmingshan Park will you highly recommend? We’ll be there in March and my sister would like to see the cherry blossoms. Also, are there buses and designated stops within the park that can bring us from one site to the other?

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  14. Hi jay, my parents and I are travelling to taiwan in april. Currently, I’m still planning on the itinerary and putting Yangmingshan on the list. Question, are the hikes easy? My mom have a bad knee, can you recommend an easy route/trail for us. thanks

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  16. Hi Jay, thank you for creating this very informative article on Yangmingshan. I’m planning to bring my parents, both senior citizens to see the flowers in the park this March as my mom loves flowers so much. May I ask which route within the park suits our agenda if we would only want to see flowers and the hot spring? (I hope for a route with less walking time hahaha as if possible 😉 )

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  17. Hi Jay, this is such a thorough DIY travel guide for Yangmingshan, thank you for sharing. I am so grateful to you, young ones, who are so adventurous and are generous with sharing your hard work at researching and exploring possible destinations for us “young once” to have it easy. Just one question though, if you do not mind, please clarify if there is a bus to go to Xinbetou from the Yangmingshan Bus Station, as this will probably be the more convenient mode to get to the Beitou District. Thank you again for your kindness — April 🙂

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  18. hi! I must say you have the most detailed Taiwan blog and I love it! i just have a question though. I am going to Taiwan in March, i’m just curious if you were really able to go to all these places in Yamingshan and still visit Beitou after as well as the other places in your day2. Because we are currently making our itinerary and based on your pictures Yamingshan seems like a really good place to explore and we want to be able to alot a realistic and enough time to explore it. Thank you.

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    1. Hello there! Thanks! Yes! Yangmingshan is quite large and it can really take your time especially if you didn’t plan well. also weren’t able to stay long in each areas us some are not really picture worthy sorry for that hehe.

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  19. Hi. Thanks for the informative blog post. I have a few questions. So basically, once in the Yangminshan bus stop, we can ride Bus 108 to most of the places of interest in the area and only pay the unli-ride NTD60? Also, are you aware how much is the fare for Bus 260 from Taipei Main Station to Yangminshan? Thank you!

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  22. Pingback: Day 2: Taipei Expo Park, Yangmingshan, Beitou, Elephant Mountain, Shilin Night Market and more! – BYAJAYRO
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