Kick off 2018 with enthusiasm — hike up Qixing Mountain, “Taipei’s highest peak”!

▲ Qixing Mountain stands at an elevation of 1,120 meters, making it the highest peak in Yangmingshan and also the highest in Taipei City. (Photo / courtesy of a netizen)joe joe huang(Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Before you know it, the year is coming to an end. In addition to countdown parties and welcoming the first light of the new year, you can also scale Taipei’s highest peak — Qixing Mountain. To encourage the public to go hiking, Yangmingshan National Park is holding its annual “New Year’s Day 2017 (107th Year of the Republic) Qixing Mountain Hike.” The route features volcanic geology, grassy hillsides, and broadleaf forests, and participants can receive limited-edition souvenirs.

Can’t make it to Yushan? Then come hike Taipei’s highest peak — Qixing Mountain. Its formation is closely linked to multiple episodes of volcanic lava flows and debris accumulation, so you can see unique features such as fumaroles and sulfur crystals. In addition, the northern foothills feature undulating grasslands, while the southern side has broadleaf forests. This rich ecological landscape has long made it a popular hiking trail in northern Taiwan. The full hike takes about 40 minutes to 1.5 hours.

▲ With its rich ecological landscape, this is a popular hiking trail in northern Taiwan, taking around 40 minutes to 1.5 hours to complete. (Photo / provided by Yangmingshan National Park Headquarters)

The park management said that to encourage visitors to experience the diverse faces of Qixing Mountain, this event does not limit hikers to a single route. Participants can choose their own starting points and souvenir redemption locations. These include the Visitor Center, Lengshuikeng Service Station, and Xiaoyoukeng Service Station — three options in total. On the morning of the event, starting at 8 a.m., visitors can go to any one of these spots to pick up a souvenir voucher (300 available at each location, limited quantity and available on a first-come, first-served basis). Amidst the New Year’s greetings, they can then follow the trails to hike up Qixing Mountain. Staff members and volunteer guides will be stationed near the summit to stamp vouchers, which hikers can then redeem for limited-edition souvenirs at any of the aforementioned locations.

▲ To let visitors enjoy the many facets of Qixing Mountain, the event allows flexible routes, and participants can claim limited-edition souvenirs. (Photo / courtesy of a netizen)joe joe huang(Please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement)

A special reminder to hikers: mountain weather is highly changeable. In previous years, temperatures at Qixing Mountain’s summit on New Year’s Day have been below 10°C. With the strong influence of the northeast monsoon, winds at the summit tend to be quite powerful and rain is possible. Be sure to bring warm clothing and rain gear before heading up, and wear suitable hiking shoes.

Event hotline: (02) 2861-3601 ext. 801–810
Website:http://www.ymsnp.gov.tw