[2025 Taipei Attraction] Travel guide for Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area (updated Dec)

Yang Ming Shan is the perfect getaway in Taipei City. With fresh air, cozy breeze, and perfect view, you get to feel relaxed and refreshed by being surrounded in the beautiful mountains of Yang Ming Shan. Transportation MRT Jiantan Station-> Bus Red 5 or Bus 260 to Yangmingshan Bus Terminal-> Bus 108 to Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area 📍Xiaoyoukeng♨️ Start your hike of the Qixing Mountain at Xiaoyoukeng. You get to witness the beauty of the dormant volcanic mountains in Taiwan. There you’ll see and smell sulphur, which is quite a unique landscape in Taiwan. 📍Qixing Mountain⛰️ Qixing Mountain is the highest mountain in Taipei City with the altitude of 1120 meters. I’ve been hiking there for several times since I was in 4th grade. It seems hard at first, but definitely not hard if you try it several times. The scenery up there is breathtaking. There is a deck on the top of the mountain, so that day, my friend and I decided to do yoga there, and it was one of the best decisions ever! Highly recommended!!💗 📍Datunshan🌃 Datunshan is a place for enjoying the beautiful Taipei City night view. Going there during the sunset can grant you both the sunset view and night view. 📍Erziping Recreation Area🏕️ There is a relaxing trail if you don’t want to be too tired. You can still be healthy even if you don’t want to hike the high mountains in Yang Ming Shan. There are many trees residing there, which creates comfortable shades for you to take a stroll there. This is my favorite trail in Yang Ming Shan besides the challenging Qixing Mountain. 📍Qingtiangang Grassland🐂 I love going there to enjoy the wide landscape and come across some cute oxen. It’s a very tranquil place in Yang Ming Shan. Some people will wake up early to see the sunrise there. I’ve seen it once, but you have to wake up at 3a.m. It’s fun to do it once in awhile🌄 📍Shilin Night Market😋 After hiking, you can take a bus down the mountain to the lively night market, where you can enjoy all kinds of street food in Taiwan. It’s one of the most popular night markets in Taipei. Treat yourself some delicious food after the hike😊✨ Yang Ming Shan is such a gem in the urban area. It’s actually my favorite mountain in Taiwan because of its accessibility and tranquility. I hope you enjoy your trip here in the mountains. #familytrip #旅行酷体验 #旅行灵感 #mountainview #mountain #mountains #yangmingshan #taipei #taipeitrip #taipeitravel #nature #naturelovers

🗺️【Itinerary】 Day 1: Raohe Street Night Market Day 2: Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area - Yehliu Geopark - Jiufen Old Street - Golden Waterfall - Chaojing Park - Yin Yang Sea - Shifen Waterfall Park - Jingan Suspension Bridge, Pingxi District, New Taipei City - Shifen Old Street Day 3: CHECK inn Select Taipei Yangmingshan - Qingtiangang Circular Trail - Gongbei Temple, Xizhi - Taipei 101 📍【Must-Visit Attractions】 1. Raohe Street Night Market 2. Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area 3. Yehliu Geopark 4. Jiufen Old Street 5. Golden Waterfall 6. Chaojing Park 7. Yin Yang Sea 8. Shifen Waterfall Park 9. Jingan Suspension Bridge, Pingxi District, New Taipei City 10. Shifen Old Street 11. Qingtiangang Circular Trail 12. Gongbei Temple, Xizhi 13. Taipei 101 🥘【Must-Try Food】 🏠【Recommended Accommodation】 1. CHECK inn Select Taipei Yangmingshan 📷【Photo-Worthy Spots】 📣【Tips】

Xiaoyoukeng is a post-volcanic geological landscape located on the northwest slope of Qixing Mountain. It can be reached by turning right at the Xiaoguanyin Station on Yangjin Highway to access the viewing trail. At an altitude of approximately 805 meters, it is characterized by fumaroles, sulfur crystals, hot springs, and impressive landslide formations created by post-volcanic activity. Besides Xiaoyoukeng itself, the observation platform here offers distant views of volcanic cones such as Zhuzishan, Datunshan, Qixingshan, and Xiaoguanyinshan, as well as the Jinshan coastline and parking areas. Visitors interested in plant observation can spend about ten minutes exploring the nearby Arrow Bamboo Trail, where they can observe arrow bamboo forests, silvergrass fields, and volcanic vegetation. For those wishing to climb Qixing Mountain, the trailhead is located next to the Xiaoyoukeng parking lot. The ascent takes about an hour and leads to the summit at an altitude of 1,120 meters, the highest peak in Taipei City. On the descent, visitors can pass through the East Peak, Qixing Park, and Menghuan Lake to Lengshuikeng, offering a bird's-eye view of Shamaoshan and Taipei City. Alternatively, they can descend to the nursery, visitor center, and second parking lot, and then proceed to the Yangmingshan 260 bus terminal.

Yangmingshan truly has a magical quality. That day, as we walked through the valley, the setting sun was just above the peaks, its golden light slowly streaming down, making the entire expanse of greenery shimmer as if illuminated by stage lights. The geothermal heat at my feet was emitting white smoke, which blended with the cool mountain breeze, like nature secretly creating a dry ice effect. It was truly surreal. The grass swayed in the breeze, and the air was filled with the subtle scent of damp earth and grass, making it feel soothing and relaxing. Sitting there, doing nothing, watching the clouds etched with the sunset, I felt that this place was truly more soothing than any other cafe. #Yangmingshan #Xiaoyoukeng

Xiaoyoukeng Crater is a geological site located in Yangmingshan National Park. This volcanic crater still emits smoke and steam, accompanied by a strong sulfur smell. It is a convenient spot to observe a volcanic crater, easily accessible by taking bus route 108 and getting off at the Xiaoyoukeng stop. From here, visitors can walk to other attractions such as Qixing Mountain, hot springs, and the Tianmu Grassland, which are approximately 2 kilometers away. - Preparation: Bring a warm jacket as the weather here is cooler than at lower altitudes, and carry drinking water. - Precautions: For those sensitive to the sulfur smell, wearing a mask is recommended.

The beauty of Xiaoyoukeng You can feel the power of nature up close. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of green peaks one after another. It takes about 3 hours to walk from Xiaoyoukeng to Qingtiangang. Passing by the main peak of Taipei's first mountain, Qixing Mountain. It's quite satisfying. Give power to the busy life. You can sweat in exercise, and then go to the night market at full speed after going down the mountain. It's a perfect match.

Yangmingshan is conveniently accessible. Even if you don’t drive yourself, you can still reach it by public transportation. The trail is gentle and can be easily completed by small children. 🗓️ Itinerary: 1. Climb the mountain and enjoy the flowers in the morning 2. Eat Yangmingshan’s special mountain products at noon 3. Soak in hot springs at the foot of the mountain in the afternoon This completes a one-day trip suitable for all ages.

Choose to stay at the Regent Taipei, a landmark hotel in the city center. With its elegant design and comprehensive facilities, it offers a rare oasis of tranquility amidst the bustling metropolis. Today, head to Xiaoyoukeng, a place brimming with primal charm, to witness the awe-inspiring volcanic terrain. As you ascend the trail, the scent of sulfur grows stronger. The path is flanked by rocks and steaming vents, making it feel as though you've stepped into the fissures of Earth's core. The roaring sound of hot spring vents blends with the mountain breeze, creating a symphony of nature. Amidst the swirling mist, mountain birds occasionally dart by, softening the boundary between heaven and earth. In the evening, return to the Regent Taipei and unwind by the rooftop pool. Here, the raw beauty of the mountains meets the modernity of the city, evoking a profound sense of fulfillment and serenity.

#MarchGoodPlaces2025 #Yangmingshan As soon as I got off the car, I smelled a strong smell of sulfur. Not long after walking from the parking lot, I saw the smoking mountain wall. White smoke kept rising up, like a huge soup pot was cooking. The air is filled with smoke, and when the sun shines through the smoke, it sparkles, creating a mysterious and spectacular feeling. The geothermal phenomenon here is actually because Xiaoyoukeng is located in an area where volcanic activity has not completely stopped. The Datun volcanic group has erupted before. Although there are no violent eruptions now, there is still a lot of high-temperature gas and water vapor underground that come out of the cracks. These geothermal activities cause the ground to constantly emit jets and smoke, and also form a special sulfur terrain in this area, such as fumaroles, sulfur crystals, yellow rocks, etc., which feels like a natural laboratory. The trail in Xiaoyoukeng is not too long, but there are some explanatory signs along the way, explaining how geothermal energy is formed and the history of volcanic activity, which is quite interesting. Walking up to the viewing platform, you can clearly see the entire geothermal jet area and the mountain scenery in the distance, with a great view. We looked around and took photos, and everyone said that it felt like being on an alien planet. However, the wind is very strong here, and the temperature in the mountains is much lower than in the city. It is recommended to wear thicker clothes or a hat to protect against the wind.

🌞 Taiwan has had rare good weather these past two days. Yesterday I went to Maokong to watch the sunset, and today I took a bus to Yangmingshan after waking up. From Qingtiangang to Xiaoyoukeng, it was the first time I saw so many cows up close🐄, and also the first time I saw a dormant volcano up close🌋. When I was eating lunch on the lawn, I met a very enthusiastic Taiwanese guy. He said that you brought very beautiful lunch boxes, and he took a photo of me and my friends📸, and then turned around and took photos of many tourists present🤣. We climbed for quite a while to reach Dream Lake. We didn't dare to speak loudly in the silent wetland. We could only hear the croaking of frogs and chirping of insects. I also met a very beautiful auntie who asked me to help take a photo of her and the afterglow in the forest in the evening. After that, she enthusiastically took several photos for us📷. The wind I breathed in the mountains all day felt extremely comfortable. While climbing the mountain and gazing at the distant mountains, I suddenly recalled the phrase "Yin and Yang divide the dusk and dawn." On the way back, I passed by Chinese Culture University and saw the beautiful sunset in the sky🌅. I hope Taipei will have more sunny weather like this! #Everyday there are moments worth recording #TaipeiYangmingshan #TaiwanVisitingStudy #Xiaoyoukeng #Qingtiangang #DreamLake #ForestWetlandPark

Plan to take bus 1717 from Jiantan Station directly to the main attractions including Xiaoyoukeng, Qingtiangang, Lengshuikeng and Menghuan Lake, a round trip in one day. If you want to go to Yangming Book House, it is recommended to check the bus schedule in advance, because the bus schedule is relatively fixed and may affect your subsequent itinerary. 🌄 ————————————————————— Feedback: Yangmingshan is so beautiful, it is truly the Little Switzerland of Taipei! The weather was very good today when we went there, it was sunny and the photos were beautiful! We went to Xiaoyoukeng, Qingtiangang, Lengshuikeng Milk Lake, and Menghuan Lake. At around 4pm, we took bus No. 15 back to Taipei City, had a massage, had some stir-fried dishes, and visited Shilin Night Market. It was a successful day. #Taipei#Yangmingshan#Shilin Night Market

#HikingTrip Location: Mt. Qixing Xiaoyoukeng Trail, Taiwan Short-term hiking, half-day round trip Atmosphere: Beautiful mountaintop view, moderately long hike, you need strong legs, steep stairs will test you step by step, you can see volcanic rocks along the path and smell sulfur, the view along the way is also very beautiful Coordinates: 112, Taiwan, Taipei City, Beitou District

#ทริปเดินป่า สถานที่ : Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area เดินป่าไต้หวัน บรรยากาศ : กิจกรรมทางธรณีร้อนที่น่าประทับใจด้วยโคลนเดือดและไอน้ำกำมะถัน ทิวทัศน์ที่สวยงามช่วยชดเชยกลิ่นกำมะถันได้ แต่ทางเดินป่าสั้นๆ ที่เข้าถึงได้ทำให้ที่นี่เป็นสถานที่สำหรับครอบครัว พิกัด : No. 69, Yangming Creek Walkway, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 112

#Overseas travel Overseas travel Taiwan ⭐️小油坑遊憩區⭐️ is a sulfur volcanic area within Yangmingshan. There is a short trekking course here, including an observation deck. It is a course that can be walked around in about 20-30 minutes from the parking lot, and you can see the actual sulfur volcano right away. 🎯No. 69, Yangming Creek Walkway, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 112 #Taiwan #Taiwan travel #Yangmingshan #小油坑遊憩區

📍Xiaoyoukeng｜Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan Located in the famous Yangmingshan National Park, there is a post-volcanic activity site landscape area called "Xiaoyoukeng", where you can admire the steam-filled volcanic crater, get a close look at the volcanic sulfur vents, observe volcanic rock fragments, and smell the sulfur in the air. This trail is not difficult to walk and is very suitable for a walk in sunny and not hot weather. In addition to driving directly to Xiaoyoukeng parking lot, you can also take bus 108 to arrive at Xiaoyoukeng Station and experience the spectacular power of nature for yourself. ▷Address: No. 69, Zhuzihu Road, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan (Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area) ▷Opening hours: 0900-1630; closed on Mondays #Taiwan must-visit check-in spots #Taiwan

Good weather ~ good scenery Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area The wonders of the earth, feel the magical geology You can see the volcano up close It is also the season when the silvergrass is in full bloom, and it feels different to take pictures You can also see the different scenery of Yangmingshan It is really an unforgettable memory and experience! ๑>؂<๑ #Yangmingshan Attractions #Xiaoyoukeng #Miscanthus Season

#Taiwan Summer Vacation Activities Whenever I have free time, I want to go to the mountains to see the scenery 🌋⛰️Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area The scenery here is beautiful whether it is sunny☀️ or rainy☔️ Xiaoyoukeng is a post-volcanic geological landscape area. The most distinctive features are the fumaroles, sulfur crystals, hot springs and spectacular collapse terrain formed by "post-volcanic activity". 🉑️It is more convenient to drive there You can also stay longer to enjoy the scenery. Xiaoyoukeng Recreation Area 🌋 No. 69, Zhuzihu, Beitou District, Taipei City 112 #Good place for parents and children #Good place for hot summer #Weekend tour #travel #Taipei attractions #Yangmingshan attractions #Yangmingshan #mountainview #yangmingshan