Yangmingshan National Park

The park lies in Beitou and Shilin districts of Taipei and is the national park closest to the city core. Its main landscape is the Datun volcano group, with complete volcanic landforms and varied ecosystems. It covers more than 10,000 hectares, and differences in altitude and climate give it four distinct seasons: flowers in spring, mountain mist and thick fog in summer, silvergrass across the slopes in autumn and bleak uplands in winter. Xiaoyoukeng, Lengshuikeng, Qingtiangang Grassland, Qixing Mountain and Menghuan Lake are its main sights. The trail network is dense, with routes ranging from gentle walks to mountain hikes, and most places can be reached by public transport. Volcanic landscapes are found at many places in the park. Xiaoyoukeng is the most typical: its fumaroles, sulphur deposits and constant geothermal steam show the force of volcanic activity clearly. The area around Lengshuikeng keeps wetlands, marshes and other special habitats, with varied scenery along its trails, and Jingshan Suspension Bridge looks over forest and valley. Lengshuikeng and Macao are both known for their hot springs. Qingtiangang Grassland is wide and open, with grazing water buffalo and grassland ecology, and looks out over the surrounding peaks. Menghuan Lake Ecological Reserve has rare plants such as Taiwan quillwort and is an important spot for nature photography and birdwatching. Spring is the most colourful season. Mei plum, cherry, azalea, peach, li plum and camellia blossom in turn from the start of the year. Zhuzihu holds its calla lily season from mid-March, when white flowers fill the valley and visitors can pick flowers. In early summer it moves on to hydrangea season, with the slopes turning blue-purple and pink. Erziping Trail is flat and easy, a common choice for families and older people, and from May to July each year frogs, butterflies and many kinds of insects can be seen around it. In autumn silvergrass covers the hilltops, and the golden slopes around Qixing Mountain and Qingtiangang are the typical sight. The park also keeps a number of cultural sites. Yangming Shuwu is tied to modern political history, and its buildings and surroundings reflect their period; Caoshan Xingguan and former military and administrative facilities also record the changes Yangmingshan has seen. The Yulu Old Trail and the Ziming Stream Trail follow the routes early residents took to and from the mountain town.

Translated and shortened by DealTaipei from Taiwan's national tourism database. Sources are on the terms page.