On the relatively easy hike up the Jiantanshan Trail that starts close to MRT Jiantan Station, you’ll get good views of Yangmingshan and Guanyinshan with the city in the foreground.
The Weifeng Platform is only 25-ish minutes walking from the MRT station. It faces Jiantan Station and gives a really awesome view of the Taipei Performing Arts Center (the building with the protruding ball next to the MRT station) with the Tamsui River and Guanyinshan directly in the middle in the distance. You could come just here or continue up the mountain to see the other spots.
15 or so minutes farther up, the Guanyinshan Viewpoint is the ideal spot for a sunset in my opinion, with iconic views to the northwest as the sun sets over Guanyinshan and the Tamsui River.
Another 5 minutes up is Jiantanshan’s highest spot, Laodifang. This is the best spot for viewing airplanes and is also a fantastic option to see downtown Taipei with the mountains behind. You might catch some beautiful skies here, though usually you can’t see the sun from this angle. I’d recommend hitting up both Laodifang and Guanyinshan Viewpoint on the same trip if you’ve already made it up this high.
And as a bonus, on your way down (depending on the route you choose, as there are a series of connected trails), you might catch the beautiful post-sunset colors over Jiantan from one of the many other openings and small viewing platforms. This being said, bring a light and check the signs as you go down. It’s easy to get turned around!
The Jiantanshan Trail is a great urban/nature mix that is easily accessible without car (the hike to the three viewpoints can be done in about an hour round-trip). The trail and its platforms can get somewhat busy on nice days, though there’s still plenty of places to go to spread out!
Nearest Station(s)
- MRT Jiantan Station | Last Red Line train: 00:45 towards Tamsui; 00:31 towards Xiangshan (Timetables)
Parking Info
There is street parking nearby.
Entry
Free
Lit After Dark?
Yes in parts
Sunset Perspective Rating (1-10; 1 is the least perspectives to see the sunset, 10 is the most)
4
Crowded Factor (1 is the least crowded, 10 is the most crowded)
5
Hike Difficulty (0-10; 0 = no hike, 1 = easiest, 10 = hardest)
4
Return Factor (1-10; 1 = simplest, 10 = hardest/most dangerous)
3
Popular for Night Views?
Yes
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