Elephant Mountain: Front‑Row Views of Taipei 101’s Big Reveal

@TravelforLifeGuide

Taipei 101 Goes Vertical with Alex Honnold — Here’s the View from Elephant Mountain

Mount Elephant⭐, also known as Xiangshan in Chinese, is a popular hiking destination in Taipei, Taiwan. Located in the Xinyi District, it offers stunning panoramic views of the city, including the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper.


Elephant Mountain (One Line Sky · Yongchungang · Six Giant Rocks) Loop Trail

The Elephant Mountain Trail forms part of Taipei City’s expansive Four Beasts Mountain Trail System, which links Tiger Mountain, Leopard Mountain, Lion Mountain, and Elephant Mountain into a connected hiking network. Depending on your chosen trailhead or whether you explore additional viewpoints, the route may vary slightly.

The Elephant Mountain Loop Trail—featuring One Line Sky, Yongchungang, and the Six Giant Rocks—is one of Taipei’s most beloved “small O-shaped” or semi-loop hikes. The full route spans roughly 2.5–3 kilometers (depending on whether you complete the loop) with a total elevation gain of about 150–200 meters. Most hikers finish in 1–2 hours, including time for photos and breaks, making it a perfect option for a relaxed half‑day outing.

Along the way, the trail links three of Elephant Mountain’s signature attractions: the dramatic Six Giant Rocks, the narrow passage of One Line Sky, and the peaceful Yongchungang Platform. The scenery shifts constantly—ranging from striking close-up views of Taipei 101 to impressive geological formations and quiet forested terraces, followed by gentle downhill stretches. The path is well-maintained and mostly stair-based, requiring no specialized gear. Still, the steep gradients and numerous steps mean hikers with sensitive knees or limited cardiovascular endurance should take their time and proceed with care.

Recommended Mainstream Loop Route (Most Common O‑Shaped Trail)

  • Starting Point: Exit 2 of Xiangshan MRT Station (捷運象山站2號出口) → Xiangshan Park (象山公園) → Lingyun Temple (靈雲宮) Trailhead.
    • This approach takes about 10–15 minutes on foot and is the most frequently used entrance.
  • Ending Point: Descend via Yongchungang Park (永春崗公園) → Walk back to Xiangshan Station (or continue to Yongchun Station).
    • Expect a 15–25-minute walk depending on your pace.

Alternative Starting Point (Gentler, Avoids the Steepest Section)

  • Begin at the Yongchungang Park (永春崗公園) trailhead, which offers a milder ascent. From here, the route leads through One Line Sky (一線天) → Six Giant Rocks (六巨石) → Chaoran Pavilion (超然亭) → down to Lingyun Temple (靈雲宮).
  • Note that this entrance is farther from the MRT—about a 20–25 minute walk from Yongchun Station, or you can take Bus 299 to Yongchun High School.

Key Facts:

  • Height: 183 meters (600 feet)
  • Hiking distance: Approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles)
  • Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Highlights:

  • Breathtaking views of Taipei, especially at sunrise and sunset
  • Six Giant Rocks - unique rock formations on the peak
  • Lush greenery and diverse wildlife
  • Convenient location close to Xiangshan MRT station
If you're looking for a moderate hike with amazing views in Taipei, Mount Elephant is a great option. Just be prepared for some crowds, especially on weekends.

Elephant Mountain Hike: Starting from the Top-Right Trailhead (Yongchungang) and Descending to Lingyun Temple

Photo Gallery


On May 6, 2023, under clear skies, I hiked Elephant Mountain via the Elephant Mountain Loop Trail. To bypass the steepest sections, I opted for an alternative trailhead and a modified route, as indicated on the map above. The photos below follow the hike in chronological order, capturing the gradual ascent and the scenic beauty encountered along the way.






Xiangshan Nature Trail









Unmissable Milestone: Signpost Identifies Mount Elephant's Peak

Six Giant Rocks




Six Giant Rocks





Welcome to Travel for Life! I share immersive travel experiences designed to inspire a lifetime of exploration.

I believe that travel is the key to understanding our world. As the creator of Travel 4 a Purpose and Travel 2 Health, I combine the beauty of global destinations with a mindful approach to living well.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” — Mark Twain

Be a traveler, not a tourist. Look beyond what’s right in front of you.

Popular posts from this blog

Felines and Femininity: The Symbolic World of Yumeji Takehisa

@TravelforLifeGuide
Image
A Quiet Day in a Berlin Park, 1933 In the early 1930s, Takehisa Yumeji's studio became a hub for artists, inspiring ventures like the Mt. Haruna Art Research Institute. In 1931, Yumeji began a journey to the United States and Europe, supported by exhibitions of his work. While in the U.S. for 16 months, he continued to paint, creating pieces like Nude on the West Coast. Afterward, Yumeji taught in Berlin until the school was closed by the Nazis. He returned to Japan in 1933, his overseas experiences shaping his final works. His last exhibition was held in Taipei that year. Yumeji passed away from tuberculosis in 1934, leaving behind a legacy of beauty and cultural exchange. Read more:  Prints in Collection—Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934) Kuronosuke 黒の助: a Legacy Little Black Cat   (YouTube  link ) Photo Gallery The Yumeji Art Museum in Okayama exhibits many black cat paintings because the artist, Yumeji Takehisa , frequently featured them in his work, particularly in his bij...
Read more

Osaka: Navigating the Many Namba Stations

@TravelforLifeGuide
Image
This is a passageway leading to Nankai-Namba Station. Be aware that underground passages in Japan can be quite complex for visitors. When you arrive at Kansai International Airport (symbol: KIX) and try to reach your destinations via trains, sometimes you need to make connections at Namba Station (see Fig. 2). Namba Station is one of the main connection points (the other two are Umeda and Tennoji Stations). But, Namba Station actually means 4 different stations on Google map (see Fig. 3&4) : Namba Station  (Subway): This station provides access to the Osaka Metro lines: Midosuji (see Fig. 4),  Sennichimae , and  Yotsubashi . These lines can take you to popular destinations like Osaka Station, Koreatown, Honmachi, and Nippombashi. JR-Namba Station:  This smaller station has only four tracks and two platforms. It's located within the  Osaka City Air Terminal  (OCAT) building, and the entrance can be easy to miss. Thankfully, it's connected to the ...
Read more

A Unique Hiking Experience on Fudo-Zaka Slope (不動坂) in Koyasan (高野山)

@TravelforLifeGuide
Image
Koyasan  (高野山), a popular pilgrimage destination for centuries, has been connected to the outside world by a network of pilgrimage trails. While most visitors enter the mountain by cable car nowadays, many of the pilgrimage trails still remain in use. Koyasan Travel—Temple Lodging (Shukubo; YouTube link ) Part of the pilgrimage trails, the Fudozaka Trail (不動坂; click the map to enlarge), leads to Koyasan from Gokurakubashi Station, the lower station of the Koyasan Cablecar. The steep, paved trail is 2.5 kilometers long and takes about an hour to ascend and less time to descend. The trail ends at the Nyonindo temple (女人堂). [1] On 11/27/2016, I have decided to descend from Fudozaka Trail instead of riding the cable car.  I was the only person on the trail at beginning.  However, in the middle of the trail, another young blonde girl passed me by swiftly with a big smile on her face.  I was really surprised to see another soul on that rainy day.  Althoug...
Read more