Taiwan Hiking Journal: December 2021

Monday, December 27, 2021

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.