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Know before you go

Length: .6 mi/1 km (loop length: 1.2 mi/2 km)	長度：0.6英里/1公里（含回程：1.2英里/2公里）
Terrain: stone stairs, dirt path, some steep and rocky sections	地形：石階、土徑；有些陡坡。
Parking: a few spots roadside near Zhongyi trailhead (on Xueyuan Rd.);	停車：忠義登山口附近有幾個路邊停車位。
Public transport: trailhead: R35 bus (every 45-60 min) from Barren Hill Theater stop to Guandu Station (follows Xueyuan Rd.) endpoint: 631 bus from Beitou or Danshui MRT every hour); F101 Pingding bus from Danshui MRT (every hour and a half) to Wuzicuo	公共交通： 步道起點：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） 淡水信義線至關渡捷運站 終點：631、F101 公車（每1～1.5小時一班）；從北投捷運或淡水捷運到吳仔厝。
Shade: shady	樹木覆蓋：樹陰多
Water and Restrooms: none	水源、廁所：無

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My travel diary

October 26, 2024

2024年十月二十六日

It was another sunny day in October. We drove from Taoyuan to Taipei Main Station, then switched to the MRT, taking it all the way to Guandu MRT. Then we switched to the R35 bus and took it back up to the Zhongyi Trailhead. It was just me and my six-year-old today. We were excited to check out the next section of the trail.

There is an interactive selfie/map station at the trailhead. This one had a fan-like sign you could hold up (others have stamps, so don’t forget to bring a journal or map!).

The trail began with stone stairs. We went up slowly, because even though it was the end of October, it was a hot day. After a while, we started to move more quickly. Mosquitoes were following!

So dramatic!

This section of the trail is short mileage-wise, but it felt like a workout. The stone stairs quickly gave way to stones, and the path grew steeper and steeper. The stones were fun for my six-year-old to jump on, and he turned the ropes into a gymnastics gym at one point.

Case in point. The trail went from manageable…

to steep…

…to daunting!!

It was a fun hike though, with lots to do and look at. And it went up and up and up, until suddenly, it flattened out and reminded me of a Midwest hike. The trail turned into a nice, level dirt path through the trees, and then it opened up, and we could see the sky above us. It was also here that the mosquitoes got really bad. We ended up running along this otherwise lovely path.

The heights of Mt. Datun peaked up ahead of us, and we also espied the high rises of Pingding on the mountain’s side. The meadow reminded me of a Wisconsin summer. We jogged along the path, admiring the flowers and grasses as much as we could while being eaten alive by little bugs.

There was no stream or other water feature to explain why it was so buggy when we hiked this segment. It must have been prime weather conditions for them; I doubt it’s like that all year round.

After passing through this faerie forest, we made it to the road. I was originally going to press my six-year-old to keep going (it had only been 1 km after all!). But then I took a look at the next “segment”: it was essentially road-walking along a tiny berm, the road itself traversed by fast and weaving cars and motorcycles and buses. I would not suggest anyone with a child walk along the road here!

There is a bus station right at the exit of the trail, and if one timed it right, one could take the bus, then get off at the next stop (Guohua Golf Course stop). From there, turn right and follow the road to its (rather sketchy) end, at the point where Shangding 1st Rd. peters out and turns into a trail. This connector path is a steep stairway through the tall grass to the beginning of the Guizikeng Trail!

According to the sign at the Wuzicuo bus stop, it is 2km (1.2 mi) to the beginning of the Guizikeng Trail. We didn’t do the connector route though, you’ll have to let us know how it turns out in the comments if you do!

Instead, we took the easy way out due to mosquitoes. No bus was apparent, so we ran back and forth until an Uber arrived and shuttled us back down to the MRT.

The entire 1 km route took us 35 minutes to complete (it was very steep!)

Until next time, Taipei Grand Trail!

下次見，台北大縱走！