Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) is the mountain range on Taipei's northern edge, in Beitou and Shilin districts, and of all Taiwan's national parks it is the one closest to a big city. It is a landscape of dormant volcanoes: steaming sulfur vents, grassy ridges, a calla lily valley and Taipei's highest peak. Spring brings the cherry blossoms and the flower festival, autumn turns the slopes silver with grass, and most of the main stops can be reached by bus.
- Park An open landscape with no gates or set hours
- Visitor centers 09:00 to 16:30 daily; closed on the last Monday of each month (the next day if that Monday is a national holiday) and on Lunar New Year's Eve
- Bus Red 5 (紅5) from Jiantan Station to the Yangmingshan bus terminal, then the 108 park loop
- MRT Jiantan Station (Red Line, R15); Beitou Station (Red Line, R22) for bus S9 to Zhuzihu
The main stops
Xiaoyoukeng
Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), loosely "little oil pit", is the park's most dramatic volcanic sight: a collapsed hillside of fumaroles that pour out steam, with yellow sulfur crystals around the vents. The "oil" is a memory of the old sulfur works, when the mineral was heated until it melted into an oily liquid. From the viewing platform you can see the volcanic cones of Datun, Qixing and Xiaoguanyin mountains and, on a clear day, the coast at Jinshan. A short path through arrow bamboo and silver grass starts nearby.
Qixingshan (Seven Star Mountain)
Qixingshan (七星山) is Taipei's tallest mountain, and the post at the summit gives its height as 1,120 m. The most popular route is a steep 4.8 km, roughly 2.5-hour walk: up from Xiaoyoukeng, past smaller steam vents and through a tunnel of arrow bamboo to the main peak, then on over the East Peak and down an even steeper trail to Lengshuikeng. Both ends have bus stops, so you don't need to go back the way you came. From the top you can see the Tamsui River and Mt. Guanyin to the west, the Jinshan coast to the northeast, and almost the whole Taipei Basin to the south.
Lengshuikeng
Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), "cold water pit", sits in an old crater between Qixing and Qigu mountains. Its spring water is about 40°C, cool by Yangmingshan standards, which is how it got its name, and minerals turn it milky white. There is a visitor station (09:00 to 16:30) and public hot spring facilities; check the park's website for the bath hours. A short walk away is Menghuan Pond (夢幻湖), a protected wetland you view from a platform only; the lake shore is closed.
Qingtiangang grassland
Qingtiangang (擎天崗) is a wide, rolling grassland on an old lava terrace, once a cattle ranch, and it is the park's most popular hiking destination. The paths are gentle, and on a clear day you look out over the surrounding peaks and the city. Water buffalo still graze here: keep your distance, and don't feed or touch them.
Zhuzihu and the calla lilies
Zhuzihu (竹子湖), Bamboo Lake, is a farming valley at 650 to 670 m, once a lake dammed by lava, and often wrapped in cloud and fog. It grows more than 80% of Taiwan's calla lilies. They bloom from January to May, at their best in March and April, when visitors walk the fields and pick their own. From late May the hydrangeas take over, peaking around the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. Short farm trails loop through the valley, from 10 to about 50 minutes.
Yangming Park and the flower clock
Yangming Park (陽明公園), near the Yangmingshan bus terminal, is the classic first stop: gardens of plum, cherry, peach and azalea, open all day, and the famous flower clock planted with seasonal flowers. It is the home of the Yangmingshan Flower Festival (陽明山花季) every spring, centered on the flower clock plaza. The 2026 festival ran from February 5 to March 15; watch Taipei City's announcements for the 2027 dates. → Festivals and events
Erziping, the easy walk
For an easy walk, the Erziping Trail (二子坪步道) runs about 2 km between Mt. Datun and Mt. Erzi. It is wide, evenly paved and barrier-free, the most accessible trail in the park, and good for butterflies and birds. The trailhead is a stop on the 108 bus.
Getting there
Yangmingshan is a bus trip, and the buses are easy: tap your EasyCard when you get on and off. Most rides up the mountain are one fare section (NT$15 for an adult); a few longer routes are two. The Taipei e-bus site shows every route's stops and live arrivals. → How to ride Taipei's buses
| Bus | Route | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Red 5 (紅5) | Jiantan Station (R15) to the Yangmingshan bus terminal | 05:30 to 23:30; every 4 to 8 minutes at weekday peaks, 12 to 15 minutes otherwise and at weekends. One section. |
| 108 | Park loop from the Yangmingshan bus terminal: the park headquarters, Zhuzihu, Erziping, Xiaoyoukeng, Menghuan Pond, Lengshuikeng and Qingtiangang | 07:00 to 17:30; every 30 to 40 minutes on weekdays, 20 to 30 minutes at weekends. One section. |
| 260 | Taipei Main Station and Jiantan Station to Yangmingshan | Fixed timetable, about a dozen buses a day up the mountain. Two sections. |
| S15 (小15) | Jiantan Station to Qingtiangang | Fixed timetable from 05:40, about 20 buses a day. One section. |
| S9 (小9) | Beitou Station (R22) to Zhuzihu | Fixed timetable, 05:20 to 22:50. Two sections. |
The simplest day: MRT to Jiantan, Red 5 to the terminal, then ride the 108 loop and get off where you like. The 108's last run is at 17:30, so start early. During the flower festival and the calla lily season, roads up the mountain are busy and controlled at weekends, parking is limited, and the city asks visitors to take public transportation.
Weather and safety
Yangmingshan has its own weather. It is cooler than the city, fog and cloud roll in quickly, especially in summer and winter, the wind picks up on the open ridges, and the trails are exposed to sun and rain. Check the forecast, but expect it to change. → Taipei weather by month
- Sulfur areas: the vents at Xiaoyoukeng are hot and the fumes are strong. Stay on the marked path and behind the railings, and don't climb toward the steam.
- Water buffalo: keep your distance at Qingtiangang, and don't feed or touch them.
- Trails: paths can be wet and slippery, and visibility can drop fast in fog. Leave plenty of time to reach a bus stop before dark and before the last 108.
- Leave it as you found it: at Qingtiangang the rules are no picking plants or taking rocks and soil, no litter, no loud music, no firecrackers and no barbecues.
- Emergencies: the park's 24-hour line is (02) 2861-3601.
What to bring
- A rain jacket and a warm layer, even when the city is sunny.
- About a liter of water and a snack for Qixingshan; the Xiaoyoukeng and Lengshuikeng visitor centers have water dispensers for refills.
- Sun protection: hat and sunscreen for the open ridges.
- Shoes with grip, and a hiking stick if your knees dislike steep descents.
- An EasyCard with credit for the buses.
Good to know: the silver grass starts in September, builds through October and peaks in November, when Qixingshan and Qingtiangang turn silvery white. It is the best time of year for the hike, and also one of Taipei's best months for weather.
Hot springs nearby
Yangmingshan and Beitou share the same volcanic heat. Lengshuikeng has its public hot spring facilities in the park; for the full hot spring experience, the bathhouses and hotels of Beitou are at the foot of the mountain, and bus S9 links Zhuzihu with Beitou Station. → Beitou hot springs
Right now: the Qixingshan trail from the Xiaoyoukeng trailhead is closed at about the 0.6 km mark for construction from October 27, 2026 to January 19, 2027. → Hikes from the MRT
Sources
Park, stops, seasons, visitor center hours and visitor notes from Taipei Travel, the city's tourism site: Yangmingshan National Park, Qingtiangang Grassland, Qingtiangang, Xiaoyoukeng, Lengshuikeng, Menghuan Pond, Zhuzihu, Zhuzihu Calla Lily Festival, Yangming Park and Erziping Trail. Qixingshan route, height, silver grass season and what to bring: TAIPEI Quarterly, Autumn 2024. Bus routes, hours, frequency and fare sections: Taipei e-bus (routes Red 5, 108, 260, S15 and S9). 2026 Flower Festival dates: National Immigration Agency, February 23, 2026. Emergency number: National Park Service. The park's own site, ymsnp.gov.tw, was down for maintenance when we checked. Checked October 2026.