Xinshan Dream Lake (aka Xinshan Menghu) is a beautiful lake in Xizhi District of New Taipei. It is a popular place to stop for couples and Instagrammers due to its dream like aura. Also you can take the steep climb up Xinshan and enjoy some amazing views of east Taipei and Keelung. Besides taking photos, this Xinshan Dream Lake is a great place to relax and enjoy nature.
Background: The rock formations that form the Xinshan Dream lake hike formed as sediment under the ocean millions of years ago, and was later uplifted thanks to the collision of the Eurasian and Phillipine plates. The rocks are mainly sedimentary and are part of the same formation that forms the special rock formations on the northern coast around Keelung, and the waterfalls in Pingxi. Xinshan sits at 499 meters above sea level, while dream lake is 325 meters above sea level, which means the hike gains 175 meters from dream lake (in less than .5 KM), making it a short, steep hike. Dream Lake get's its name from the thick fog that covers it during winter months, making it look like a dreamscape. Dream Lake is a popular spot for couples, wedding photography, and Instagram photos. Hours: 24/7 Price: Free Hike Difficulty: Moderate: About an hour hike round trip, steep and difficult climbing through the forest with aid of ropes. Tours in Taipei: There are many tour itineraries that you can enjoy in Taipei that will take you to multiple destinations and arrange transportation. For more information, you can check out Tripadvisor here, KKday here or Klook here, which are both great tour websites that can connect you with the right tour and tour guide for you. Activities in Taipei: You can also look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. Hotels in Taipei: We have stayed at and recommend the Yuanshan Grand Hotel, once the tallest building in Taiwan and still the most grand (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor here, or Agoda here). We have stayed at and also recommend Fu Chang Hotel in Ximending, which is within walking distance of Ximending shopping district (book on Booking.com here, Tripadvisor 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 Xiwan Road (夕萬路) from Xizhi until you come to the turnoff the Xinshan Menghu on the right. It is a small one lane road up the mountain. There is scooter parking and limited car parking on the side of the road. You may need to park further down and hike up if you drive a car. The Lake trail is at the end of the road. 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: Take Dongnan Bus F910 from Xizhi Park about 40 minutes up the mountain to Xiwan Raod Bridge No. 3. From there you have to hike up to Xinshan before you come down to dream lake. Or you can get off at Menghu Intersection, but it is a long walk up the road. 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: Drone Footage: Check out our drone footage of Xinshan and Menghu below, for an overview of the entire area. Our Journey: I have been to Xinshan Dream Lake once by scooter. It is a short drive from my house and it is a well advertised hike from Xizhi, so I was always curious. 
Coming from Xizhi, you will pass the Lincoln Apartment buildings (林肯大郡), part of which infamously collapsed during a landslide during the 921 earthquake, killing 28 people.
When you get to the end of the road, you will run into a bunch of shops which are trying to make a money grab at this popular trail.
The trail runs in a giant circle, but we only did the leg from Dream Lake to the top of Xinshan.
Pavilion near the parking lot.
Trail up to Dream Lake.
Paved steps up to Dream Lake.
More paved steps to dream lake, and an untied dog which luckily was friendly.
The first view of Dream Lake.
Pavilion next to the lake.
Rope swing that swings over the lake, a perfect photo op.
Another view of the tree swing.
Panorama of the lake.
People relaxing on a floating dock.
Heart shaped thingy for photos.
Wooden dock on the lake.
Another view of the dock. This lake is so small in America we would definitely call it a pond. But it is a nice, peaceful place to hang out.
View of the dock from the other side of the lake.
View from behind the lake.
Yeah I was lucky with the weather that day. I thought it was just a few minute hike from Menghu lake (judging from the signs which I am sure I recall only a 15 minute walk to the top) but it turned out to be a super steep butt kicking hike to the top that took the better part of 40 minutes.
From the get go, there were rope climbs. I was carrying a baby on my back, so not the hike I was prepared for. Also, this part of the rope looked like it could snap at any moment.
This is probably the best view of Dream Lake from the Trail. But you have to stand on a cliff to get this shot.
Gnarly hike up this trail. It is much steeper than it looks.
It may not seem like it, but this is nearly vertical. You can tell by the steps in the ground.
And there are roots everywhere on the trail.
Finally made it to the top, and we get a great view of Wuzhishan.
There are lots of boulders at the top, which make for good shots.
View of Taipei from one of the boulders.
View of Xizhi from the top.
View of Keelung.
View of Wuzhishan.
Panorama from the top.
View of the rocks at the top, eroded by wind and rain.
Sun shining from behind Wuzhishan.
Another view of the mountain scenery.
View of Xiwan Road up to Wuzhishan.
View with Taipei in the background.
Closeup of Taipei.
View of Xizhi, Nangang, and Neihu.
Downtown Xizhi below.
View toward Keelung.
View of Keelung Harbor and Keelung Island in the background.
View toward Wanli.
Closeup on Dream Lake from above.
Another view from above Dream Lake.
For the full circular hike, you can check out this blog by Taiwan Trails and Tales. You can also look for more activities in Taipei such as Rock Climbing, Surfing, Speedboat Surfing, Diving, Snorkeling, Cooking Class, Glamping, Motorcycling, and more on Klook here or KKday here. Check out our list of the best views of Taipei here. Check out our Taipei hiking and trails guide here. Also be sure to check out our full guide to Taipei here. You can also check out our full travel guide to Taiwan here.
1 Comment
Jones
11/27/2020 10:28:03 am
林肯大郡 landslide is not because of 921 earthquake, it is because of the typhoon in 1997. Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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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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