Unbeatable Views of Taipei at Jiuwufeng Hiking Trail

There was a time when we believed that the best views of Taipei were from Elephant or Tiger Mountain, but that was until we discovered Jiuwufeng Peak. Located right behind Tiger Mountain, the Jiuwufeng Trail is like the final boss of the Four Beasts Mountain trail system — harder, longer, and way more rewarding. It is the highest peak in the range, which is what affords it unparalleled views of Taipei, but surprisingly, it’s actually not that much harder than the others to climb. It’s also just as accessible by public transportation, only around a 10-15 minute walk from Houshanpi Station on the blue line.

The hike starts at the Four Beast Mountain Citizens Forest Monument, one of the same starting points for Tiger Mountain. Climb the stairs to your left for Jiuwufeng, and go straight for a pretty forest trail to Tiger Mountain.

The first set of stairs gives way to a path, then alternates between stairs and path. The stairs aren’t too bad at the beginning of the hike, but after a while will get longer and steeper.

Keep going straight, past the little hut where you can get massaged by grandmas ($300 for 30 minutes) in the open air, and past another entrance for the Tiger Mountain trail. When you see the drinking fountain (pictured below) take the stairs that continue upwards. There is a small bathroom here that is clean and well-maintained.

The worst of the climb comes right after the drinking water fountain and ends at a small temple, and doesn’t last for very long. If you’re worried that you’re not fit enough for it, don’t be — just take it slow. This hike is suitable for most people if you take it at your own pace. Try not to be discouraged by the barefoot Taiwanese grandmas and grandpas who practically run up the mountain: there is no shame in the fact that they are fitter than all of us combined. If you persevere for a little while will be a spot to sit down.

At the temple, there’s another spot where you can get some water. Take either set of stairs to lead you upstairs to the temple, and then have a quick rest on one of the benches or continue up the stairs on your left.

After the temple, the path will split into three. Take the staircase on your right-hand side — if it gets confusing, just keep following signs for Jiuwufeng.

There are a couple more sets of intense stairs, but for the most part, the path will start to level out and you’ll start seeing great views of Taipei. The first place that you can stop and take in the views is at a rock next to the road, which offers a pretty sweeping view.

Stay on the path for more great views — there are plenty coming up.

There are lots of nice stray dogs that like to hang out up here, which adds to the hiking experience! Don’t worry, they’re all very tame and used to humans.

After staying on the path for 5-10 minutes, it’ll be clear why you persevered on the stairs. On your right-hand side, the whole of Taipei will unfold before your very eyes. You can see everything, sometimes even further than Tamsui. The view is incredible, and there are plenty of spots to stop and take a photo.

In this section, the hike goes back to alternating between path and stairs, but it’s nowhere near as steep as the first part of the hike. In fact, it’s quite relaxing with the breeze, excellent views, and pretty plants. If you’re thirsty, you can help yourself to some water that is set out for hikers.

The view is excellent for most of the rest of the way. There are a few more stairs, but nothing too extreme. Finally, you will come to one last staircase, which will lead you to the peak. Now, the one thing we don’t love about this hike is that the peak itself is pretty underwhelming: you really can’t see anything other than this big rock with Jiuwufeng written in big red characters. However, the view for most of the hike up is so stunning that it really doesn’t matter at this stage. The very peak of the mountain can be chilly, so you might want to bring an extra layer if you plan on staying up there for very long!

Top tip: if you’re disappointed by the barely-there view at the top, just keep going along the path for about five minutes. There’s a gorgeous lookout point with sweeping views of Taipei. This is a much better spot for taking photos than the big rock at the peak.

Once you’ve arrived at the peak, you can come back down the way you came, or continue along the path to Muji Mountain or Elephant Mountain. Since this hike is part of the Four Beasts Trail System, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to extending it. If you want to finish your hike near the MRT, we recommend heading to Elephant Mountain. Stay on the path after you reach the peak at Jiuwufeng and follow signs to Muji Mountain until you get to a rest area. Here, head down the (extremely) steep stairs to your right and follow the main path until you reach Elephant Mountain.

Alternatively, you can also head down the stairs to your left and end your hike at the Muzhi Mountain Trail starting point. This section is not as well-kept, so it has some nice jungle vibes. Word of warning: this area is unlit and not safe once the sun goes down, so if it’s getting late in the day we recommend ending your hike at Elephant Mountain instead. It’s also a little less convenient to commute back to the city centre from, as there is only one tiny bus that takes you to and from the area. It comes pretty regularly and is an interesting experience, though, so if you’re up for the challenge go right ahead.

All in all, we strongly recommend this hike for everyone living and visiting Taipei. It is more challenging and longer than either Tiger or Elephant Mountain, but the views you get out of it justify the extra time and effort. The path is pretty well-lit at night, so you don’t have to worry about getting down before the sun sets — in fact, the night view is spectacular too. It’s not very crowded, nor is it hard to access by public transportation, and you can easily extend it Muzhi or Elephant Mountain for an even more intense and beautiful experience.

What’s the vibe?

An excellent hike with the best views in Taipei. Expect a lot of barefoot grandmas and grandpas whizzing past you at any given point.

Worth it?

Absolutely — if you’re only ever going to do one hike in Taipei, this should be it. It’s not as crowded as Elephant Mountain, and the view is even better. It is longer and quite steep in places, but the views are completely worth it.

Would you go back?

We actually do this hike quite often, and not just for the views. It’s accessible and rather easy once you get in your groove and a nice place to do some exercise with friends.