Make the Most Out of Your Yangmingshan National Park Day Tour with This Guide
If you are planning to visit Taiwan, you must have a list of places that you want to see, including Taipei 101 and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. These popular tourist spots are some of the must-visit attractions in Taiwan.
However, you should remember that Taiwan is also known for its beautiful landscape and natural tourist attractions, including Taroko Gorge and Qingshui Cliffs. You should give these sites a visit, especially Yangmingshan National Park, one of the most popular natural attractions in the country.
A Brief History of Yangmingshan National Park
Located in the North of Beitou, Yangmingshan National Park is a popular tourist spot in Taiwan that was known as Caoshan, which translates to “grass mountain,” during the Qing Dynasty. It was given the name because the area was covered in grass, without any trees in sight.
During the Japanese occupation of Taiwan, the park was renamed Daiton National Park by Governor-General of Taiwan Seizo Kobayashi. Then, in 1950, Taiwan’s leader, Chiang Kai-Shek, gave the park its current name to honor the Ming Dynasty scholar Wang Yangming.
Yangmingshan National Park is characterized by its mountain range, with each mountain reaching between 200m and 1120m. These heights make Yangmingshan perfect for private hiking tours.
The national park is also popular because of its hot springs and other geological attractions. These features of Yangmingshan National Park make it a favorite among tourists and locals alike.
How to Get to Yangmingshan National Park From Taipei
Now that you know about what Yangmingshan National Park is, you should learn how to get to this national park. Going to Yangmingshan National Park from Taipei is easy. You can either take a bus, ride a taxi, or book a private tour.
Bus
To get to Yangmingshan National Park via bus, you can take the 260 bus from Taipei Main Station for NT$30 or the Red 30 or 208 bus from Jiantan train station for NT$15. These buses will take you to Yangmingshan bus station, which is only a few meters away from the park’s visitor center.
Taxi
If you want a shorter and more comfortable trip, you can ride a taxi from Taipei. Upon getting in the car, ask the driver to drop you off at the Yangmingshan tourist center.
The fare from Taipei Main Station to the Yangmingshan tourist center costs about NT$550–NT$600. To save on your travel cost, it is best to ride a taxi to Yangmingshan National Park if you are in a group of at least four people. This way, you can split the fare and spend less.
Private Tour
Another way that you can get to Yangmingshan National Park is with the help of a travel agency in Taiwan. Some travel agencies offer transportation services that will allow you to get to different tourist spots in the country.
You can also work with a travel agency and book a Yangmingshan day tour. When you buy this package, your transportation to Yangmingshan National Park will be taken care of. Additionally, you can tour the park with a knowledgeable guide, who can give you more information regarding every spot.
Where to Go in Yangmingshan National Park
There are several things to do in Yangmingshan National Park during your visit that you should not miss. To make the most out of your trip to this park, visit the following attractions:
Yangmingshan Flower Clock
Perhaps the most well-known tourist spot in the national park, the Yangmingshan Flower Clock features beautiful flowers designed to look and act like a clock. This attraction serves as the centerpiece of the park because of its colorful and gorgeous flower arrangement.
Yangmingshuwu
Yangmingshuwu or Zhongxing Guesthouse is a building that was built in 1969 and served as the summer home of Taiwan’s former president, Chiang Kai-Shek. Because of its history, people who want to learn more about the country’s past make sure to visit this tourist spot.
Zhuzihu
If you’re interested in learning about the agriculture in the area, you should go to Zhuzihu. This farming area in the mountains features different kinds of flowering plants, such as Calla Lilies and Hydrangeas, and vegetables.
The rich farming culture in the area can be credited to Yangmingshan’s volcanic geography. The lava from the surrounding volcanoes made the soil fertile and transformed the area into a farming community.
Xiaoyoukeng
Be amazed at the steaming vents and sulfur deposits of Xiaoyoukeng. These features exist because of Yangmingshan’s volcanic geography as well.
You must be aware that the tourist spot has a strong smell of rotten eggs because of the presence of sulfur deposits. However, you shouldn’t worry because you can get used to the smell pretty quickly. Additionally, the beautiful view will distract you from the unpleasant smell right away.
Qingtiangang
If you want a gorgeous view of Taipei City without hiking too far, you should go to Qingtiangang. It is best described as a lava terrace that formed when a nearby volcano erupted. This popular spot in the national park also features lush grasslands, where cows often graze and wander.
Lengshuikeng
Lengshuikeng, which translates to “cold water pit,” is a hot spring footbath area in Yangmingshan National Park. This is the best place to soak your tired feet after a long hike in the mountains of the national park.
Although the hot spring is named “cold water pit,” it does not mean that the water is freezing cold. It was called such because it is not as hot as the other hot springs in the area.
Datun Nature Park
Explore more natural attractions when you visit Datun Nature Park. This spot in the national park features a visitor center where you can see an early human life exhibition. This nature park is also filled with various plants that serve as home to various insects.
Datun Falls
Walk a few meters from the Yangmingshan Flower Clock and you’ll see Datun Falls, a majestic waterfall that will leave you in awe. This body of water may not be as grand as other waterfalls in Taiwan, but it still features a unique beauty that you can easily appreciate.
Erziping
Located right next to Datun Nature Park, Erziping is perfect for people who enjoy going on nature walks. This lush valley features green forests beside it. The path across Erziping also has several ponds, where you can see a lot of dragonflies.
Liuhuanggu Sulfur Lake
Appreciate the unique scenery caused by sulfur mining and hydrothermal activities when you visit Liuhuanggu Sulfur Lake. This area was previously used by the Japanese for sulfur mining before operations ceased in the 1980s.
Follow This Yangmingshan National Park Guide and Go on a Day Tour
Yangmingshan National Park is a great place to visit at any time of the year. No matter the season, you will surely have an exciting time at the park and see gorgeous scenery that you will not find anywhere else.
If you want to visit the park during the flowering season, you should plan your trip for March. During this month, flowering plants bloom all around the mountain slopes, offering a magnificent spring view. This is followed by the Calla Lily and Hydrangea season, which happens from April to May.
Then, from June to September, temperatures in Yangmingshan National Park rise to mid-twenty degrees Celsius. Warm breeze can be felt across the park, but not too hot to make you uncomfortable as you visit different tourist spots.
Autumn, on the other hand, occurs in October. During this month, the mountains and trails in the park are covered in a golden-red hue as trees’ leaves change color. This season provides tourists with gorgeous scenery that no other tourist attraction can offer.
You can also visit Yangmingshan National Park during the winter. This is the perfect season to take a dip in one of the park’s hot springs. The cold weather also causes cloud puffs to form across the national park, which gives the place a magical vibe.
So, what are you waiting for? Work with Edison Tours, a reputable travel agency in Taiwan, and plan your day tour to Yangmingshan National Park. Remember to visit all the must-see tourist spots listed above to make the most out of your trip!
