This. My annual challenge. 26 km (16 miles) across the Yang-Ming Shan Mountains above Taipei, from east to west, Fengguizui to Qingtian Temple, elevation gain 1,905 m (6,250 ft). Ten mountains, mostly steep, but all great fun! 

This was Saturday January 13, 2024, Taiwan’s election day, sunny, cold and windy. And what better day to choose? Start: 7:00 am from Fenguizui, 10:00 am at Mt. Zhugao, 12 noon at Mt. Qixing, 2:30 pm at Mt. Datun Main Peak, 4:30 pm at Mt. Miantian, 5:45 pm at Qingtian Temple. For a more detailed report, check out my 2023 account here. Total time: 10.45 hours, moving time: 8:26 hours. A few others were doing the same route, notably a father and son team, the son only 9 years old. 

So, off we go! Section 1….

1. Mt. Ding 頂山 (768 m)
2. Mt. Shiti / Shitiling 石梯嶺 (865 m)
3. Mt. Zhugao 竹篙山 (830 m) & Jixinlun 雞心崙 (763 m)

Section 2….

4. Mt. Qixing East Peak 七星東峰 (1107 m)
5. Mt. Qixing 七星主峰 (1120 m)

Section 3….

6. Mt. Datun Main Peak 大屯主峰 (1076 m)
7. Mt. Datun South Peak 大屯南峰 (959 m)
8. Mt. Datun West Peak 大屯西峰 (985 m)

And finally, Section 4….

9. Mt. Miantian 面天山 (977 m)
10. Mt. Xiangtian 向天山 (949 m)

And down to Qingtian Temple, Taipei just as the sun was setting, already twilight!

A must-do walk, at least once a year, it’s well worth the aching muscles! Highly recommended – and the cherry blossom is just starting to appear up there. Spring is coming. YES!