Dragon Boat Rock (龍船岩)

While being locked down at home during the pandemic in Taiwan, I looked for good sunset places in Neihu to go after work. But this is not easy. In many parts of the district, the mountains to the west and north of Neihu block the setting sun and the colors of the afterglow. So I often failed in my quest to find good sunset spots here.

Then I stumbled upon Longchuanyan (Dragon Boat Rock). A short trail leads to a small cliff jutting out over the mountains, with Taipei in the distance. Much like the nearby Bishanyan (a wonderful, yet perhaps more crowded choice nearby), Longchuanyan is considered a local secret.

Depending on the season, the sun here and at Bishanyan might set slightly behind the mountains in the foreground, which means you might not see it completely drop below the horizon. But don’t worry. The view of the sky is less obstructed than most other spots in Neihu, and the colors of the sunset will still bleed into the scenery in the distance.

Dragon Boat Rock is a good selfie spot, and you might run into some IGers making the cliff look more dangerous than it really is. That said, do be careful and don’t get too close to the sharp edge of the rock. But also, enjoy the peaceful views in front of you.

To one side of the rock, you can see Dahu Park in Neihu, Nangang, Xizhi, and the mountains spreading to Keelung. To the right, you can see planes landing at Songshan, part of downtown Taipei, and the mountains surrounding it. Take a breath and relax.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the trail beyond the rock and climb down into the rocks and forest with ropes.

The trail to Longchuanyan is only a 10-minute walk from the trailhead, and isn’t hard. But it gets dark after sunset. Also, although this place doesn’t get the crowds that other sunset spots get, it’s a small space and still might feel packed.

In order to get to the trail, you have to pass through a small community. The best way to get to Longchuanyan is to drive, and you can park near the little community.

You can also take the S2 (小2) bus from MRT Neihu Station to the last stop, Shikan, which is conveniently located right outside the community. But make sure you’re aware of the bus times going back, as this is quite a remote location!