The annual New Taipei City Hiking Festival has kicked off. In response to the scorching summer heat, the New Taipei City Government has launched a “Cool Summer” theme, selecting 8 refreshing hiking routes based on three key features: streams, waterfalls, and forests. These routes combine guided trail tours and specialty meals, offering a blend of natural ecology and cultural experiences, inviting the public to deeply explore local characteristics.
The New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau pointed out that there are three stream hiking routes, including the Tea Gold Trail along Pinglin Kuolai Ancient Trail and Shuangxi Beishi Creek Ancient Trail; the Pinglin Jingualiao Fern Trail, which is home to 108 species of ferns, giving the feeling of stepping back into the Jurassic period; and the Wuzhi Mountain Ancient Trail in Xizhi District, where bamboo groves and cool streams provide an excellent choice for summer hiking. It can also be combined with a Lamigo yacht tour for a sea-based experience, allowing you to admire the “Golden Candlestick and Twin Islets of Jinshan” from a different perspective—perfect for a day of both mountain and sea adventures.
As for the waterfall hiking package tours, there are the Yinhe Cave Trail in Xindian District and the Wangguling Foot Liao Mountain Trail in Pingxi, where you can enjoy breathtaking waterfall scenery along the way, as well as a variety of farm-style cuisine.
Additionally, the forest hiking package tours include the Dongshige Transmountain Trail in Pingxi, the Forest Trail in Linkou District, and the Dongshige Transmountain Trail in the Houshan Yue Trail of Shenkeng District. These routes take you through lush, shaded woodlands, and also feature many DIY activities and herb-themed restaurants, satisfying both health and gourmet interests in one go.
The Tourism and Travel Bureau stated that during the New Taipei City Hiking Festival, the 8 routes are available at promotional prices ranging from NT$777 to NT$1,000. Participants in any of the three package tours also have the chance to win a pair of GORE-TEX shoes worth NT$6,980. Registration for the package tours begins on the 14th. For more details, please visit the New Taipei City Tourism official website.