Hidden Urban Cooling Routes: Taipei’s 8 “Shaded Waterfront Trails” for a Cool Summer

▲ Bihu Trail in Neihu District. (Photo / Provided by Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)

Tourism Center / Reported from Taipei

With summer vacation here, parents who don’t want their kids cooped up at home all day playing video games in air-conditioned rooms might consider taking the whole family out for some outdoor hiking. The Taipei City Government’s Department of Urban Development has specially recommended 8 urban trails suitable for summer tourism. Among them, the “Elephant Mountain Hiking Trail” in Xinyi District, the “Cui Mountain Trail” and the “Bixi Trail” in Shilin District feature dense tree cover along the routes, making these shaded trails especially refreshing in hot weather.

The “Elephant Mountain Trail” in Xinyi District enjoys convenient transportation with three main trailheads located at Wuxing Elementary School, Yongchun High School, and the Songde Branch of Taipei City Hospital. It is recommended to start from the Yongchun Park trailhead near Yongchun High School. Along the way, you’ll pass attractions such as One-Line Sky and Stone Milk Garden—mostly gentle, shaded trails. At the summit, there is also a rest pavilion offering views of the urban landscape across the Greater Taipei Basin.

The “Cui Mountain Trail,” transformed last year from an abandoned police shooting range, was designed by the Department of Urban Development with ecological conservation in mind. Stairs and railings were added only on steep and slippery sections, while most of the path remains an original dirt trail, preserving its natural hiking feel. Continuing along the “Cui Mountain Trail” leads you to the “Bixi Trail,” which boasts even denser tree cover. Along this trail, you’ll also find repurposed discarded railway sleepers crafted into a “Tetris” installation, allowing hikers to enjoy the scenery while spotting themed platforms inspired by playing card symbols—Spade, Heart, Diamond, and Club—for added fun.

Chen Yancheng, head of the hiking trails section at the Department of Urban Development, recommends the “Xiaokengxi Literary Waterfront Trail” located upstream of National Chengchi University, beside Chengda 1st Street in Wenshan District. With its nostalgic pavilion design, the trail was enhanced last year with integrated literary poetry. A stroll along the Xiaokengxi Literary Waterfront Trail allows you to enjoy the water and appreciate seasonally relevant verses. Additionally, the “Guandu Hiking Trail,” which passes parks and the campus of Taipei National University of the Arts before connecting to the mountaintop trail, offers tree-lined shade and large grassy areas. There are also campus cafés and restaurants at National Taipei University of the Arts where you can take a break. The area features art installations and open-air performances, making it an easy, educational, and enjoyable hike.

Other options include Shilin’s “Pingding Ancient Canal Trail,” Neihu’s “Dagouxi Riverside Trail,” and “Bihu Trail”—all featuring convenient access, gentle paths, and proximity to parks or schools. Take the whole family outdoors this summer to stay fit, beat the heat, and reduce carbon emissions.