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Know before you go

Length: 1.5 mi/2.4 km (loop length: 3 mi/5 km)	長度：1.5英里/2.4公里（含回程：3英里/5公里）
Terrain: mostly paved sidewalk, but some steep inclines and stairs	地形：多水泥人行道；有些陡坡、階梯
Parking: streetside near Guandu MRT (on Zhongyang N. Rd.); Guandu Elementary School Parking (20 NTD/hour)	停車：關渡捷運附近路邊停車（中央北路）以及關渡國小運動中心停車場（20元/時）
Public transport: trailhead: MRT Tamsui-Xinyi line to Guandu station endpoint: R35 bus (every 45-60 min) from Barren Hill Theater stop to Guandu Station (follows Xueyuan Rd.)	公共交通： 步道起點：淡水信義線至關渡捷運站 終點：R35公車 (每45～60分一班)；從荒山劇場站至關渡捷運站 （沿著學園路）
Shade: partial shade; alternate (or loop) route through Taipei National University of the Arts has more tree cover	樹木覆蓋：部分樹陰；如果改走國立台北藝術大學學園路，樹陰更多
Water and Restrooms: available at the Hilife in the Alumni Center (within Taipei National University of the Arts)	水源、廁所：國立台北藝術大學學園路上有萊爾富，有賣水、外借廁所。

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My travel diary

October 24, 2024, around noon at Guandu 

2024年十月二十四日中午，在關渡

We set out on a sunny day in October, parking on Zhongyang N. Rd. near Guandu MRT. We were a group of three: me, my Taiwanese partner, and my six-year-old son. I didn’t do much planning before starting the trail. I just thought we’d follow the signs and walk until we were tired. This explains why, when we arrived at the entrance to National Taipei University of the Arts, my partner exclaimed in surprise, “I didn’t know we’d be taking a stroll through my old school today!”

我們在十月的一個很炎熱的下午出發，停車在關渡捷運站附近，在中央北路的路邊停車格。「我們」是一家三口：我、我老公（<–台灣人）和我們六歲的兒子。開始爬台北大縱走以前，我並沒有做出太多的計畫。我只是想說，跟著路標走，走到累就回頭。這可以說明為什麼，當我們走到國立臺北藝術大學入口（台北大縱走第一段的起點）時，我老公很驚訝地喊道：「我怎麼不知道我今天會來我大學的校園裡散步！」

It turns out that the first section of the first section of the Taipei Grand Trail (which I’m calling Section 1.1) is an upward climb that skirts the outer edge of the university. The trail follows Xueyuan Rd. to climb past campus to the northwest. The other side of the road is Taipei City University of Science and Technology. This section is technically a roadside connector. By this I mean that this section involves no trail walking. The route follows city roads, though there is happily a sidewalk for the entirety of the way (no walking on the berm).

沒想到，台北大縱走的第一段（筆者稱之為路段1.1）沿著學園路、台藝大（我老公的母校）外圍向上走。學園路的另外一邊側是台北城市科技大學校園。這一段基本上是一條「路邊連接道」(roadside connector)。這個意思是說，路段1.1 沿著城市道路旁走。幸好，全程都有人行道可以走，不需要與汽、機車共用街道。

My partner was eager to make the hike into a stroll down memory lane, so we actually deviated from the marked route into the TNUA campus. This was a serendipitous choice. Most of the services in the area are within campus. There is also more tree cover and there are more sights to see on this route. I recommend it, either as one half of a loop or as an alternate to the marked route (purists will follow Xueyuan Rd. to the Mt. Zhongyi trailhead).   

我老公很想把握機會，把今天變成一段回憶之旅，帶我們看看他的母校，所以一開始我們沒有沿著台北大縱走的路線走，反而踏入了台藝大的校園。後來我們發現這是一個意外的好選擇。第一段大多店家、廁所都在校園內。此外，這個路線有更多樹蔭和觀光景點。所以，我推薦這個「改道」路線（純粹主義者可以直接走學園路前往忠義山步道起點）。

I’ve marked both possible routes, the direct upward climb (1.4 mi/2.4 km) and the loop (3 mi/5 km), on the map below.

But before I get too far ahead of myself, let’s get back what happened on that sunny day in October. We started our upward climb at the bottom of Xueyuan Rd. It’s a wide lane surrounded by concrete walls and trees, shady and cool. Mosaics and other art features line the way. There are offshoot paths and small parks, but these are secluded and we passed at least one person engaged in sketchy business there, so I’d advise the walker with kiddos to keep to the main road.

回到那個十月的很炎熱的下午，我們一家三口在學園路的底處開始網上走。這裡是一條被水泥牆和樹木包圍的寬闊道路，很陰涼，很舒服。沿途有馬賽克和其他藝術裝置。往上走幾分鐘有一些支路和小公園。但因為這些地方容易遇到怪人，我建議帶著孩子走的山友還是走主要道路。

After walking for about five minutes along a nicely paved sidewalk, we ran into a fork in the road. This is where we ended up deviating from the TGT. The left-hand fork takes the walker along Xueyuan Rd. We took the right-hand fork, onto an unnamed road that winds through TNUA. This road is also lined with trees, which provide good shade on a hot day. After passing the first university building, we took another right and then a left. Here we found a pedestrian walkway. We checked out some pretty brick architecture and admired more banyans and other leafy trees.

我們沿著人行道，走了大約五分鐘後，就遇到了一個分岔路口。這裡也是我們偏離台北大縱走的地方。左側是學園路。我們選擇了走右側的（無名）岔路，蜿蜒穿過國立臺北藝術大學的校園。經過第一棟大學大樓後，我們右轉、左轉，找到了一個行人步道。我們停留許久，欣賞學校磚砌建築風格，還有年代久遠的榕樹。

At one point, my bilingual baby tried to ninja jump himself in between some wooden posts and almost twisted an ankle. In lieu of an explanation, I’ll just say that he has recently been obsessed with Naruto. My partner followed behind to show him just how ninja jumping should be done. Don’t try this at home, kids.

再往前走，我的雙語寶寶突然間決定在一些木柱之間「忍者跳」，差點扭到腳。（他最近開始迷《火影忍者》）。我老公在後面跟著跳，向他示範忍者跳應該怎麼做。孩子們，別在家裡嘗試這個。

We exited from the trees onto a large paved square where some of the arts students were rehearsing for a performance. We stood and watched for a while, eventually climbing the stairs we found to the left, up to the road. From there, we looked out over the Taipei Basin and continued to enjoy the show. Both the university and its views are gorgeous, especially on a clear day.

這時候，我們從樹林中走出來了，發現我們來到了一個大廣場。有幾位學生正在排練表演。我們看了一下。後來，我們在左邊找到了一個階梯，爬到馬路邊。那裡有一個平台，可以俯瞰台北盆地。大學和景色都非常值得觀賞，尤其是在這種晴朗的日子裡。

It was past noon though, and really hot, so we stopped in at the Alumni Center and the Hilife convenience mart located within the building. Unfortunately, there was no indoor seating, so we had to down our cold drinks on the outdoor patio. There’s also a few restaurants and cafes located along the main road through campus. DaVinci’s Kitchen looks like a good option, with pasta and views (though we didn’t try it).

不過，已經過了中午，而且真的很熱，於是我們前往校友中心。裡面有一間萊爾富便利商店，也有廁所。裡面冷氣吹得好涼！不幸的是，這一間萊爾富沒有座位，所以我們不得不在戶外露台上喝買來的飲料。校園的主要道路上還有幾家餐廳和咖啡廳。達文西廚房看起來好像是一個不錯的選擇，有意大利麵和台北市的美景（但我們沒有嘗試）。

Instead, we continued to stroll up the road to the TNUA swimming pool, which is well known as a good spot to take pictures of Taipei. There’s also a sculpture park situated on a steep rolling lawn across the street.

我們繼續走學校馬路邊，前往大學游泳池。聽說這裡是有名的拍照好地方。游泳池對面還有一個位於陡峭草坪上的雕塑公園。

We followed the road to turn past the swimming pool, through the edge of the sculpture park, and then up some swiftly switchbacking turns to a parking lot. We skirted the exit and made it back to the Taipei Grand Trail and Xueyuan Rd. Just a few meters uphill was the beginning of the Mt. Zhongyi trail. This is also the first stencil spot of the Taipei Grand Trail. You can bring along a notebook and trace over the raised images at various stages along the trail as proof that you made it there. My son thought that this was a great idea, kind of like catching Pokemon along the way. We decided we’d bring a notebook along next time.  

往上爬，穿過雕塑公園的外圍，繼續上坡，經過一個洋腸道，最後達到一個停車場。走出去，就回到了學園路和台北大縱走步道。右轉繼續走一兩分鐘，我們就到了忠義山步道入口。這也是台北大縱走的第一個印記點。如果隨身帶著筆記本和鉛筆，可以描摹凸起的圖案。每路段的圖案不一樣。我兒子覺得這是個不錯的主意，有點像途中捕捉寶可夢。我們決定下次一定要帶筆記本來。

At this point, everyone was hot and tired, so we did rock paper scissors to see if we should walk back down or take the bus. I won, so we ended up walking. (Yes! ✌️)

這時候，我們都很熱，很累，所以我們玩了剪刀石頭布，贏得選擇要坐公車下山還是走下去。我贏了，所以我們用走的。耶✌️

Why does it look like a fight is about to go down?

怎麼感覺好像要打起來了？

It was all downhill from here (the Mt. Zhongyi trailhead), so the second half of our hike (the actual Taipei Grand Trail segment) flew by. It was not the prettiest section of road we walked that day, surrounded by concrete on three sides for much of the way. We did see some cool wildlife though.

從忠義山步道入口往下走都是下坡，所以我們行程的下半很快（這是真正的台北大綜走）。不是我們走過最漂亮的一段路，因為三邊都是水泥。不過，我們看到了一些有趣的野生動物。

Ahhhh! A spider!!

歐麥尬！蜘蛛！

Eventually, the road rejoined the place where we had left it at the beginning of the loop.

最後，我們回到當初走右邊分岔的地方。

There was one more restaurant right before the place where Xueyuan Rd. split off to the campus road into TNUA (or right after if you’re going upward) that looked worth a try. It’s called “The Little Prince’s Flying Journey.” It seems to have some pretty patio seating and sells German food. Just after this café, the trail rejoined the spot where we had left it, at the fork in the road to the TNUA campus.

在路分岔之前，我們又看到了一間餐廳，叫做小王子的飛行旅程，感覺蠻值得嘗試。有很舒服的露台，賣的是德國料理。過了餐廳以後，學園路跟台藝大的（無名）道路會合了，而我們繼續走原路。

We ran down the slope back to our car.

我們直接跑下坡，回到我們的車上去了。

With all of our stops and detours and ninja jumping and rock paper scissor-ing, it took us 1 hour and 50 minutes to do the whole loop. (But I bet you would do it faster!)

我們走別條路、停下來的地方很多，加上「忍著跳」和剪刀石頭布的關卡，我們花了大概兩個小時的時間走環狀步道。（你應該會走的比我們還快吧！）

Until next time, Taipei Grand Trail!

下次見，台北大縱走！