When we signed in at the trailhead, the person manning the register said "the mountain is yours today, there's no one else." He wasn't wrong. Mai Ba Lai is never going to lure the crowds in search of Instagrammable views, but it offers another kind of draw: quietness and seemingly endless forest.
A comfortable and straightforward ride along the banks of the Tamsui river all the way up to Bali. Join the casual strollers and serious cyclists as you ride through parks, past boats yards to Bali old street.
Sandwiched between the busy Zhongshan district and the more northern Shilin district rises a green ridge stretching from near Jiantan station in the west to Neihu in the east. A big network of trails of varying difficulties crisscrosses this area and offers the city explorer plenty of opportunities for fun.
They may look enchanting in the photos, but the sky lanterns of Pingxi leave an unpleasant stain on the landscape around this charming railway village.
Miantian shan trail offers an easy to follow path over some of Yangmingshan National Park's western peaks. Go immediately after heavy rain in order to catch sight of the elusive xiang tian crater lake.
A short and easy meander over some of the less frequented hills of the northeastern coast. Given how convenient the trains are, this would make a good place to come for a quick half-day adventure out of Taipei.
If you've ever travelled to Yilan on Freeway Number 5, you might have glanced right just before you entered the first of the long tunnels and seen a tree-coated ridge running towards the west. If you're like me, that glimpse of intriguingly knobbly peaks and dips might have lead you to wonder what walking possibilities were hidden by the lush green foliage. The answer is the Bijia ridge trail - a strenuous, (but not difficult), and enjoyable trek which offers occasional great views and plenty of fun hiking.
