Lesser Mt. Nangang (aka Xiaonangangshan, Little Nangang Hill, or Hengke Mountain 橫科山) is a beautiful hike with amazing views of East Taipei. Getting here is easy, it's literally a 5-minute walk from Nangang Exhibition Center MRT Station. The views here are perhaps some of the best of Nangang (even though technically the mountain is in Xizhi District of New Taipei) and there are usually very few people here.
Background:Lesser Mount Nangang lies 90 meters above sea level, and 95 Peak, the highest peak on the trail, is 375 meters above sea level. This mountain lies near the Nangang Mountain Chain (南港山脈), which starts in Nangang District and goes through Xinyi District, Da'an District, and Wenshan District of Taipei. The rock formations that form the Nangang Mountain Chain formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago and were then uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast and in Pingxi. The area also has some coal deposits, and there are a few abandoned coal mines on the mountain. Even with quick access to the MRT, not many people know about this trail and you can usually have the trail all to yourself. Hours: 24/7 (there are even lights on the trail at night) Price: Free Length: 45 minutes, 2.1 KM one way Total of about 55 meters in elevation gain Difficulty: Easy, although there are many steep steps at the beginning. Where to stay: High end: We have stayed at and recommend the Nangang Marriott (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). We have also stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here or Agoda here). Looking for a hotel? We recommend booking through Booking.com here, which provides the best quality selection of accommodation in Taiwan. Find out where to stay in our Taiwan hotels guide or search for the best hotel deals in Taiwan here. How to get there: By Car/Scooter: Take Zhongxiao East Road to Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station. There is paid parking nearby. Looking for scooter rental in Taipei? You can search on Klook here or KKday here to search for options. You can also check out our scooter rental guide here. If you are looking for car rentals, you can also search Qeeq here, Klook here, or KKday here. You can also check out our car rental guide here. By Bus/MRT: From Nangang Road at Nangang Exhibition Center MRT station, walk east until you reach the elevated highway, and the trailhead is on the east side of the highway. You can purchase a discount easy card to use on the MRT from Klook here or KKday here. You can also book an MRT travel pass on Klook here. By Bicycle: Cycling is the best way to enjoy Taiwan's landscapes if you have the time and energy. Looking for bicycle rentals in Taiwan? You can use Taiwan's many Youbike sharing stations, or search for rentals on KKday here, and search for tours on Klook here. You can also check out our Taiwan cycling guide here. You can also book a Sunset Riverside Bike Ride and Historical Tour, 4 Hour Cycling in Taipei, Ultimate 8-Hour Cycling City Tour, or Taipei City Bike Tour with Night Market Experience on TripAdvisor here. For more information, check out our Taiwan transportation guide here. Map: Please see below: Our Journey: I have been to Lesser Nangang Mountain about ten times. It is really close to where I live in Nangang, so it is a great place to exercise for locals. The views here are amazing and there are usually not many people around. It is also an easy hike that will not take much time. It is definitely worth a visit.
You can check out our drone video of the area above.
You can also check out our 360 degree panorama above.
The begining of the trail has some steep steps.
The name of the temple here: Zhongnandong 終南洞.
View of Taipei from near the temple.
There are random gardens all over the mountain.
There was also a group of old people singing Karaoke when I visited. That was not surprising and you will see people doing that at remote mountain temples all the time.
The centerpiece of the trail is the Zhongnan Cave Sansheng Temple (終南洞三聖宮). Great views of Nangang and East Taipei are everywhere.
The last few steps to the top of the mountain.
View of the mountain top.
View of the triangulation stone.
View of Nangang and Xinyi District beyond. From this angle it looks like the Nanshan Plaza and the 101 are one building.
View of Zhongxiao East Road and Nangang Exhibition Center.
Panorama of the area.
Drone view above Zhongnandong Temple.
View of the lookout area to the east.
From here you can also see some great views of Xizhi District to the east.
Another view via drone.
View towards Dongshi Street mountain villa to the south.
At the opposite end of the trail there is another temple called. You have to walk through it to get to the road on the other side. There is also a third entrance to the trail in the neighborhood near the Hengke Library.
Qixing Mountain in Yangmingshan National Park, as seen from Xizhi District of New Taipei. It is considered the highest dormant volcanic peak in Taiwan, and the highest point in Taipei City.
A car drives over a scooter graveyard in Xizhi, New Taipei.
View of Taipei from lesser Mt. Nangang in Xizhi.
The border of Nagang, Neihu, and Xizhi along the Keelung River in eastern Taipei, with Qixingshan and Datunshan in the background
View of Qixingshan and Datunshan from Xizhi, New Taipei.
Panorama from Lesser. Mt. Nangang.
Zhongnan Cave Sansheng Temple and the 101 in the background.
Flowers and city in the background.
View of the trail on the opposite side of the mountain. There are also some nice places to sit and enjoy the views along the trail here. The trail loops around to near the Xizhi Hengke Library.
You can see more photos in the gallery above, or check out this blog by Taiwan Trails and Tales.
There is much more to be explored in Nangang and many places that I have yet to see. Hopefully this has opened your eyes on how much natural beauty and intact history sits right inside a less known corner of Taipei City. You can get a 20% discount on the Taiwan High Speed Rail to Nangang on Klook here or KKday here. For other blogs on this trail, see here and here. Check out our full guide to Nangang here. Check out our Taipei hiking and trails guide here. Check out our list of the best views of Taipei here. Also be sure to check out our guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
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Author 作家I am an American expat who has extensive experience living, working, and traveling in Taiwan. In my day, I had to learn many things about Taiwan the hard way. But I have come to learn that Taiwan is one of the best places in the world for Foreigners to live. This blog does not represent the opinions of every foreigner in Taiwan. I am just trying to help others learn more about this beautiful country. Categories
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