Xiangshan, Taipei

Xiangshan (Chinese: 象山), also known as Elephant Mountain^[1] or Mount Elephant,^[2] is a mountain in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. It is close to the Taipei Metro Xiangshan Station. It is 183 m (600 ft) high and has a hiking trail to the peak, covering a distance of about 1.5 km (0.93 mi).^[3] Taipei 101 can be seen from the trail.^[1] The Six Giant Rocks on the peak are a tourist attraction in Xiangshan,^[2] and there are platforms for photographers.^[4]

Xiangshan
Elephant Mountain
Xiangshan as viewed from Taipei 101's observation deck
Highest point
Elevation	183 metres (600 ft)
Coordinates	25.0269°N 121.5766°E / 25.0269; 121.5766
Geography
Xiangshan The location of Xiangshan
510m 556yds 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1     Selected locations in the Nangang Mountains near Xinyi District, Taipei 1 Xiangshan MRT, Exit 2 2 Daitiandian Lingyun Temple 3 Xiangshan (Elephant) summit 4 Shishan (Lion) summit 5 Baoshan (Leopard) summit 6 Hushan (Tiger) summit 7 Songshan Fengtian Temple 8 Houshanpi MRT The location of Xiangshan
Location	Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan
Climbing
Easiest route	Hiking trail

Name

"Xiangshan" means "Elephant Mountain" in Chinese. Xiangshan's name comes from its elephant-like shape.^[3]

Geology

Xiangshan is one of the Four Beast Mountains (四獸山),^[1] which also include Lion (獅山), Leopard (豹山), and Tiger (虎山) mountains in the Nangang Mountain System. It is mainly composed of sandstone. Plants include the ferns Cibotium cumingii and Cyathea lepifera.^[2]

Transportation

The trail to the mountain summit and observation platforms is accessible by walking south from Exit 2 of Xiangshan Station of the Taipei Metro, proceeding along Xiangshan Park to the western trailhead next to Daitiandian Lingyun Temple.^[5]

As an alternative, hikers may proceed from the eastern end, starting from the trailhead behind Songshan Fengtian Temple, which is a short walk south from the Houshanpi station.^[1]

• View of the Taipei Basin from the Six Giant Rocks, 2013
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  Xiangshan hiking trail
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  Taipei skyline viewed from Xiangshan, including Taipei 101, illuminated at dusk (2015)
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  Trail map
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  Western trailhead near Daitiandian Lingyun Temple with steep, narrow stairways
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  Summit marker
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  Observation deck
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  Hikers descending through cut in massive boulders
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  Taipei 101, framed in elephant-shaped bench at summit

• Panoramic views from Xiangshan
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  Panorama (day)
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  Panorama (sunset)
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  Panorama (night)