AlleyhopsYangmingshan: fumaroles, Qixingshan and the flower seasons
Checked Taiwan's 16th most asked-about place. How we rank places
Yangmingshan is Taiwan’s only national park with volcanic landscape and hot springs, 11,338 hectares of hills just north of Taipei.Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.tw Take bus Red 5 from Jiantan MRT, then the 108 loop bus round the park. Time your visit by what’s in flower.
When are you going?
- January to March: cherry blossoms, in six varieties.Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
- March and April: calla lilies at Zhuzihu at their peak, in season from January to May; then hydrangeas in May and June.Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
- October to December: silvergrass on the slopes at Lengshuikeng and Qingtiangang.Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
Top things to do
- Xiaoyoukeng: steaming volcanic fumaroles on the slopes of Qixingshan.Tip The steam is scalding and carries toxic gas, so don’t touch the rocks, put a hand over a vent or linger.Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com
- Qixingshan: Taipei’s highest peak, about 1,120 m. The trail climbs from Xiaoyoukeng over the top and down to Lengshuikeng, and bus 108 links both ends.Tip The way down is steep and slippery, so bring gloves.Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com
Qingtiangang: a grassland plateau where water buffalo have grazed since the 1930s.Tip Since 2019 they’ve been fenced off from the main visitor area, after a buffalo killed a woman in 2018; keep outside the fence.Taipei Times (opens in a new tab)taipeitimes.com- Zhuzihu: the calla lily and hydrangea fields, in a valley at about 670 m.Tip Go in March or April, when the lilies peak.Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.twTaiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
- Yangming Park and the Flower Clock: a flower clock about 7 m across that plays music on the hour.Tourism Administration (opens in a new tab)eng.taiwan.net.twTip Come in cherry blossom season, January to March.Taiwan News (opens in a new tab)taiwannews.com.tw
Getting there and around
- Bus Red 5 from Jiantan MRT runs every 4 to 8 minutes at weekday peaks, and every 12 to 15 minutes at weekends.Taipei e-bus (opens in a new tab)ebus.gov.taipei
- Bus 260 runs from Taipei Main Station.Taipei e-bus (opens in a new tab)ebus.gov.taipei
- Bus 108 loops round the park via Erziping and Qingtiangang, every 20 to 30 minutes at weekends.Taipei e-bus (opens in a new tab)ebus.gov.taipei
- Qixingshan trail
- Qingtiangang trails
- Calla lily loop
- Bus 108 loop
- Bus Red 5
- Bus 260
If it doesn’t go to plan
- Red 5 packed? Take bus 260 from Taipei Main Station instead.
- Cloud on Qixingshan? Stay low: Xiaoyoukeng’s fumaroles and the Flower Clock are worth seeing in any weather.