Taipei Grand Trail Section 6

A walk on section 6 of the Taipei Grand Trail on a rainy, cold day.  We did the trail in reverse starting at Linguang MRT Station and ending near the China University of Science and Technology.

Distance/Time:  11.73 km/ 5 hours and 23 minutes.

Trail Conditions: We went on a really wet day but even then traction was good. I hate walking on stone steps when they are slippery but most of the steps on this walk had a rough grippy surface.  

I had read that this was the most difficult section of the Taipei Grand Trail but I did not find it difficult at all. There were two or three climbs that got my heart rate up but mostly it was gentle enjoyable walking. We took our time and chatted a lot along the way.

 What to take: Nothing special is needed. I packed a sandwhich and snacks. Also rain gear and warm clothes because of the weather.

Transportation: I took the MRT to Linguang Station and took the Heping East Road Exit. At the end of the trail bus 620 goes to the Nangang Exhibition Center MRT Station. 

The hike:

The Taipei Grand Trail is a 92 km trail that twines around Taipei, linking existing trails into one long network.  It is divided into 7 sections. 

When I was looking for information about the Taipei Grand Trail I found this article to be very informative: https://taiwan-scene.com/the-taipei-grand-trail-discovering-the-secret-wildness-of-the-capital/ 

I was aware of theTaipei Grand Trail but hadn't made an effort to hike it, thinking that I had probably hiked most parts of it already. There were parts of section 6 that I had been on before but some of it was also new to me. After reading more about it and hiking section 6 I feel inspired to hike the other sections of the trail.  

National Geographic has even made a film about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC_n-RfLVok&t=184s

I've lived near Taipei for a long time but watching this film trailer makes me see anew how fortunate we are to have hiking trails like this so close to the city and accessible by public transportation.

I wasn't familiar with the whole route of section 6, so before going I marked some of the major points on my maps app. The trail was generally well marked. However there were some gaps where there were no signs and there were lots of forks and cross-trails. But by looking at the map on my phone and following the Taipei Grand Trail signs it was easy to find the way. 

 It was fun to walk in the fog and mist but it would be nice to come back on a sunny day. It was obvious there were excellent views at several points but we couldn't see much. Even with the rain and clouds we had a few nice views of Taipei 101 and Xinyi. The temperature was great for hiking. Cool but not cold once we warmed up. It rained all day but we were mostly under trees and by the end I felt damp but not soaked even though I did not wear my rain coat. 

Leaving the MRT station we turned left on Wolong street behind the station and then left on Fuyang street which takes you directly to the Fuyang Eco Park and the start of the trail. 

 

Right away there were signs for the Taipei Grand Trail. We followed one of them up steps on the right to an excellent view of Taipei 101. 

 

 

Coming back from the view point we turned right and took a trail that ran parallel to the one we took on the way up but later veering away: heading toward Zhong Fu Shan Dong Feng. 

The last part of the path to the top was almost vertical with ropes and a steep drop next to it. The trail was slippery and there was an easier way around so we backtracked and took a much easier route that looped around and came up to the same ridge.  At the top we turned left along the ridge. 

We followed the ridge for about 1 km to Jun Gong Shan.

Soon after Jun Gong Shan the trail dropped down to a road. 

This was one of the points where I felt the signage for the trail was not entirely clear. We turned right up the road and at the next intersection turned left. We followed this road till it came to a temple and then saw more trail signs and rejoined the trail going up steps next to the temple. 

 

 

This was a particularly nice section of trail.  We followed it up steps and through bamboo groves. It soon joined a section that was marked as the Tudigongli Gu Dao (Earth God Historical Trail).

There were nice city views that once again on this day were obscured by mist and rain. 

 

We followed this path from the temple until it met a small paved path and then another road. The hillsides beside the road were covered with tombs. The distance from the temple to the road was about 700 meters. 

 

 

This was another point where it was a little unclear which way to go. We turned right on the road, followed it around a curve, past more tombs with the hillside on our left and after 500 meters came to another sign pointing up hill to a wide paved path with steps on the left.

The path narrowed and in less than 150 meters we came to a temple. The path went right through the temple. There was a sign pointing toward  Jiu Wu Fen (9-5 Peak) It was raining so we stopped under the temple roof for lunch. There were also some simple bathrooms there. 

After the temple the next turn was at Ziyun Street where we went right. From this point onward the trail was very clearly marked. 

We walked along the street for about 300 meters till we came to a very clear path with steps climbing the hill on the right. This was one of the steeper sections and was a fun climb. 

 

At the top of the stairs we went right and uphill. A sign pointed to Jiu Wu Peak. 

We passed the short detour for Muzhi Shan (Thumb Mountain) which is supposed to offer a great view but we did not go up because it was so foggy we didn't think we would see anything. 

Shortly after Muzhi Shan there was an interesting shrine next to a rock face. 

 

After MuZhi Shan we came to a clear intersection with a sign pointing left and uphill to Jiu Wu Feng. We turned left and climbed up the steps. 

 

Ive heard that Jiu Wu Feng (9-5 peak, 375 m) is named for a 95 year old man who summited the mountain, apparently before the trail was as easy and accessible as it is these days.  It was misty and cold. A thermometer on a tree read 10 degrees. 

After Jiu Wu Feng it did not seem to take long walking on the wide clear path to reach the end near the China University of Science and Technology.

When the trail reached a road with a map board we turned left and soon came out to the bus stop. 

Map and GPS Coordinates:

The beginning of our walk at Fu Yang Eco Park: 25.016365, 121.337174

The end of our walk near China University of Science and Technology: 25.033039, 121.609685

Jiu Wu Fen: 25.026218, 121.586447

https://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MjE1NzEyMzM=

 

Guandu Nature Park and Guandu Temple

The Moon Pond at Guandu Nature Park

A walk around the Guandu Nature Park and Guandu Temple. The Guandu Nature Park sits on the edge of the 55 hectare Guandu Nature Reserve which is an important wetlands habitat for many birds and other animals. The colorful Guandu Temple was built in 1661. It is dedicated to the goddess Matzu but there is also a chapel with a statue of thousand-armed, thousand-eyed Guanyin. The temple is built into a hillside and on top there are quiet stone paths, gardens and great views of the river and wetlands.

Distance/Time:  6.41 km/ 2hours 16 minutes.

Trail Conditions: This is an urban walk. The entire route is easy to walk. But don't let its proximity to the city put you off. The Guandu Nature Preserve is teeming with life. Just in the short time I was there I spotted birds, fish, crabs, frogs and even water buffalo. And the large temple is a unique and worth exploring.

 What to take: Nothing special is necessary. There are plenty of places to buy food and drinks. A good pair of binoculars would be great to have at the nature park. The entrance fee for the park is $60 for adults but there was a discount so I only paid $30. Maybe the discount was because they were doing some renovations when I visited.

Transportation: I took the MRT to Guandu Station on the red line and took exit 1 to Dadu Road.  

On the way home I rode a Ubike which was about a 12 km bike ride. There are Ubike stations outside the nature park and the temple.

  The walk: 

I have not had much time for hiking lately because of lots of weekend work and also because I am moving to a new apartment. But early Sunday morning I got out for a short but really enjoyable urban walk. 

Outside exit 1 of the MRT Station I turned right and then took a slight left into an alley between a Starbucks and a brunch place. 

At the end of the alley there is major road with an elevated roadway passing overhead. At first I made the mistake of turning left before the elevated roadway but its hard to cross the road here. Its better and safer to pass under the elevated road and turn left along a shady sidewalk passing by apartment buildings. 

I walked one block and then turned right onto Guandu Road. A short distance down this road is the entrance to the Guandu Nature Park on the left. I paid the entrance fee and went in.

 Its a nice park with both wide and narrow shady paths, ponds and patches of grass. Any route can be taken through the park but I walked to the end of the park via the wide, main path and then returned by smaller paths that are close to the edge of the wetlands. 

The two story Nature Center was closed for renovation. It usually has exhibits about local wildlife, a gift shop and--on the second floor-- mounted binoculars for watching birds through huge windows that look over the wetlands. It is scheduled to reopen in January of 2022. 

On the return path there were three bird watching cabins with small windows looking over the wetlands. Even without binoculars I could see lots of birds and also saw three water buffalo grazing. The park keeps six water buffaloes. Their natural grazing and wallowing habits are beneficial to the wetlands.

a view from one of the bird watching cabins

Inside a bird watching cabin

I returned to the entrance along smaller paths.

Outside the entrance I went left and at the end of the street right onto Zhi Xing Road. At the end of the road I could see the ornate roof of Guandu Temple. 

At the end of the the road, the temple is on the right. To the left is the entrance to the Guandu Bikeway which goes between the river and the wet lands. There are blinds for bird watching and some cafes along the bike way. 

I walked past the temple food stalls until I came to a wide plaza and a Ubike station on the left and a large temple entrance on the right. I crossed the street and went in. 

I think this is actually a back entrance. The main temple entrance is on the other side. 

I went through a cave like tunnel that cut through the hill and came out to a courtyard with a fountain near the main entrance. 

Next to the tunnel that I took is another which cuts back through the hill and comes to the chapel for Guanyin. There is an alcove with a statue of the thousand-eyed, thousand-limbed goddess. 

From the courtyard I climbed up the stairs that lead to the top of the hill. The temple was lively and noisy but the higher I got on the hillside the more quiet and peaceful it was. On top of the hill there are lots of stone paths with gardens, stone tables and benches, and there are great views of the river, wetlands and surrounding area. 

Guandu Bridge seen from the top of the temple hill

a perfect spot for taking in the view

 I wandered around the paths for a while but I had promised to be home by 12 so it was time to go. 

I wanted to bike home but there were no bikes at the Ubike station near the temple. So I walked back to the Ubike station outside the nature park where there were plenty of bikes. 

GPS and Map:

Guandu Nature Park: 25.119415, 121.46932 

Guandu Temple: 25.117739, 121.464004

https://my.viewranger.com/track/details/MjEzODA1Mzc=