From Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, we took the metro to Xiangshen station and started our hike to Elephant Mountain. We walked about 10–15 minutes through a residential neighbourhood to reach the trail entrance.
Clear signage along the way made it hard to miss, and there were other hikers heading in the same direction.
The entrance to Xiangshen Trail is next to Daitiandian Lingyun Temple (代天殿靈雲宮).
The Xiang Shan hike is short but intense. Most of the trail consists of stone steps, with a steady incline that can feel challenging, especially in humid weather. However, the route is well-maintained and shaded by trees, with rest platforms and benches along the way. We started our ascend at about 4:55pm and we knew that we would probably not reach the viewing platform in time for the sunset, which was forecasted to be about 5:05pm.
True enough, the sun began setting halfway through our ascend. Fortunately, I managed to locate a spot to capture the last moment of the sunset.
We then continued our climb up the hill and it's really physically challenging for us who do not exercise much. 😓
We had to take several breaks as we hiked our way up to the viewing platform.
Finally, we persevered and reached the viewing deck. Though the sun had already set by then, our effort was not wasted as the night view from the platform was superb. This was the time when city lights began to sparkle, transforming the view into a sea of glowing windows and traffic lines. Many people consider this blue-hour transition even more beautiful than the sunset itself.
After we were satisfied admiring the clear, unobstructed view of Taipei 101 framed by the surrounding cityscape, we began our descend.
This is not the end. At the foot of Elephant Mountain (Xiang Shan), there’s a quiet alley that offered one of Taipei’s most unexpected and atmospheric views of Taipei 101.
From between weathered walls, tiled roofs, and hanging laundry, Taipei 101 rose suddenly at the end of the alley, perfectly framed by the modest buildings on either side. The contrast was pretty striking. Faded signboards, metal grilles, scooters parked casually along the street, and the everyday rhythms of neighbourhood life set against the sharp, modern silhouette of the city’s tallest tower.
No comments:
Post a Comment