WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN HIKING TEAPOT MOUNTAIN?
Teapot Mountain combined with the Banpingshan Trail is a super cool hike that anyone can do in a day trip from Taipei. It is also close to Jiufen so you can make it as part of your day trip. See our article HERE about the Jiufen Old Street.
Teapot Mountain, locally known as Huopu Mountain, is a prominent peak in the Ruifang District, a short distance away from Taipei. This iconic landmark gets its name from the peculiar rock formations resembling a teapot, balancing precariously on a smaller rock, creating a picture-perfect scene. The mountain is renowned for its awe-inspiring landscapes, rugged trails, and an overall sense of serenity.
Banpingshan Trail, adjacent to Teapot Mountain, offers a comprehensive hiking experience. It is a pristine area that has gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts for its challenging routes, diverse flora, and panoramic views of the northeastern coast of Taiwan. The trail is adorned with an array of vibrant flowers, including rhododendrons and azaleas, and provides an opportunity to connect with nature at its best.
THE HIKE ITSELF
Wherever you start the hike, the ascent is mainly done on stone stairs and some parts on the concrete road. Then, towards the end, you’ll get to a rock path. However, the very last part of the hike involves some ropes and basic rock climbing to get on top of the “Teapot”.
Here are some highlights and tips for the Teapot Mountain experience:
- The Teapot Rock: As you ascend the trail, you’ll come across the iconic Teapot Rock. This is a great spot to take photos and admire the unique formation.
- Balanced Rock: Just a short hike from the Teapot Rock, you’ll encounter another remarkable formation – the Balanced Rock. This massive boulder appears to defy gravity by balancing on a smaller rock.
- Scenic Overlooks: The trail provides several scenic overlooks where you can pause and soak in breathtaking views of the northern coast, Keelung Islet, and the Pacific Ocean.
- Climbing Ladders and Stairs: The trail features ladders and stairs in some sections, adding an element of adventure to your hike.
The view on top of Teapot Mountain is breathtaking.
Once you have reached the Teapot Mountain Peak, that’s where, in my opinion, all the fun starts. You can get inside the small cave to actually get to the other side of the Teapot. We chilled and ate our lunch on the top enjoying the view. Then you can get down on the other side and go toward Banpingshan Trail.
Banpingshan is another great hike that offers even better views than Teapot Mountain! Banpingshan Trail is accessible from Teapot Mountain, and you can continue your adventure by exploring this remarkable area. Here’s what you can expect:
- Trailhead: The trailhead for Banpingshan is near the Balanced Rock on Teapot Mountain. Follow the signs to start your journey.
- Challenging Terrain: Banpingshan Trail is more challenging than Teapot Mountain. The paths can be steep and uneven, so be prepared for a strenuous hike. However, the rewarding views make it well worth the effort.
- Flora and Fauna: As you ascend, you’ll encounter a variety of plant and animal species. Keep an eye out for the beautiful rhododendrons and azaleas during the blooming season.
- Panoramic Views: The higher you climb, the more panoramic the views become. You’ll be treated to sweeping vistas of the northeast coast, the sea, and lush forests.
- Historical Element: This trail also has a historical element. Along the way, you can visit the Banping Mountain Anti-aircraft Gun Emplacement, a relic from World War II, and gain insight into the area’s history.
On the peak, you can walk on a ridge that offers a great 360-degree view of the surrounding area.
After walking on the ridge and enjoying exhilarating views, you can either get back the way you came from, or follow the trail further down.
At some point, the trail ends and you reach a concrete road. I usually don’t like to walk on a road. But when we did it we didn’t see any car on and it offers such great views that it is actually an enjoyable walk and I didn’t mind as much that it was on the road.
DIFFICULTY OF THE TEAPOT MOUNTAIN HIKE?
Fairly easy: 2/5. The hike is not too long (about 5.2 km). It is well marked by signs and on an easy terrain (stone stairs, rocky dirt path) with some rough and steep parts (some rock climbing with ropes at some point).
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
The whole trip took us a little less than 4 hours with lots of stops to take pictures and a lunch break on top of Teapot Mountain.
- From the Gold Mine Museum to Teapot Mountain Peak (1.5 km): about 1h
- From Teapot Mountain to Banpingshan (1.3km) : about 20 min
- We stayed on the ridge for about 20 min
- From Bapingshan through the concrete road back to the Museum (2.4km): about 2h
HOW FAR FROM TAIPEI?
- It takes roughly 40 min train ride that cost 60NTD + 30 min bus ride 25 NTD
- Or 1h15 bus ride from Taipei
- Or 45 min car ride
HOW TO GET TO TEAPOT MOUNTAIN FROM TAIPEI?
Train + Bus:
- From anywhere in Taipei, go to Taipei Main Station
- Take the train to Ruifang Station
- At Ruifang Station take the Exit West to get to the bus station
- When you have exited the station and are facing the Welcome take left and walk for about 250 meter.
- When you see the police station on your right, the bus stop is next to the police station.
- Take the 788 (direction Jinguashih (Gold Ecological Park)) or 965 (direction Gua Shan Elementary School)
- Stop at Jinguashih (Gold Ecological Park) (it costs about 20 NTD and last 30 min)
- From the bus stop, walk 9 min to the option 1 trail head (risk of entrance fee for the museum). Go all the way to the back of the museum, cross the bridge and right after the bridge, you will see a gravel path on your right. That is the entrance of the trail. You will have stairs and at some point get back to the concrete road. Go up and a few meters further you will see another staircase on your right to get to the Teapot Mountain Peak.
- Walk 15min (700 m) to the option 2 trailhead
- Or walk 20min to the option 3 trailhead.
Bus from Taipei to Teapot Mountain:
- Take the bus 1062 to Keelung from Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station
- Stop at Jinguashih (Gold Ecological Park)
Car-scooter:
You can also go with your scooter or car if you have access to one. There are some parking spots close to New Taipei City Government Gold Museum
The Taxis from Taipei to Jiufen old street should cost you around 1200 NTD and take about 45 min.
We went with a scooters, because the ride to Ruifang district is really cool. Moreover, if you want to do other things in the area, like see the Golden Waterfall, or visit Jiufen, we feel a scooter is more convenient than having to wait for the bus or walking about 40 min on the side of the road.
HOW TO GET TO TEAPOT MOUNTAIN TRAIL HEAD?
To my knowledge, you have several ways to do this hike
- You can start at the Gold Mine Museum (Option 1) . This is the option we took in September 2018 and had no fee to pay to enter the museum.
- Another starting option is close to the the Qitang Old Street (Option 2)
- Moreover, I see on Google Maps that you could start there (Option 3)
- Lastly, the lazy option if you only want to do the Teapot mountain peak you can park your car at the Trail Peak Entrance and start the hike from there. (Option 4)
Let us know how your hike went!