When you picture the Taipei skyline, I bet you’re picturing an urban landscape with rows of buildings lifting up to the sky with Taipei 101 shining tall and bright over everything else. It’s an iconic image. Something you see when you Google ‘Taipei skyline’. And the same thing you see from the Elephant Mountain hike.
The Xiangshan Trail (or more popularly, Elephant Mountain) is one of the best Taipei hikes. I say this not only for the absolutely incredible view of downtown Taipei but also because it takes less than a mile roundtrip (~1.5km) to get to the viewing platforms where you get the best sunset views of Taipei 101.
This guide is part of the Taipei Trails Series here on Embrace Horizons, where we explore trails and urban strolls in Taipei. If you want a list of our favorites, check out our master guide to hiking in Taipei.
Table of Contents
Getting to the Elephant Mountain Trailhead
One of the best things about Elephant Mountain is that it’s very easy to get to the trailhead. You just need to hop on the Tamsui-Xinyi (Red) Line and get off at Xiangshan Station. It’s the last stop so it’s pretty hard to miss.
(Getting around Taipei is super straightforward. Remember to get an EasyCard to easily tap in and out of the metro!)
Once you’ve reached Xiangshan Station, it’s a short walk (~10 minutes) through Xiangshan Park to get to the trailhead.
When we visited, it was around 6pm on a Wednesday and the park was filled with activity. People walking around, jogging, and playing basketball in the many courts. There are even public restrooms you can use before you start your hike.
Hiking Elephant Mountain
On a hot day in May, Tim and I headed to the Elephant Mountain trailhead to hike the Xiangshan Trail. We started late, making it to the trailhead at around 6pm, because we wanted to catch the sunset views of the Taipei skyline.
The Stairs
Earlier I had said that hiking the Xiangshan Trail is so rewarding because it takes less than a mile to get to the good views. I will add a caveat to that. It does only take less than a mile, but it’s all stairs. From the start of the trailhead to the last viewing platform, we were climbing stairs.
For me, who spent my days in Taipei eating delicious food and drinking endless cups of milk tea, the stairs were brutal. Sweat was dripping off of me from the very first few minutes until it was time to start walking DOWN the stairs.
For Tim, climbing the steps of Elephant Mountain became a fun workout because he would just go on ahead of me, then run back down to keep me company, and then make his way back up again.
Xiangshan Photographer’s Platform
After about 15 minutes into the hike, we made it to the Xiangshan Photographer’s Platform. This is the first viewing platform, with a large deck and an amazing view of the Taipei skyline and Taipei 101. And because it’s the first viewpoint, it was also the most crowded.
We even watched a woman live steaming her hike on her phone and enthusiastically showing her viewers the beautiful view of the city. She also very kindly took photos for us.
Six Giant Rocks
After another 10 minutes from the first platform sits the Six Giant Rocks. The second viewpoint and my favorite.
It’s exactly what it sounds like. Six giant rocks by the trail that you scramble on to for that iconic view of Taipei.
We saw plenty of groups sitting on the rocks, taking a break, taking photos, and just enjoying the view.
We only left because it was getting dark and mosquitos were starting to attack us.
Elephant Mountain Peak
Finally, only 5 minutes from the Six Giant Rocks, we made it to the Elephant Mountain Peak.
It’s the highest point of the Xiangshan Trail and it’s got benches for you to take a quick rest before heading back down or connecting to other trails in the area.
It was here where Tim and I sat to watch the sun set over Taipei and watch the city lights turn on against the night sky.
Tips
- Bring water. Although very short, the Elephant Mountain hike is steep and sweaty. I highly suggest bringing water to stay hydrated, especially if you go mid-day. The trail may be shaded, but the humidity will still get to you.
- Beware the mosquitoes. Taiwan (like all countries with warm and wet tropical climates) has a lot of mosquitoes. And if you’re planning to watch the sunset, you’re gonna end up hiking the trail at dusk when the mosquitoes come out in full force. So bring bug spray. (We did and we still got eaten up so clearly the bug spray we had was not strong enough.)
- Manage the crowds. Elephant Mountain is very popular. Especially at sunset. Everyone wants to see that iconic view of the Taipei skyline as the sun is setting and the city lights turn on. So when you plan your hike, understand that you’ll be sharing the trail with a lot of people. If you prefer it quieter, try to get to the trail in the early mornings on weekdays.
Making an Evening of It: Taipei 101 & Post-Hike Food
Before: Taipei 101
I said somewhere in the beginning that getting to the trailhead is super straightforward. Just take the Red Line all the way to Xiangshan Station. Tim and I actually didn’t do that.
Because we were planning to watch the sunset at Elephant Mountain, we decided to explore the Taipei 101 area before starting the hike.
There’s a lot to do here, with multiple shopping malls, restaurants, and bars. But the best is visiting the Taipei 101 Observatory for stunning 360° city views from the 89th and 101st floors. There’s even an option to go out to an outdoor platform for those brave enough to try!
You can also get coffee at Simple Kaffa on the 88th floor and enjoy the view of Taipei (facing the National Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall) from above. They have a great menu with a good selection of beans and typical coffee selections (latte, cappuccino, etc), but also some wild (for us) flavors. Tim got a coffee kombucha (like, what?) and I got their Smoky Southern Taiwan signature coffee that had jelly and osmanthus in it along with espresso.
After that, it was only a 20 minute walk to the trailhead from Taipei 101.
After: Post-Hike Food
After any hike, no matter the length or difficulty, we must always get a reward in the form of food.
Hiking Elephant Mountain is so great because you already get rewarded with a great view for not so much effort. AND the location makes it so that you have access to a lot of great food.
I already said earlier that the Taipei 101 area is packed with great restaurants (we particularly love Kaifun Breeze for their delicious Sichuan flavors). There’s also plenty of bars in the area if you want a drink after dinner.
If you’re feeling more street food than sit-down restaurant, head over to the Linjiang Night Market. It’s a 20 to 30 minute walk from the trailhead, or a quicker bus ride.
Conclusion
Whether you power up the stairs like Tim or sweat through every single step like I did, the Elephant Mountain hike is definitely a must-do for your Taipei itinerary. The skyline view is unforgettable.
So have fun, take your time on the stairs, and don’t forget your bug spray!
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