The lush green scenery and forests that surround Taipei is all part of the city’s charm. Whether you’re a city-person or a nature lover, you can have the best of both worlds in Taipei.
Because the city is essentially enclosed by nature, finding a nice scenic hike is convenient and accessible for even the most novice traveler. My top nature recommendation for Taipei is none other than, Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan).
If you’ve ever seen epic pictures of tourists posing with the Taipei skyline in the background, chances are, they took that picture at Elephant Mountain. It really is the best hike because you get the best view of Taipei city.
RECOMMENDED: The Complete Guide to Taipei Travel
Table of Contents
A Little About Elephant Mountain…
According to Taiwan’s Geotechnical Engineering Department, the small mountain is roughly 183 meters high and the trail is about 1.5km long.
The reason it’s called Elephant Mountain (or Mount Elephant) is because of the odd elephant-like shape of the mountain. But Elephant Mountain is not the only beast-named mountain in Taipei.
It’s one of the “Four Beast Mountains” that’s connected by the Nangang Mountain System. In addition, there’s also Tiger Mountain, Lion Mountain and Leopard Mountain.
But because Elephant Mountain is the most accessible, it’s become the most popular by far. Most people conquer Elephant Mountain and stop there. However, if you kept going, you’d eventually be able to reach the other mountains.
How Long is the Elephant Mountain Hike?
So, how long does it take to complete the elephant mountain trail? Depending on your physical ability and condition, it can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 35 minutes.
Keep in mind that the “hike” is comprised of nearly all stairs. For that reason, it may be a little harder for some people. Others will be able to power through, while others will need to take breaks in between.
Some people I recommend Xiangshan to came back complaining to me about how difficult it was. And if you’re wondering whether you can conquer this mountain, you definitely can.
Every day, you’ll see plenty of seniors do this hike! And I’m not just about about a few, there are really A LOT of elders that conquer Elephant Mountain.
If you’re having doubts, better start hitting the gym for that StairMaster!
How to Get to Elephant Mountain?
Getting to Xiangshan is really easy. The best way to get to Elephant Mountain is by taking the MRT Red Line. You’ll need to get off at the very last station heading east of the city – Xiangshan Station.
After you arrive at the station, make sure to leave from Exit 2. You’ll go up long escalators and end up at the edge of a large park. Head straight down the road you see when you get out and you’ll eventually hit a dead end.
At the dead end, take a left and keep going up the slight hill until you see the entrance of Xiangshan Hiking Trail on your left side. You won’t miss it because there will be a ton of people coming in and out of the entrance/exit.
When in doubt, follow the crowd that leaves Xiangshan MRT station. More likely than not, they’re heading to the hiking trail head too.
Conquering Elephant Mountain
Depending on when you go, conquering Elephant Mountain is no easy feat! Summers during the day can be brutal, as it’s both scorching hot and humid.
The good news is that most of the trail is covered by tall trees. You’ll be able to find some shade to rest if the hike ever gets too difficult.
Preparing For the Xiangshan Hike
There are a few things that you should prepare before heading off to Elephant Mountain. Some of which, I highly recommend because it can make or break the trip.
1. Mosquito Repellent
This is especially important during summertime! Mosquitos are everywhere on this trail and without repellent, you’ll likely come back with a few new bumps. You HAVE been warned.
2. Long Pants
I only recommend this if you don’t have mosquito repellent. These little feisty blood-sucking bugs love to hang around your legs because it’s harder for you to swipe at them.
I went without repellent and pants one time and it was easily one of the biggest regrets I’ve had while traveling in Taipei. Don’t be like me, be smarter.
3. Bottled Water
This may seem obvious but a lot of people “forget” this. It’s not the longest hike in the world, and you’ll likely survive even if you didn’t bring water. But it’s easy to remember and bring.
In the event that you do forget, there are plenty of aunties camped at the entrance of the trail. They’ll be selling (slightly overpriced) water. They’re here everyday so that’s an option too.
4. Camera / GoPro
This ones pretty obvious. Part of the reason why most people go to Elephant Mountain is to take amazing pictures of Taipei’s gorgeous skyline. If you don’t have a camera, your phone should be good enough.
However, this spot is a photographer’s paradise.
Elephant Mountain Path
There will be a lot of places on the trail where you get a good glimpse of Taipei 101. Don’t waste your energy as the best pictures are taken from the very top!
About halfway into the hike you’ll see a rest area with bathrooms and tables to rest at. You’re more than welcome to stop here, but just know you did not make it to the top yet.
If you continue a little bit further, you’ll see a nice patio area where people flock to take awesome pictures of Taipei 101. Of course, you’re STILL not at the top – don’t be fooled and head back.
At some point in the hike the main path will split into two paths. It really doesn’t matter which you take because they both lead to the same place.
However, some people have told me that the left path is easier. I don’t know for sure, but in the many times I’ve taken both paths, I feel as if the left path is longer.
But the stairs and climb of the left path isn’t as intense. It’s a slower but longer ascension I suppose.
Keep going for a few more minutes and you’ll finally be at the actual top. You’ll know because it’ll likely be where most of the tourists stop at.
Take Pictures on the Giant Rocks
One of the reasons why Xiangshan is so popular is because at the peak, there are giant rocks that you can climb to take pictures on.
It works best when you’re going with someone else because you need someone to take the picture from the adjacent rock. Worse case scenario, you can always take a selfie or ask a kind Taiwanese local (they’ll likely do it).
Here’s a picture that I captured for my friends from the adjacent rock:
Though the weather wasn’t that great on this day, it’s still a beautiful shot of the skyline. Now that the Taipei Nan Shan Plaza building (under construction in the picture) is complete, it’ll look even nicer!
Flying Drones Near Elephant Mountain
I want to make a few notes about flying your drone near Elephant Mountain because it seems like a popular spot for drone photography.
Though you’re allowed to fly your drone in Taipei, you’re not allowed to fly it everywhere. There are certain restrictions and limitations for drone flying.
Drones are legal for flying around Elephant Mountain. But technically you’re not supposed to fly the drone higher than 60 meters (above sea level), though it seems like many people do anyway.
It may seem tempting, but DON’T fly your drone near Taipei 101! You’ll get great drone shots from Elephant Mountain anyway.
Elephant Mountain Rating: 9/10
Personally, I think this is a superb hike. Not because the journey is spectacular or anything, but because it’s so easy to get to and you get such an amazing view of the city.
If you plan to come to Taipei in the near future, you MUST put this on your list of things to do. It won’t take more than a few hours from start to finish, so you won’t have to block off a whole day for this.
To make the most out of this, make sure to bring some awesome cameras. And if you’re a big fan of Xiangshan and nature stuff, you should probably check out Daan Forest Park next.
Accommodations Near Elephant Mountain
Fortunately for you, Elephant Mountain isn’t in the boonies of the city. Surprisingly, it’s in the heart of Taipei City – Xinyi District. If you stay near Elephant Mountain, you’ll also have access to the amazing night life that Taipei has to offer.
Because Xiangshan is situated next to the most expensive area of Taipei, staying near this attraction may cost you a pretty penny. However, it’s the price to pay to stay in one of the most prosperous districts of the country.
If you’re not sure where in Taipei you plan to stay, check out my guide here. I recommend districts and areas of Taipei for the 6 types of tourists.
Grand Hyatt Taipei
When the Grand Hyatt was built in 1990, it was called “the first, true international luxury hotel of the capital.” To this day, it’s still a highly renowned luxury hotel.
It’s just a 5 to 8 minute walk to Taipei 101 (and the MRT station). However, it’ll take you about 20 minutes to walk to the Xiangshan trail head. Taxi will take you about 8 minutes depending on traffic.
W Taipei
The W Taipei is a more modern luxury hotel that sits in the heart of Xinyi District. It’s surrounded with a ton of night life options and shopping centers. It’s much newer than the Grand Hyatt and has all the elegant decor that’s seen with all W hotels.
No matter what you’re looking for, the W Taipei is a great option because of the location. However, it’s a 30 minute walk to Xiangshan, so I definitely reccomend taking a cab.
Space Inn Xinyi (Hostel)
There aren’t many hostels in Xinyi District, but the Space Inn is a great one. As far as hostels go, this seems to be fairly “high-end” as with most of the accommodation in this area.
The design is modern and the beds are clean. The location is excellent for the price and we think it’s the best bang for the buck. Also, Space Inn Xinyi is about a 25 minute walk to Xiangshan trail head.