Xiangshan in Taipeh and the staircase skyline of Taiwan’s capital
Published on 09/14/2026 at 14:59 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Xiangshan in Taipeh is a compact city mountain whose stone staircase climbs from residential streets to open platforms facing the towers of Xinyi District and Taipei 101. The hill forms part of the Nangang Mountain system on the eastern edge of Taiwan’s capital, rising to around 183 m (600 ft) above sea level and framed by dense housing below.Xiangshan in Xinyi District sits close to Xiangshan metro station, so the climb begins only a short walk from the end of the city’s Red Line.
A staircase mountain inside the city
Xiangshan is a low peak in the Xinyi District of Taipeh, with its summit ridge reached by a stairway that cuts through forest on the western flank.The official Nangang Mountain system entry places the hill within the broader Nangang range that runs across the south-eastern side of the city. The elevation of around 183 m (600 ft) makes Xiangshan modest in absolute terms, but its slopes rise quickly from the surrounding streets, so the height is felt over a relatively short horizontal distance.A detailed hiking guide describes it as a hill on the eastern edge of Xinyi with a steep gain in height.
The mountain’s English name Elephant Mountain reflects the Chinese characters ??, with “xiang” meaning elephant and “shan” meaning mountain.Trail descriptions explain that the name relates to the way the ridge resembles an animal profile when seen from some angles. Xiangshan belongs to the Four Beasts Mountain group, a cluster of low hills on the south-eastern side of the Taipei Basin, and it shares the layered sandstone geology that shapes many of their outcrops.Geological notes on the trail describe Xiangshan as composed largely of sandstone similar to neighbouring Hushan.
Steps, boulders and skyline platforms
The most recognisable feature of Xiangshan is the formal hiking trail that climbs the western slope in a sequence of stone stairways and terraces.The main trail is described as roughly 1.5 km (0.93 mi) in length from base to peak, threading through forest and linking a series of viewpoints. From the trailhead near the base, the path rises by steps cut into the hillside, with landings at intervals where concrete platforms provide resting points and framed views across Xinyi.
Near the upper section of the trail, the route passes a group of large boulders known as the Six Giant Rocks, which sit just below the summit ridge.Descriptions of the Six Giant Rocks note that they function as an informal vantage point as well as a landmark along the trail. Above these rocks, purpose-built platforms extend towards the western drop of the hill, with railings and broad steps that give an unobstructed line of sight towards Taipei 101 and the rest of the Xinyi skyline.Travel summaries of the trail highlight the combination of stone steps, forest cover and elevated platforms overlooking the city.
Xiangshan, Taipei 101 and the Four Beasts
Xiangshan stands directly opposite Taipei 101 across the Xinyi District, forming one of the closest elevated viewpoints to the tower.Accounts of the skyline view describe the 508 m (1,667 ft) skyscraper occupying a prominent place in the field of view from the western platforms, with the city grid stretching out behind it. The mountain’s position on the fringe of central Taipeh means its slopes look down not only on office towers but also on older low-rise neighbourhoods and the expressways that run across the basin.
Geographically, Xiangshan takes its place within the Nangang Mountain system and the group of peaks referred to as the Four Beasts Mountains, which include hills named for a tiger, a leopard and a lion.Hiking descriptions note that these ridges form a broken line of hills to the south-east of the city centre, separating the dense urban grid from the more rugged land beyond. From Xiangshan’s higher platforms, the line of the range can be traced as it rises and falls behind the foreground of Xinyi, so the hill reads both as a viewpoint over Taipeh and as a first step into the larger Nangang landscape.
Visiting Xiangshan: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Xiangshan lies in the Xinyi District of Taipeh, south-east of Taipei Main Station and close to the terminus of the Red Line at Xiangshan MRT station.
- The main trail begins near residential streets and ascends by stone steps, with a steady gradient that can feel demanding over the continuous climb.
- The hill forms part of the Nangang Mountain system on the south-eastern edge of the Taipei Basin, so the upper platforms look both towards Taipei 101 and along the line of neighbouring ridges.
- The official language is Chinese and the currency is the New Taiwan dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Xiangshan
Where is Xiangshan in Taipeh?
Xiangshan stands in the Xinyi District on the south-eastern side of Taipeh, near the terminus station of the metro Red Line at Xiangshan.
What should visitors expect on the Xiangshan trail?
The main route is a constructed path of stone steps through forest, rising from streets near Xiangshan station to viewing platforms and the Six Giant Rocks on the ridge.
What makes Xiangshan distinctive among Taipeh’s hills?
Xiangshan combines a relatively low summit with direct views across Xinyi District and Taipei 101, while remaining closely integrated with the surrounding residential streets.
