If you have just one free evening in Taipei, Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) is probably the best way to spend it. The hill stands only about 200 meters above sea level, right beside Xinyi District — Taipei’s most polished commercial core, where Taipei 101, the upscale malls, and the luxury hotels cluster. From the MRT station, it takes only 30–40 minutes on foot to reach the top, where the whole city spreads out below you with Taipei 101 at its center — many of Taipei’s classic postcard shots were taken from here. And on December 31, this is the best seat in the city for the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks.
Because it is this close and this easy, Elephant Mountain has long been a word-of-mouth must-do among international travelers — on the trail, foreign visitors often outnumber locals. For me, it is a spur-of-the-moment photo spot: every photo in this article came from a weekend afternoon when I happened to be shopping in Xinyi District and decided to walk up and try my luck.
Getting There: By MRT, Then a 700-Meter Walk
Take the MRT Red Line (Tamsui–Xinyi Line) to its terminus, Xiangshan Station — about 15 minutes from Taipei Main Station. Leave by Exit 2, follow Lane 150 of Xinyi Road Section 5 through Xiangshan Park, and after about 700 meters you reach the trailhead, next to Lingyun Temple.
The trail network around the mountain is actually quite tangled and there is more than one way up, but for visitors the MRT route is by far the simplest — just follow the crowd. The trail is free, requires no permit, stays open 24 hours, and is lit the whole way, so you won’t need a headlamp coming down after dark.
The Trail: Stairs All the Way, 30–40 Minutes to the Top
The Elephant Mountain trail is essentially one long staircase. If you’re fit, 30 minutes takes you straight to the top; at a slower pace it’s still an easy climb — there’s a platform to catch your breath every few flights, each with a slightly different angle on Taipei 101. The main stops, in order: trailhead → Sheshou Platform → Six Giant Rocks → Photography Platform → Yixian Pavilion (the highest point) → Chaoran Pavilion.
The Six Giant Rocks are the liveliest spot on the mountain: several huge boulders sit beside the trail, and people queue to climb on top and pose with Taipei 101 behind them. On weekends, expect to wait a while for your turn.
Chaoran Pavilion is the goal I’d aim for — a large concrete platform with a wide-open view, and the best place on the whole trail to take in Taipei’s night view.
A Photographer’s Take: Which Spot Is Best?
For photography, there is no single “best spot” on Elephant Mountain — every height and angle frames the city differently. A few firsthand notes:
Sheshou Platform (the name puns on the Chinese word for “photographer”) is close to the trailhead and the closest platform to Taipei 101, but it’s a wooden deck: every footstep sends vibrations through the boards and into your tripod, so be prepared if you’re shooting long exposures at night. Elephant Mountain is also widely considered the best vantage point for the Taipei 101 New Year’s Eve fireworks — if you want a good position that night, go up early. The year I shot the fireworks here, the crowd was so thick I ended up climbing a tree just to secure a spot.
Chaoran Pavilion is the tripod crowd’s first choice: solid concrete underfoot, room for a dozen-plus tripods, and veteran photographers have long kept the trees in front trimmed, so the view stays clean.
My Lucky Evening: Light Rays Through the Haze
That weekend afternoon, the cloud layer was thick, and the satellite imagery didn’t promise anything special. But I was already in Xinyi District with my camera gear on me — walking a little farther uphill to gamble on the light cost me nothing.
The fiery sunset clouds I’d hoped for never showed. Instead, the sun broke through a gap in the clouds and cut slanted beams of light through the haze, washing the whole city in a dreamlike color. That’s photography: luck is always part of the frame. I kept shooting until a little past seven, then walked back down to the MRT, thoroughly satisfied.
Practical Notes
・Best timing: start up about an hour before sunset and stay through blue hour and into the night — two versions of Taipei in one short hike.
・Crowds: weekend evenings are the busiest, with a queue at the Six Giant Rocks; weekdays are far more relaxed.
・Fitness and gear: it’s stairs the whole way — regular sneakers are fine. Taipei summers are muggy, so bring water.
・Cost and access: free, no permit needed, open 24 hours, lit the entire way.
