Jiantanshan is perhaps the most scenic and beautiful hike in Taipei City, offering a panoramic view of the entire city from Shilin and Zhongshan Districts of Taipei. Here you can see Songshan Airport, downtown Xinyi, the 101, the Yuanshan Hotel, and north along the Tamsui River. The hike is relatively easy, and there are many scenic spots along the trail to soak in some amazing views.
🏯 Planning your trip to Taipei? 🏮
Here are some top travel tips for you:
- Best time to visit: March-May, and October – November when the temperatures are nice and there is not as much rain
- You can buy tickets to Taipei’s Science Museum for a discount on Klook here
- How to get there: Taiwan High Speed Railway and Inter-City Bus
- Best places to stay: Yuanshan Grand Hotel or Fu Chang Hotel
- Book tours and activities in Taipei on Klook
- Stay connected with a local SIM
- Rent a car to explore distant sights
Historical Background:
Jiantan Mountain is a large area with trails stretching about 2.7 kilometers, and because it was under military control from 1945 to the 1980s, it avoided human damage. However, many landmarks built after the 1950s were named “Yuanshan,” such as the Grand Hotel and nearby recreational areas, leading to frequent confusion between Jiantan Mountain and Yuanshan today. After the area was opened, the Taipei City government created hiking trails, though limited management led to unauthorized structures along them. Despite this, the mountain remains known for its dense forests, diverse plant life, and occasional sightings of birds like the Taiwan barbet and Japanese white-eye. Historically, the site once held a Shinto Shrine during the Japanese era, and later became home to the Grand Hotel, as well as other sites like Ming Chuan University, Jiantan Park, and the Martyrs’ Shrine. In recent years, the area has been promoted for tourism with three themed trails and ten scenic attractions—collectively called “Three Goods, Ten Beauties 三好十美”—highlighting both natural scenery and cultural landmarks.
Hours:
24/7
Price:
Free.
Difficulty:
Moderate – there are some steep parts with lots of steps.
190 Meter elevation gain.
Length:
2.7 KM one way
Takes about 2-3 hours for a round trip, or 1-2 hours one way.
Where to stay:
We recommend Fullon Hotel, which has locations in Tamsui and Fulong near the beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here).
We have stayed at and recommend Gold Mountain Ranch, which is a horse ranch and glamping destination in Jinshan. You can book a night at Gold Mountain Ranch on Klook here. You can also check out our full blog on the ranch here.
We have also stayed at and recommend Hai Xia Your Home, which is right in front of Fulong Beach (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, Agoda here, or Hotels.com here).
Activities in Taipei:
There are many activities available to enjoy in Taipei, such as kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling, SUP / paddle boarding, water biking, and more activities, which you can book on Klook here or KKday here.
How to get there:
By Car/Scooter: You can park near either the Dazhi entrance or near Yuanshan Hotel. There is limited paid parking nearby.
Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here.
If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here.
By MRT/Bus: The easiest way to get there is either from Jiantan MRT Station in Shilin or Dazhi MRT Station in Zhongshan District. Both MRT stations are just a short walk from the trail, on opposite ends of the trail. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here.
By Bicycle:
Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan’s landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan’s many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here.
For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here.
Map:
Please see below:
There are multiple trailhead entrances to Jiantanshan. The easiest way to get there is either from Jiantan MRT Station in Shilin or Dazhi MRT Station in Zhongshan District. Both MRT stations are just a short walk from the trail, on opposite ends of the trail.
Our Journey:
Despite being a long-time Taipei resident, it took me ten years of living here before I finally hiked on this amazing trail. I started my hike at about 5:50 PM and finished at 7:30 with lots of photo taking in between. I did a round-trip hike from Dazhi to Shilin and back. Overall, I was extremely impressed with the scenery here, and I recommend everyone to come visit here.
The hardest part of the trail is the beginning. From Dazhi, you have the choice of walking up some very long steps or this flat path to get most of the way up the mountain.
The highest part you can ride your scooter is to the Guangming Temple, but I don’t think you are actually allowed to park there.
From here, there are only steps up the mountain.
Endless stone steps.
A place to rest along the endless stone steps.
This sign points to the 8 Attractions, or 8 beauties on the trail.
After you climb all the steps, the trail flattens out for the most part.
A flatter section of trail.
Laodifang Airplane Spotting Platform 老地方觀機平台
Perhaps the place with the best views along the trail is Laodifang Lookout, which has the best views of airplanes taking off from Songshan Airport.
On a clear day, you can see most of Taipei from here.
Beautiful sunset over the city.
View of the Laodifang viewing platform.
Panoramic view.
An even more panoramic view.
Wide view of Taipei.
View looking south.
A closer view of Taipei.
A couple takes a selfie in front of the Taipei 101.
View of Nangang, the best part of Taipei.
View of downtown Xinyi District.
Closeup on the 101.
Another view of Xinyi District.
Fuxing North Road.
View of the Tamsui River.
Dajia Riverside Park.
View of the area in front of Taipei Main Station.
Beautiful clouds at dusk.
Sunset over Neihu.
Downtown Neihu.
View looking toward Keelung.
View of Neihu and Xizhi.
Neihu and Nangang.
Another view of Xinyi District.
Zhongshan District.
View of central Taipei.
View of West Taipei.
View looking at the Tamsui River and Sanchong.
One last view of the Taipei 101.
After Laodifang, I continued on the trail.
The trail stays pretty flat.
Guanyinshan Viewing Platform 觀音山眺望點
Another great spot for views is the Guanyinshan viewing platform, where you can see great views of Guanyinshan, Shilin, and Beitou.
View of Guanyinshan, Shilin, and a new science park in Beitou.
Sunset over Shezi.
Lots of other people paused here to enjoy the sunset.
And I decided to switch to a wider lense.
Wider view of Shilin.
Another view of Shilin and Tianmu with Yangmingshan in the background.
Another view with the sun-lit tree trunk.
Amazing view for all involved.
Last shimmer of sunshine.
More people enjoying the sunset views.
And I continued my stroll.
View of Shilin MRT station.
An old bunker along the trail.
Apartment complexes in Tamsui.
Last view of the sun as it sunk over the horizon.
The Top of Jianshanshan 劍潭山山頂
And I also reached the top of Jiantanshan, which appearently is only 153 meters above sea level.
RTI Radio Tower 國際中央廣播電台
Also on the mountain you can find RTI’s radio tower.
The Hub of International Broadcasting — RTI Yuanshan Station
Located in the Yuanshan Scenic Area, the RTI Yuanshan Radio Station is the first relay point for Radio Taiwan International’s global broadcasts. Daily program signals are received here, then transmitted to RTI’s transmission sites before being sent worldwide via medium- and shortwave frequencies.
Planning and construction of the Yuanshan Microwave Station began in 2007 and were completed in 2016. The station’s transmission tower stands 51.4 meters tall. Due to its geographic location, the station also serves as a hydrological monitoring point for the greater Taipei area, collecting real-time data such as river water levels and rainfall, which are transmitted to the Taipei City government’s disaster prevention center. Thus, the station plays a dual role in both representing Taiwan’s international broadcasting efforts and safeguarding public safety.
Introduction to Radio Taiwan International (RTI)
RTI is Taiwan’s national broadcasting service, operating under the mission of being the “Voice of Taiwan.” It currently broadcasts daily in more than 20 languages—including Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Cantonese, English, French, Spanish, German, Russian, Japanese, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Malay, Filipino, Burmese, Arabic, and Ukrainian—through shortwave radio, online platforms, apps, and podcasts to audiences around the world.
To serve over one million migrant workers and new immigrants in Taiwan, RTI connects the government and the public, helping international residents access practical and accurate information through broadcasts and social media, and supporting their adaptation to life in Taiwan.
Weifeng Platform 微風平台
The Weifeng platform has great views over Shilin and has lots of areas to sit down and enjoy the scenery.
There are two main levels with big flat platforms.
View over downtown Shilin.
Another wide view of the area.
A plane flies over Sanchong into Songshan Airport.
National Freeway 1.
Closeup on the freeway.
Guanyinshan.
View over Shilin at night.
Guanyinshan over Shilin at night.
Verticle view.
View of Sanchong and Luzhou.
Looking down at the streets of Shilin.
View looking at Sanchong.
View of the performing arts center in Shilin.
MRT train passes by.
Closer view of the MRT as it passes by at night.
A man takes photos of Guanyinshan.
View of downtown Xinyi.
Jiantanshan Viewing Platform 劍潭山觀景台
The Jiantanshan Viewing Platform has amazing views of the Yuanshan Hotel and surrounding area.
It is impossible to resist the urge to take lots of photos here.
View from behind the Yuanshan Hotel.
View looking down Jianguo Road.
Panoramic view of Taipei at night.
Another wide view of Taipei at night.
A man sets up the right shot.
View looking down Jianguo Road.
Closer view of Jianguo Road at night.
Wide view of Taipei with the Yuanshan Hotel in view.
Another view of Taipei and the Keelung River.
The 101 and Yuanshan hotel in view.
Wide view of the Yuanshan Hotel.
Yuanshan Grand Hotel 圓山大飯店
The Yuanshan Grand Hotel is one of the tallest traditional Chinese buildings in the world, and was the tallest building in Taiwan for nearly a decade. It also features multiple restaurants, a swimming pool, all day buffet, shops, and secret underground tunnels, slides, and bunkers. It is a major landmark in Taipei and definitely worth a visit even if you do not plan to spend the night there…(read more)
Closer view of Shilin.
Closeup of Xinyi District at night.
A slightly different angle.
View of an airplane taking off from Songshan Airport at night.
More of Xinyi.
National Freeway 1 toward Neihu.
Another view of Jianguo Road.
Jianguo Road and National Freeway 1.
Xinyi and Dazhi Bridge.
Miramar Ferris Wheel.
Xinyi at night.
Nangang Station.
PX Mart headquarters.
Check out our Taipei City hiking guide here.
Check out our full guide to Taipei here.
