Sulphur vents
At Xiaoyoukeng.
James CPHuang — CC BY-SA 4.0 · MarcChu — CC BY 4.0 · Ken Marshall — CC BY 2.0 · lienyuan lee — CC BY 3.0
A volcanic mountain national park on Taipei's northern edge, where the capital's residents escape the heat for cooler air. It holds Qixing, Seven Star Mountain, Taiwan's highest dormant volcano at 1,120 metres. Its strangest corner is Xiaoyoukeng, where plumes of steam and sulphur rise from cracks in the mountainside, the rocks are stained yellow and the smell of sulphur hangs in the air. Close by lie the rolling green grasslands of Qingtiangang, where water buffalo graze freely between the walking paths. In February and March pink cherry trees bloom across the park, and from March to May white calla lilies open in the fields of Zhuzihu. Trails link peaks, valleys and hot springs, including the summit trail up Qixing. Entry is free, and buses run from the Shilin and Jiantan metro stations. The weather is changeable and mist rolls in fast, so bring a jacket and an umbrella. Taiwan's typhoon season runs from June to October, peaking July to September, so check forecasts before heading to mountains and coasts, per UK travel advice.
At Xiaoyoukeng.
Grazing buffalo.
March-May.
North of Taipei, about 40 minutes by bus from the centre
By bus from Shilin or Jiantan metro stations in about forty minutes, with park shuttles between the main spots.