Climb High for Good Luck During Chinese New Year: New Taipei Launches 6 Blessing Trails
Last updated 2026-09-25 — With the Lunar New Year approaching, many people will spend time outdoors with their families during the festive season, visiting temples to pray for good fortune in the coming year. The New Taipei City Government has introduced six blessing and hiking trails, including the Zhonghe Hionglo Earth Trail (Nanshan Fude Temple)...
Text by MOOK Travel Life Chen Guanxin, compiled and reported
With the Lunar New Year approaching, many people will spend time outdoors with their families during the festive season, visiting temples to pray for good fortune in the coming year. The New Taipei City Government has introduced six blessing and hiking trails, including the Zhonghe Hionglo Earth Trail (Nanshan Fude Temple), Sanxia Yuanshan Trail (Qingshui Zushi Temple), Xizhi Dajianshan Trail (Tianxiu Temple), Shiding Danlan Ancient Trail (Jishun Temple), Pinglin Shui-liu Foot Trail (Baoping Temple), and Bali Guanyinshan Hard Man Ridge Trail (Lingyun Chan Temple), allowing visitors to enjoy the natural surroundings of the trails while welcoming good luck during the holiday season.
At sunset, Xizhi Dajianshan offers a view of the lights of Taipei Basin coming on one by one. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The six hiking trails recommended by the New Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau each feature unique cultural characteristics and natural scenery. For example, the Shiding Danlan Ancient Trail is nestled by mountains and water, with beautiful and gently sloping paths that lead to an old street where you can sample local Shiding cuisine; the Bali Guanyinshan Hard Man Ridge offers an outstanding panoramic view, with the entire scenery of Tamsui and Bali spread out before you, and even views stretching across Greater Taipei. Below the mountain lies the majestic Lingyun Chan Temple, which enjoys a prime location.
Looking down from Bali Guanyinshan Hard Man Ridge, the scenery of the Tamsui River estuary is fully visible (Photo provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The Sanxia Yuanshan Trail is close to the famous Qingshui Zushi Temple and Sanxia Old Street, where you can appreciate the artistic achievements of the temple and enjoy the charm of the old street; the Pinglin Shui-liu Foot Trail features rows of mountain cherry blossoms on one side, which have begun to bloom gradually from the lower areas, adding splashes of color to the green forest. The summit of Nanshan at Zhonghe Hionglo Earth Trail offers a vast view, while the Nanshan Fude Temple located midway up the mountain is bustling with worshippers praying for wealth and blessings; both Xizhi Dajianshan and Tianxiu Temple offer excellent views—you can see Taipei 101 and the Miramar Ferris Wheel clearly, and they are also great spots for watching the sunset.
Blessing Trail Features, Recommended Itineraries, and Transportation Methods
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Trail Name
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Trail Features and Recommended Itinerary
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Transportation Method
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Zhonghe Hionglo Earth Trail
(Fude Temple) |
1. Offers a bird’s-eye view of Taipei Basin and the Dahan and Xindian rivers, with distant views of Guanyin and Datun volcano groups as well as the Tamsui estuary; cherry blossoms can be enjoyed along the trail in spring, with some already in bloom; after sunset, night scenery is visible.
2. Recommended itinerary: Xingnan Road – Hionglo Earth Fude Temple – Nanshanjiao Mountain (return the same way).
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◎ Bus:
Take Taipei Joint Bus 249 or 670, get off at Hionglo Earth Station, turn left onto Section 2, Xingnan Road, Lane 399, and walk about 500 meters to the trailhead. Follow the hiking trail past the parking lot and Fude Temple to reach Nanshanjiao Mountain.
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Sanxia Yuanshan (Qingshui Zushi Temple)
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1. One of the Five Scenic Spots of Sanxia, at dusk you can overlook the Dahan River and the Sanxia area, with the beautiful sight of the first lights of evening appearing in the homes.
2. Recommended route: Yuanfeng Road – Cihui Hall – Yuanshan Park (return the same way).
3. Nearby attractions: Sanxia Old Street and its food, Qingshui Zushi Temple, etc.
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◎ MRT:
Transfer from Yongning Station on the Blue Line (Ban-Nan Line) to bus 275, 705, or 706 to Sanxia Old Street – walk toward Sanxia Old Street (Minquan Street) – turn right onto Ren’ai Street to reach the trailhead.
◎ Driving:
Take National Freeway No. 3 – exit at Sanying Interchange – follow County Highway 110 (Fuxing Road) and connect to Zhongshan Road into downtown Sanxia, then follow Ren’ai Street to Yuanfeng Road to the trailhead.
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Xizhi Dajianshan
(Tianxiu Temple) |
1. Offers a full view of the Greater Taipei Basin, with layers of mountains, and at night you can see the lights of countless homes. There are nearby waterfall clusters such as Qia Waterfall and Xiufeng Waterfall. Currently, mountain cherry blossoms are blooming gradually.
2. Recommended route: Qinjin Road – Tianxiu Temple – Xizhi Dajianshan (return the same way).
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◎ Public transportation:
Take the free Xin Bus F911 Dashan Line from Xizhi Railway Station to Shiyun Village Station, then walk up the hiking trail to Dashan Mountain, or take the Xin Bus to the terminal station Tianxiu Temple.
◎ By car:
Head west from Xizhi Railway Station onto Xiufeng Road, turn left, cross the New Taiwan Fifth Freeway, follow Qinqin Road, first arrive at Xiude Temple, then reach Tianxiu Temple.
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Shiding Danlan Ancient Trail – Shiding Section
(Jijun Temple) |
1. Also known as the Waian Ancient Trail, it starts near the Keelung River in the Nuannuan area, crosses Sandiao Ridge and Caoling Mountain areas, and extends to Dali and Shicheng near the Lanyang region. It later became an important route for transportation, migration, and trade between the former Tamsui District (Taipei) and Kavalan District (Yilan).
2. Recommended itinerary: Shuangxi Kou – Danlan Suspension Bridge – hike the ancient trail – Shiding West Street – Jijun Temple.
3. Nearby attractions: Shiding Old Street (century-old stone houses, blacksmith shops, Tianjian Tian Street, stilted houses), local snacks, Shiding Elementary School, Shiding Jijun Temple.
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◎ Public transportation:
1. Take the Taipei Metro Tamsui-Xindian Line to Jingshui Station, or take the Wenhu Line to Muzha Station, then transfer to Xinxing Bus 666, and get off at Shuangxi Kou.
2. Transfer to Taiwan Tourist Shuttle 795 Muzha Pingxi Line at Muzha Metro Station, and get off at Shuangxi Kou.
◎ By car:
1. From Taipei, take National Freeway No. 3, enter via the Taipei Connector Road to Shenkeng, then take Wenshan Road (Provincial Highway 106B) on the Shenkeng Outer Ring Road to Shiding Shuangxi Kou.
2. Taipei – National Freeway No. 5 – Shiding Interchange – Provincial Highway 106 – Shuangxi Kou.
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Pinglin Shuiliujiao/Guanyin Platform Hiking Trail
(BaoPing Temple) |
1. The trailhead is next to the Pinglin gas station. One side of the trail is lined with cherry blossom trees. At the summit pavilion, look left to see the Pinglin Tea Museum and right to enjoy the views of Beishi Stream. The scenery of Pinglin is all in view.
2. Recommended route:
(1) Pinglin Archway Gas Station – follow the industrial road on the left side of the gas station to the trailhead – enjoy the great view from the pavilion – a branch trail from the pavilion (toward the district office) leads down directly to BaoPing Temple in the old street of Pinglin.
(2) Pinglin Old Street toward Provincial Highway 106B – Guanyin Platform Trailhead – Guanyin Platform Hiking Trail.
3. Nearby attractions: Old Street BaoPing Temple, Pinglin Old Street and local snacks, Tea Industry Museum (closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).
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◎ Public transportation:
Take Green 12 or 923 bus from Xindian Metro Station to Pinglin Visitor Center and Pinglin Station.
◎ By car:
1. From Taipei, take National Freeway No. 5 directly to the Pinglin Interchange.
2. From Taipei, take National Freeway No. 3, exit at Shiding Interchange, then take Provincial Highway 106B to reach Shiding, Pinglin, and other areas.
3. From Taipei, go to Jingshui, then follow Provincial Highway 106 through Muzha, Shenkeng, and Shiding, and take Provincial Highway 106B to Pinglin.
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Bali Guanyin Mountain (Lingyun Zen Temple)
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1. Guanyin Mountain has 6 hiking trails: Fulungshan, Niugangling, Yanhanling, Jianshan, Fengguidouhu, and Niulaopu trails.
2. Guanyin Mountain's highest point is Hard Man Ridge. The Hard Man Ridge Trail can be accessed from the trailhead near Lingyun Temple, and from the summit you can enjoy panoramic views of Taipei 101, Grand Hotel Taipei, Guandu Bridge, and the mouth of the Tamsui River.
3. Recommended Itinerary:
(1) Lingyun Temple – Hard Man Ridge Trailhead – Hard Man Ridge (return trip).
(2) Lingyun Temple – Forest Canopy Trail – Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center.
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◎ Public Transportation:
1. Take the Sanchong Bus “Beimen–Guanyin Mountain” and get off at the terminal stop “Kaishan Lingyun Temple,” then follow the signs to reach the location.
2. From Luzhou MRT Station Exit 1 – take Bus Orange 20 – you can get to Lingyun Temple.
◎ Driving:
1. National Freeway 1 (Wugu Interchange) → Freeway 64 (Guanyin Mountain Interchange) → Section 3 of Lingyun Road → Guanyin Mountain.
2. Taipei – Dadu Road – Guandu Bridge – toward Sanchong/Wugu direction – Chengtai Road (County Highway 103) → Lingyun Road (Township Road North 53-1) → Guanyin Mountain.
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● Further Reading: New Year Cultural Spring Walk in New Taipei – Collect Stamps to Win Zhu Ming Artworks
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