Hiking Teapot Mountain To Discover Its Breathtaking Views

If you only have time for one hike in Taiwan, I recommend hiking Teapot Mountain for its breathtaking views of the northern coast of Taiwan and the sea beyond. The trail is full of lush greenery, rolling hills, a rocky cap that looks like a teapot (which is how this mountain gets its name), and three red pagodas that offer a stunning backdrop to the scenery that unfolds around you. In this post, I detail out how to get to Teapot Mountain, what to expect while hiking there, and share some of its unforgettable views.

Hiking Teapot Mountain

Teapot Mountain is a moderately challenging hike in northeastern Taiwan. It’s located about 3 miles (5 km) east of Jiufen Old Street, a very popular site in Taiwan, and about a 45-minute drive northeast of Taipei.

The rock formation at the top looks like a teapot from the side of the mountain that faces Jinguashi. This is how the mountain and trail gets its name. From the other side, it resembles a sleeping lion, so this trail is also sometimes called Lion Rock Mountain.

The hike is mostly comprised of stone steps, but there are areas where you need to scramble over raw ground with stones, which can be a little tricky to walk on.

Although it’s currently closed, there is also a cave and crevices inside the teapot rock formation where you used to be able to pull yourself up via ropes to get to the very top, which was very technical. If you’re determined, there’s a narrow side trail with ropes to use as an alternative, which is also technical.

My point is that most of the hike is a series of steps, but it does require delicate foot placement in some areas and if you choose to explore the rocky teapot at the very top, it can be technical. Either way, it’s still a stunning hike.

There are several ways to summit this trail, but I’ll start with what I think is the best way, then provide alternatives at the end of this post.

Teapot Mountain Hiking Specs

According to AllTrails, the hike is 2.2 miles (3.5 km) out and back with an elevation gain of 1000’ (305 m). This is from Quanji Temple, which is the way I recommend.

The estimated time to complete the hike is between an hour and a half and two hours. Plan for more, however, as you will want time to soak up the views and enjoy the sea breeze at the pagodas.

Start Of The Trail

The trail starts just beyond Quanji Temple, also spelled Cyuanji Temple. You only need a day or two in Taiwan to learn that there are a lot of temples here. Quanji Temple worships the Holy Ruler Deity Guan, guardian of the town of Jinguashi. It’s best known for its giant Guanyu holy figure, which weighs over 25 tons. This statue is a remarkable sight at night as it’s lit up behind the temple. Make sure to allow some time to stop for a quick visit at the temple either before of after your hike.

The start of the trail is to the right and behind Quanji Temple. When facing the temple, walk to your right and look for a path that heads up to the left. Follow this path up and around until you see the steps that lead up the mountain.

The bottom of the trail is a series of steps with a handrail, making it easy to navigate. As you climb up, you’ll see a side trail that leads off to the left. This trail leads to the edge of the coast overlooking the Yinyan Sea. If you have time, consider taking this trail at the end of your hike on the way down (more on this below).

Chaobao Pavilion

As you crest the first set of stone steps on the trail, you will come to the first red pagoda, called the Chaobao Pavilion. This is a good spot for a short rest to admire the views.

After leaving the Pavilion, turn to the left and follow the trail until you get the that shows a graphic map of the trail (below). The trail here is relatively flat. When you reach the sign, you will be at the red map pin on the sign below.

Chaotian Pavilion

From the sign, you can walk over to the second pagoda, called the Chaotian Pavilion, for a quick view before doubling back to hike up. This is mostly flat walking, so it’s relatively easy. Or, you can skip this pagoda and head up the trail up the trail.

When you head back up the trail, the path is rocky for a bit, with the stepping stones missing and strewn about. I think a previous landslide washed away to stone steps. Be careful as this area can be a little unstable. If it’s wet, it can be muddy and slippery between the rocks. After this, the trail becomes a series of stone steps again.

Baoshi Pavilion

The next pagoda is the Baoshi Pavilion. This pagoda is the highest pagoda on the trail and offers the best views. If you only have time to stop at one pagoda, definitely make it this one.

But, you’re not done hiking Teapot Mountain yet. There are still more steps heading up to the summit.

When I was here, the path to the rocky teapot cap was closed off with yellow and black tape not far beyond this pagoda. You used to used to be able to get inside the rocks and pull yourself up between narrow crevices with ropes, but it is now closed. I could not find any information on why or how long.

As I noted above, there is a side trail on a steep, narrow part of the mountain that supposedly has a rope to go around and up to the top. Unfortunately, I did not see this. If you find this and do it, be careful as I’ve heard it’s very steep and slippery in wet conditions.

I stopped my hike where it was closed as I had accidentally climbed the backside of Teapot Mountain first (more on that below). This required me to pull myself up with ropes on multiple steep, muddy sections of the trail, so I was pretty tired. Plus, the sun was starting to set, and I didn’t want to hike back in the dark, so I headed back down.

When I started walking back down the mountain, the sun peaked out of the clouds and I got the most spectacular view of Baoshi Pavilion and the northern coast of Taiwan. This view made my ‘almost double hike’ 100% worth it!

Yinyan Sea Viewpoint

As noted above, as you head back down the stone steps to Quanji Temple, there is a path off to the north that overlooks the Yinyan Sea. It will turn to the right on the way down.

The official name of the sea here is “LianDongWan”, but since the sea here has swirling colors of blue and brown in a shape closely resembling the Yin-Yang, it is called the Yinyan Sea. 

This sea gets its swirling colors from the rich minerals that leech down through the soil here and into the sea.

Alternate Routes For Teapot Mountain

Option 1: Moderately Challenging

Another popular way to hiking Teapot Mountain is to start at the Jinguashi Gold Museum (as gold and mineral mining was once big here). You need to pay the entrance fee to get in this way, but it is not very expensive. They accept cash or you can pay with your Easy Pass transportation card (buy these at the airport or MRT stations).

After entering the museum area, walk past all the museum buildings towards the back of the complex. At the back, you’ll see a bridge on your left hand side. Cross the bridge and look for a small wooden sign pointing to Teapot Mountain. It’s easy to miss, but it’s not far from the bridge, so keep an eye out for it. The trail starts out as an unassuming narrow gravel path following a stream.

Soon after the start, there will be many stone steps to climb, like there are on the Quanji side. Keep following the steps until they stop near a paved road looping around on your left.

Follow the right side of the paved road. It will head around to the other side of Teapot Mountain and the Chaobao Pavilion, the first pagoda that you encounter when you start at Quanji Temple. Follow the rest of the trail to the summit as noted above, except turn right after the first pagoda rather than left.

Option 2: Challenging

There’s another option, which is the one I took. It also starts at the Gold Museum.

When I reached the road after starting at the Gold Museum, I thought that was the wrong way to go. I saw the trail in the grass directly ahead and followed that. My map also told me this was the best way up. Actually, what it was showing me was the shortest route, which is also the steepest and craziest route.

This trail is more adventurous as its heads up through the forest. There is a faint path through tall weeds, and colored ribbons tied to trees to mark the way. Instead of stone steps, there are many ropes tied between trees so you can pull yourself up. There’s also a section of rocks beside a small waterfall you climb up with no railing and a stream you need to cross on a steep hill.

If the ground here is wet, which it was, it can be very slippery. I actually fell, sliding very ungracefully down the muddy hill. I even found myself wishing I had told someone where I was hiking, as no one else was here. Luckily all turned out okay.

Eventually you come out of the forest near the top. Follow the trail to the left towards the teapot rock formation.

Below it, there’s a metal chain to pull yourself up the steep rocky path. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived here, it started raining. As I was by myself and the rocks were wet, slippery, sharp, and over my head, I didn’t go all the way to the summit. I had to stop just a few feet short.

Changing Trails

This is when I realized that I must have taken the wrong path as I never saw a red pagoda, which I had seen in photos of the hike. I had read that you sometimes need ropes to pull yourself up, so only the intensity of that surprised me.

I quickly headed down the backside in the rain. Again, it’s so steep I needed to use the ropes to lower myself down. Thankfully, when I got to the road, the rain had let up, so I decided to follow it. It took me around to the Chaobao Pavilion, the first pagoda on the hike up from Quanji Temple.

I was pretty tired, but decided to hike the trail from this side as I really wanted to see the views. It was late afternoon at this point, so I was starting to worry that the Gold Museum may be closed by the time I hiked back up and then back down.

Luckily, I ran into some other hikers and learned I could hike back down to Quanji Temple instead of the Gold Musuem. So that’s what I did. And that’s where I learned that Quanji is really the best way to start and finish this hike. It’s more scenic and you don’t need to walk through the Gold Museum. If, of course, you want to see that, it’s fine to go that way. Just turn left at the road.

In the end, I hiked most of Teapot Mountain twice. And had mud ground in underneath all my fingernails to prove it.

How To Get To The Teapot Mountain Trailhead

Teapot Mountain is in Jinguashi, a historic mining town for gold, copper, and mineral deposits near Jiufen. In its minig days, it was a prosperous town. If you start in Jiufen, take Bus 1062 from the Jiufen Old Street bus stop. Take the bus to the last stop at Quanji Temple.

If you’re coming from Taipei, you also take Bus 1062. You can catch this bus from the Songshan MRT Station or the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station. Take the bus north, past Jiufen and continue until you get to Quanji Temple.

To find Bus 1062 at the Songshan MRT Station, exit the metro at exit 4 when you arrive. Follow the steps at exit 4 up to Bade Road. When you exit the station, turn right. The Songshan Bus Station will be up ahead on your right. There are several bus stops there, so look for the one that says 1062. If departing from the Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT Station, use exit 2 to get to the bus stop.

If you prefer to start the trail from the Jinguahsi Gold Museum (note that it’s not the same as the Gold Museum in Jiufen), it’s a few stops before Quanji Temple. Ask the bus driver to let you know which stop it is or use your GPS on the bus. Once you arrive at the Gold Museum, you’ll see the entrance.

You can also hike up from one end and down the other. If you do this, you get to see both Quanji Temple and the Gold Museum. I’m just not sure how late the latter is open if you hike near sunset.

If you plan to drive, there is parking at both the Gold Museum and Quanji Temple.

Teapot Mountain Preparation

To prepare for hiking Teapot Mountain, it’s a good idea to check the weather conditions first. It rains a lot on Taiwan, and while it may be okay to hike in a light rain, where you’ll need a good raincoat, you want to make sure there will be nothing heavier. Ideally it’s better to hike when there is no rain as it can get slippery in places and could be dangerous is there is a landslide. Also, make sure to bring plenty of water for the hike. Possibly even snacks for when you take pagoda breaks.

Make sure to wear good shoes. This is especially important for the parts of the hike that are not stone steps. Gloves are an excellent idea if you plan to use any of the ropes on your hike. Waterproof ones are even better as the ropes sometimes lay on the ground when not in use and are soggy.

Snakes are also possible in this area, especially after a rain, so be cautious. When I hiked up the backside, the grass was up to my shoulders in spots. I made sure to stomp my feet as much as possible to scare any snakes away.

Also, it’s a good idea to let someone know in advance where you are hiking so they can raise the alarm if you do not return. Especially if you decide to hike the wild side.

Want To See More Of Taiwan?

I’ve wanted to visit Taiwan for a while now and glad I’ve finally made it there. It may be small, but it’s packed with fascinating history, incredible food, a lot of nature to explore, and the nicest people I think I’ve ever met traveling.

I will be writing more on Taiwan soon, but one of its can’t-miss destinations is Jiufen Old Street in northeastern Taiwan. It’s only about an hour or so from Taipei and easy to visit as a day trip to see its historic old streets built on a sloping hill with amazing coastal views. There’s tons of charm here with its brilliant red lanterns, lots of food stalls to try tempting Taiwanese food, and many traditional teahouses.

Safe Travels!

Julie