Four Beasts Hike Taipei: The Best Views of Taipei 101

Hiking the Four Beasts: A Taipei Trail With the Best View in the City

If you’re looking for the most breathtaking cityscape views of Taipei, the Four Beasts Hiking Trail is an experience you shouldn’t miss.  While Elephant Mountain is renowned for its iconic vantage point of Taipei 101, there’s a whole trail network that offers multiple perspectives of the city and with far fewer crowds.

The trail connects four peaks:

• Tiger Mountain │ 虎山 │ Hǔshān │ pronounced “hoo-shahn”
• Leopard Mountain │ 豹山 │ Bàoshān │ “baow-shahn”
• Lion Mountain │ 獅山 │ Shīshān) │ “shir-shahn”
• Elephant Mountain │ 象山 │ Xiàngshān │ “shyahng-shahn”

These mountains are collectively known as the “Four Beasts” because their shapes are said to resemble their respective animals.

If you time it right, you can start on the east side at Tiger Mountain and finish at Elephant Mountain just in time for sunset to capture that golden shot of Taipei 101.  Along the way, you’ll get a solid workout, a mix of urban and natural landscapes, and a deeper connection with Taipei’s scenic beauty.

We began our journey at Songshan Fengtian Temple, traversing through Tiger, Leopard, Lion, and finally Elephant Mountain.  Here’s a Google Map of the route we followed:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hexjViMyRcPxYjo29

Time to Complete: 2 to 3 hours.  You can fly through this in 1 hour, but guaranteed, you’ll be stopping for photos and taking in the view.

Songshan Fengtian Temple

Our hike began at the base of Tiger Mountain, at a place we hadn’t planned to linger at… the Songshan Fengtian Temple (松山奉天宮).  But the entrance gate?  Absolutely stunning.  It stopped us in our tracks.  Fully hyped to hit the trail, we ended up pausing here, completely drawn by the scale, the craftsmanship, and the vibe.  It didn’t feel right to just breeze past it.

As we started walking up, we noticed inscriptions carved into every step.  Lines and lines of Chinese characters, each one probably filled with deep meaning and ancient wisdom…

Line 1: Welcome (in English, Chinese, and Japanese)
Line 2: Each time evil thoughts arise, calamities follow. (灾殃每發邪思後)
Line 3: Happiness dwells in kindness (幸福常存善念中)
Line 4: Do not say that there is no Pure Land in the human realm. (莫道人間無净土)

You’re welcome to translate the rest if you’re feeling ambitious, but I tapped out after four. 😂

What followed was a wild display of stone relief carvings, tigers, dragons, and golden altars with layers upon layers of detail.  The temple was basically visual overload in the best way possible.

OK we’ve gotten a little sidetracked, but I highly recommend checking this place out before starting the hike.

Four Beasts Mountain Trail Map

With the Songshan Fengtian Temple vibes behind us, it was time to hit the trail.  The trailhead was right next to the temple and had a big map showing where all the beasts were hiding. 

1. Tiger Mountain (Hushan / 虎山)

Just as we were getting started on the Four Beast Mountain Trail, we were greeted by a massive set of stairs.  For a brief moment, I was ready to come up with an excuse to turn back and do something – ANYTHING – else.  But with a deep breath, we pressed on.

The first “beasts” we encountered weren’t tigers at all, but chickens hiding in the trees.

A few minutes later, a cat lounging on the steps gave us the perfect excuse to pause and catch our breath.

From the Songshan Fengtian Temple, the first official stop is Hushan 120 Heights.  It’s about 640m in and roughly 15 minutes away.

Hushan 120 Heights

Just before reaching Hushan 120 Heights, there’s a rocky overlook that gives you your first clean glimpse of Taipei’s skyline.  It feels like the trail finally opens up, and you’re rewarded for the climb so far.

When you spot the pavilion, you’ll know you’ve made it.  The grassy clearing in front of it makes for a great photo spot, with the city stretching endlessly behind it.  It’s peaceful, wide open, and a perfect place to take a breather… or twenty photos.

Hushan Peak

Hushan Peak is just a few minutes away from Hushan 120 Heights, unless you stop for all the great views along the way.

There were a couple of framed lookout spots where Taipei 101 sat perfectly between the trees.  One of my favorite scenes was a massive tree stretching across the stairway.  Totally photogenic… Apparently, I have a thing for trees.

After a few more stairs, we arrived at the Hushan Peak wooden marker.  Sitting at 142m elevation, it offered one of the best views of the trail.

2. Leopard Mountain (Baoshan / 豹山)

The journey from Hushan Peak to Baoshan Peak is only about 5 minutes.  The trail zigzags through the forest with stairs flanked by towering palm trees and curving stone paths that feel straight out of an old kung fu movie.

Eventually, we reached the Baoshan Peak wooden marker, sitting at 142m, carved with the shape of a leopard.

As for the view, it’s good but not great.  You can see the city skyline, but the dense foreground of trees blocks a lot of it.  If you’re here for dramatic photos of Taipei 101, this probably won’t be your favorite stop.  Still, it’s a quiet, peaceful place to catch your breath before continuing on toward Lion Mountain.

3. Lion Mountain (Shishan / 獅山)

Lion Mountain Peak is only about 10 minutes away from Leopard Mountain Peak, and the path there is full of charm.  We passed by trees draped in ferns and even spotted papaya fruit growing high up in the sky.

Along the way, there’s a public bathroom decorated in forest-themed art.  It’s a surprisingly nice touch for a trail facility.

As you continue, you’ll eventually pass Songshan Lingyin Temple.  We didn’t go inside, but the sound of monks chanting echoed through the forest long before we even reached it.  It was peaceful, captivating, and made the moment feel surreal.

Shortly after, there’s a turnoff leading to a more natural, unpaved path through the woods.  It was muddy when we went, with gnarled roots twisting up through the soil.  At the summit, you’ll find a wooden marker with a lion carved into it.  ShiShan Peak sits at 151m elevation.

As for the view?  Honestly, there isn’t one.  The area is mostly overgrown, and the only thing visible is the very tip of Taipei 101 poking above the treetops.  It might have once been a great lookout, but nature has since taken over.

4. Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan / 象山)

The trek to the summit of Elephant Mountain (XiangShan Peak) tops out at 184m.  The trail is a mix of stone steps and shaded forest, not too long, but steep enough to get the blood pumping.  Along the way, you’ll pass a quirky little patch of pineapple plants, known as bromeliads.  If you’re lucky, you might catch one sprouting.  (I wasn’t, but they’re still cool to see.  And in case you didn’t know, pineapples grow on plants, not trees).

At the summit, you’ll find a wooden pillar etched with “XiangShan Peak” and an elephant carving to mark your achievement.  But let’s be honest, you’ll probably beeline for the heart-shaped bench that frames Taipei 101 perfectly.  It’s an Instagram-worthy spot.  If you’re trying to catch the golden hour here, be prepared to line up for your photo op.  It’s a popular stop.

From there, the trail continues to the Xiangshan Photography Platform and eventually the Xiangshan Viewpoint.

Xiangshan Photography Platform (象山攝影平台)

The Xiangshan Photography Platform is one of the best spots to shoot the Taipei skyline, especially with Taipei 101 front and center.  It’s higher up the mountain than Xiangshan Viewpoint (details further below), giving you a better angle on buildings deeper in the cityscape.

If you’re planning to capture a sunset shot, get here early to claim a spot along the railing.  It fills up fast, and if you’re a serious photographer, there’s little chance of setting up a tripod once the crowds arrive.

Xiangshan Viewpoint (象山攝手平臺)

If you’ve been following the route I laid out starting from Tiger Mountain, Xiangshan Viewpoint will be your final stop before wrapping up the hike.  This is usually the most crowded platform, and while the view is undeniably stunning, it’s not ideal for capturing the full cityscape.  The platform sits lower than the other viewpoints, which limits your ability to get that sweeping skyline shot of Taipei and places more visual focus on the buildings in the immediate foreground.