Hiking in Taiwan is a remarkable experience and hiking Egongjishan (鵝公髻山), one of Taiwan's Xiao Bai Yue (小百岳) is a great place to start. Taiwan's Xiao Bai Yue is a perfect list of 100 suburban mountain peaks suitable for hikers of all skill levels.
The Xiao Bai Yue is 100 mountain climbs oriented towards sub-urban destinations and routes suitable for novice hikers. These include beginner routes like Dawulun Mountain, novice routes like Dongyanshan National Forest, and some that are more challenging, like Jialishan.
About Hiking Egongjishan (鵝公髻山)
Egongjishan (鵝公髻山) is listed at #031 of the Xiao Bai Yue (小百岳). The peak is located right on the border of Hsinchu and Miaoli Counties. The trailhead as shown in the map below begins in Wufeng Township (五峰鄉) in Hsinchu County (新竹縣). Egongjishan is an intermediate hiking trail and includes some relatively steep ascents on a well-maintained trail.
Hiking Egongjishan (鵝公髻山)
There are multiple routes to climb Egongji Mountain. The climb from Donghe Village (first approach) in Nanzhuang Township is the highest and steepest, suitable for a small number of mountain enthusiasts to test their foot strength. Most climbers choose to approach Egongji Mountain from Wufeng Township (second approach. The most renowned starting point for climbing is the "Mountain House" leisure farm (third approach) and is where our GPX starts from.
Getting Oriented
The "Mountain House'' boasts a beautiful cherry blossom forest and is actually a great location to witness the sea of clouds. While beautiful, this also means a lot of tourists visit during the cherry blossom season in early spring. The farm is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters. This offers the smallest altitude difference and the easiest and most energy-efficient route up to the peak. is recommended when climbing Egongji MountainIf you are hiking in Taiwan with a family, this is a great option and . There is a parking fee of $200ntd at the "Mountain House", but will be deducted from any purchases from the Forest Cafe.
Mixed forest along the Egongjishan 鵝公髻山
The other two trailheads are located in Dashe, on the northeast side of Egongzong Mountain. The first trailhead stands at approximately 860 meters above sea level, while the second trailhead is about 80 meters higher. The distance between these two trailheads is around 1,000 meters to the peak. However, regardless of the trail chosen for entry or exit, the walking distance and level of difficulty are similar. For this post, we propose entering/exiting the trail Egongji Mountain from the third approach trailhead, making a small "O-shaped" route.
Some sections of this trail feature a beautiful Bamboo forest.
Starting Off The Hike
There is plenty of signage pointing you to the trailhead from the parking lot at the Mountain House and begins along a wide, easy walking trail. Surrounded by pin straight cedars, this first section is a great place for forest bathing in Taiwan. Head right when you see the signage for Niaozuishan 鳥嘴山. As the trail continues, it becomes a bit narrow. Continuing your ascent the trail remains in good condition and weaves its way through this secondary forest. Hikers will experience some sections of mixed forest, including some bamboo as they move away from the afforested section of the area.
There is some undulating terrain with some up and down sections. Be careful of slippery roots and muddy sections if it has rained in the recent past. There are no official trail markers on this trail. The trail is easy to follow however. This trail is part of the Wufeng Skyline Trail (五峰天際線), so you will see signs for this along the way.
The famed sea of clouds are common in this area of Hsinchu.
The final ascent up to Egongjishan peak does get a bit steeper and there are some ropes here for support, but they aren't essential to use. There is no real view from the 3rd class triangulation point at the peak, but there are some areas along the way of the surrounding countryside.
Continuing On or Turning Back
Depending on how much time and energy you have, you can turn around and descend back down the way you came. This will total about 7km and will take you around 4-5 hours. Our route, includes an extended "O" route and extends the hike by an additional 4km. The terrain and scenery is much like the first half of this route and continues north until you get to connect with a small hard-surfaced road that connects to a paved road used by few motor vehicles.
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Turn right and continue along this road. You'll pass a small Tudi Gong (土地公) Temple on your left with views off into local mountains. On your left-hand side, located close to a large water barrel, you'll reconnect to the trail and follow this shaded trail back to the Mountain House Leisure Farm.
What to Bring
When hiking in Taiwan, consider your capabilities before heading out. We hope this helps provide insight into the level of difficulty. When it comes to the kinds of equipment or resources one should bring when hiking this trail in Taiwan, we've provided a list below:
- Water - About 2L of fresh drinking water (you can refill at the temples)
- Food - There are some services in this area, including at the Mountain Family Leisure Farm, which has their Forest Cafe that is open between 9:00am ~ 4:00pm and serves light food and drinks.
- Washrooms - Available at the Forest Cafe
- Sunscreen - Almost the entire trail shaded, with about 10% unshaded.
- Camera/Phone - Reception is available along all portions of this trail.
- Clothing / Gloves - It really depends on the time of the year you are hiking, but always consider the weather when preparing for your hike. You may wish to bring a pair of gloves for the roped sections near the peak.
How to Get Started Hiking Egongjishan 鵝公髻山
Driving to Egongjishan (鵝公髻山): If you are driving to the Mountain Family Leisure Farm, you can set this as your location – HERE. Note that the drive here is very easy, with a two-lane road with paved shoulders most of the way. The final few kilometers are on a relatively well-paved mountain road that is single lane up to the leisure farm. Parking is limited to about 20 cars and there is a fee of $100ntd for parking.Taking public transportation to Egongjishan (鵝公髻山): There is no direct public transportation from either Hsinchu High Speed Train Station or Taipei Main Station to Egongjishan (鵝公髻山).
Map & GPX File for Hiking in Taiwan
Trail Distance: 11km
(loop)
Trail Conditions:
Compact soil, wood steps, hard surface paths
Altitude: 1579 meters
Degree of Difficulty:
Easy (2/5)
Time Required: 5-6 hours
Trail Type: Loop or "O" route
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