Xiangshan, Taipei

Mountain in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan
Xiangshan is located in Taiwan
Xiangshan
Xiangshan
The location of Xiangshan
LocationXinyi District, Taipei, TaiwanClimbingEasiest routeHiking trail

Xiangshan (Chinese: 象山), also known as Elephant Mountain[1] or Mount Elephant,[2] is a mountain in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is close to the Taipei Metro Xiangshan Station. It is 183 m (600 ft) high and has a hiking trail to the peak, covering a distance of about 1.5 km (0.93 mi).[3] Taipei 101 can be seen from the trail.[1] The Six Giant Rocks on the peak are a tourist attraction in Xiangshan,[2] and there are platforms for photographers.[4]

Name

"Xiangshan" means "Elephant Mountain" in Chinese. Xiangshan's name comes from its elephant-like shape.[3]

Geology

Map
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300m
330yds
8
Houshanpi MRT
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Xiangshan MRT, Exit 2
  
Selected locations in the Nangang Mountains near Xinyi District, Taipei
1
Xiangshan MRT, Exit 2
2
Daitiandian Lingyun Temple
3
Xiangshan (Elephant) summit
4
Shishan (Lion) summit
5
Baoshan (Leopard) summit
6
Hushan (Tiger) summit
7
Songshan Fengtian Temple
8
Houshanpi MRT

Xiangshan is one of the Four Beast Mountains (四獸山),[1] which also include Lion (獅山), Leopard (豹山), and Tiger (虎山) mountains in the Nangang Mountain System. It is mainly composed of sandstone. Plants include the ferns Cibotium cumingii and Cyathea lepifera.[2]

Transportation

The trail to the mountain summit and observation platforms is accessible by walking south from Exit 2 of Xiangshan Station of the Taipei Metro, proceeding along Xiangshan Park to the western trailhead next to Daitiandian Lingyun Temple.[5]

As an alternative, hikers may proceed from the eastern end, starting from the trailhead behind Songshan Fengtian Temple, which is a short walk south from the Houshanpi station.[1]

  • View of the Taipei Basin from the Six Giant Rocks, 2013
  • Xiangshan hiking trail
    Xiangshan hiking trail
  • Taipei skyline viewed from Xiangshan, including Taipei 101, illuminated at dusk (2015)
    Taipei skyline viewed from Xiangshan, including Taipei 101, illuminated at dusk (2015)
  • Trail map
    Trail map
  • Western trailhead near Daitiandian Lingyun Temple with steep, narrow stairways
    Western trailhead near Daitiandian Lingyun Temple with steep, narrow stairways
  • Summit marker
    Summit marker
  • Observation deck
    Observation deck
  • Hikers descending through cut in massive boulders
    Hikers descending through cut in massive boulders
  • Taipei 101, framed in elephant-shaped bench at summit
    Taipei 101, framed in elephant-shaped bench at summit
  • Panoramic views from Xiangshan
  • Panorama (day)
    Panorama (day)
  • Panorama (sunset)
    Panorama (sunset)
  • Panorama (night)
    Panorama (night)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Saunders, Richard (February 2, 2018). "Off the Beaten Track: On the Trail of the Four Beasts". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  2. ^ a b c "Nangang Mountain System: Xiangshan (Mt. Elephant) Hiking Trail". Travel.Taipei. Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
  3. ^ a b "Mt. Elephant Trail (Xiangshan)". Hikingbook Inc. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  4. ^ Liao, George (December 28, 2017). "Xiangshan good for watching Taipei 101 fireworks display but not for light show: GEO". Taiwan News. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
  5. ^ "Elephant Mountain (Taipei) - The adventurer's guide to conquering Xiangshan". Big Little Island. 18 September 2019. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mount Elephant (Taipei).


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