A Volcano in the Middle of the City + Flower Fields — The Yangmingshan Guide 2026

The Story

An entire volcanojust a one-hour bus ride from Taipei 101

On the northern edge of Taipei, where the city tips up into hills, sits a national park that surprises many visitors when they learn what it really is: a volcano. This is Yangmingshan National Park (陽明山國家公園) — forest and grassland draped over the Datun Volcano Group. The volcanoes have been quiet for a long time, but the ground underneath is still alive — steaming sulphur vents, bubbling mud and hot springs rise to the surface as proof.

What makes Yangmingshan special is that it is one of the most accessible national parks from any capital city on earth. Taipei locals come up here to escape the city heat and haze — to hike, to soak in hot springs, or simply to sit and watch the fog drift across the meadows. In spring the mountain becomes a garden of flowers; in autumn the silvergrass turns the slopes gold. Best of all, entry is free, with no gate fee, and you can reach every sight by public bus. This guide gets you ready — the key sights, how to get there, the seasons, and what you should know before you climb.

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Steaming Sulphur Vents

Xiaoyoukeng hisses sulphur steam — raw volcanic geology up close

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Meadows With Buffalo

Qingtiangang, an open hilltop grassland where water buffalo still graze

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Hot Springs in the Forest

Lengshuikeng and the park's springs offer a free soak to ease tired legs

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A Mountain of Flowers

The spring Flower Festival, cherry blossom, calla lilies and autumn silvergrass

The Xiaoyoukeng sulphur fumarole field in Yangmingshan National Park, steam rising from vents on a yellow rock cliff — Xiaoyoukeng — an active sulphur fumarole steaming up from a yellow rock cliff surrounded by green grassland.

The Qingtiangang grassland in Yangmingshan National Park, wide green hills with a long wooden fence and mountains behind — The Qingtiangang grassland — open green hills on the ridge, an old grazing pasture that is now one of Taipei's favourite walks.

Getting There · The 108 Shuttle

One bus from Taipei Main Stationthen the 108 shuttle loops the park

There is no MRT to Yangmingshan, but the bus network covers it well. The trick is knowing which bus climbs the mountain — then using the 108 shuttle to link the sights inside.

🚌 Up the Mountain From Taipei

🚆Bus 260 leaves Taipei Main Station, runs past Chinese Culture University and climbs to the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal — the main route most visitors use.
🌋Bus 1717 also departs Taipei Main Station and runs into the heart of the park past the Visitor Center all the way to Xiaoyoukeng — ideal if you want the sulphur vents first.
🚇Or take the MRT to Jiantan or Shilin station and transfer to bus R5 (Red 5) up to the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal — boarding at Jiantan gives a better chance of a seat.
🌺From the Beitou side, buses S8 / S9 climb toward Zhuzihu (the calla lily and hydrangea fields) and the flower clock.

🔁 The 108 Park Shuttle

♻️Bus 108 runs a one-way loop inside the park, departing the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal and stopping at the Visitor Center, Zhuzihu, Erziping, Xiaoyoukeng, Lengshuikeng and Qingtiangang before circling back.
💳It is a single circular route, so it runs in one direction only — tap on and off with an EasyCard. It is the easiest way to visit several sights in one day.
🆓Park entry is free — no gate fee. Your main cost is simply the bus fare up and down the mountain and the 108.
⏱️Allow a full day — the 108 comes in intervals, so expect some waiting, and the sights are spread widely across the park.

⚠️

Buses fill up fast — go early: on weekends and during the Flower Festival, buses up Yangmingshan can be completely packed from the very first stop, and once full, drivers may not stop to pick up new passengers along the way. The safest move is to set off early, board at the start of the line (Taipei Main Station or Jiantan), and allow extra time for queues both up and down.

The Key Sights

Five places that make Yangmingshanfar more than just a mountain

The park is large — seeing it all in one day means choosing. These are the sights worth the most, and they link up easily on the 108 shuttle.

Star Sight · Volcanic Geology

Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑)

The most dramatic sight in the park — a basin of orange-yellow rock where sulphur fumaroles hiss hot steam non-stop. Sulphur crystals crust the rock, the rotten-egg smell hangs in the air, and the landscape looks almost like the surface of another planet.

There is a viewing platform and walkway just a few minutes from the bus stop — always stay on the path and never climb the railings. This is also where the trail up Mt. Qixing begins.

Grassland · Family-Friendly

Qingtiangang (擎天崗)

A wide open grassland along the ridge, a historic grazing pasture where water buffalo still roam. The loop trail around the meadow takes about 45 minutes, is flat and easy, and is perfect for families.

On clear days you can see Taipei far below — but this is also the foggiest spot in the park, and some days the whole meadow vanishes into white mist, which has its own quiet magic. If you meet a buffalo, keep your distance.

Hot Spring · Hiking

Lengshuikeng (冷水坑)

A hot spring that is "cooler" than the rest — the water emerges at around 40°C, which is why it is called the "cold water pit". There are foot-soaking pools and a free public bathhouse (usually open about 08:30–16:30, with a midday cleaning break).

Nearby is the milky-blue Milk Pond, coloured by sulphur minerals, and this is the trailhead for the lovely shaded walk over to Qingtiangang.

Taipei's Highest Peak

Mt. Qixing (七星山)

The highest peak in Taipei, around 1,120 metres — the popular route starts at Xiaoyoukeng and takes a little over an hour to climb, mostly stairs with steep stretches, so it takes some effort.

On a clear day the summit offers a 360-degree view — the city, the sea to the north, and the other peaks of the Datun Volcano Group. The main trail needs no permit, but check the weather: strong wind and thick fog can quickly turn an easy walk hard.

Flowers · Easy Walking

The Flower Clock & Yangming Park (花鐘 · 陽明公園)

Near the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal is Yangming Park, a beautifully landscaped public garden. The classic photo spot is the flower clock — a giant clock face planted with seasonal blooms, with fountains and bright flower beds around it.

It is the easiest part of the park to walk — no climbing — making it great for older travellers and children, and it is the heart of the spring Yangmingshan Flower Festival.

Gentle Nature Walk

Datun Nature Park (大屯自然公園)

On the western side of the park, Datun Nature Park wraps a quiet pond in forest, with a flat boardwalk that makes for an easy nature stroll without any effort.

This area is known for its butterflies in summer and is far quieter than the headline sights — ideal if you want to escape the crowds.

Mt. Qixing in Yangmingshan National Park, a grass-covered volcanic cone peak under a clear blue sky — Mt. Qixing — the highest volcanic peak in Taipei (~1,120 m); on a clear day the summit gives a 360-degree view.

A sulphur geothermal area in Yangmingshan National Park, yellow rock with steam rising along a green hillside — A geothermal area of the Datun volcano group — sulphur steam seeping up the hillside, a reminder that Yangmingshan is still alive.

The Mountain's Seasons

Spring is flowersautumn is fields of golden silvergrass

Yangmingshan changes its face dramatically with the seasons — learn the mountain's calendar and time your visit for what you most want to see.

Feb–Mar · High Season

The Yangmingshan Flower Festival 🌸

The highlight of the year — the Yangmingshan Flower Festival (roughly 6 Feb–15 Mar), when cherry blossoms, azaleas and camellias bloom together around Yangming Park and the flower clock, turning the mountain pink, white and red.

It is followed by the calla lily and hydrangea season at Zhuzihu (竹子湖), from around March to June — where there are fields you can walk into and pick your own calla lilies, a much-loved spring activity.

Oct–Dec · Autumn

Fields of Golden Silvergrass 🌾

As autumn arrives, the silvergrass sends up silver-gold plumes across the slopes — especially around Qingtiangang and the trail up Mt. Qixing. Caught in the afternoon light and rippling in the wind, it becomes the photo everyone chases each year.

The peak is around November — and the air is pleasantly cool for hiking, with skies that tend to be clearer than other seasons.

The flower clock and fountain at Yangming Park in Yangmingshan National Park, red flower beds around a fountain pool — Yangming Park in flower season — fountains and bright flower beds, the heart of the Yangmingshan Flower Festival.

A flower field at Zhuzihu in Yangmingshan National Park, visitors walking and taking photos among blooming flowers — The Zhuzihu flower fields — from spring into early summer, the calla lily and hydrangea blooms draw the whole city up the mountain.

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Flower season means big crowds: the Flower Festival and the calla lily season are the busiest times of year on Yangmingshan — buses fill, car parks fill, and photo spots have queues. If you can, visit on a weekday and go early. If you genuinely want to dodge the crowds, autumn's silvergrass season is quieter and the weather more comfortable.

When to Go

A clear day, an early startis the key to Yangmingshan

Yangmingshan depends on the weather more than any other Taipei attraction — choose your day well and the experience is a different thing entirely.

The Qingtiangang grassland in Yangmingshan in soft sunlight, green hills and a wooden fence with mountains behind — Qingtiangang on a clear day — but Yangmingshan's fog rolls in fast and often, so always check the forecast first.

🌤️ Getting the Timing Right

☀️Pick a clear day — the mountain views and the sulphur geology are at their best then. Check the forecast specifically for the Beitou/Yangmingshan area, which often differs from downtown.
🌅Go early — mornings tend to be clearer than afternoons, the fog has not yet rolled in, and you catch the buses up before the crowds.
🌸Feb–Mar for the Flower Festival · Mar–Jun for the calla lilies at Zhuzihu · Oct–Dec for the silvergrass.
📅Avoid weekends and holidays — especially in flower season, when both the buses and the sights get very crowded. Weekdays are far more comfortable.

🧥

Prepare for fast-changing weather: Yangmingshan sits at altitude and the weather is very changeable. Even when the city is sunny, the mountain can be thick with fog, windy and several degrees colder. Winter is genuinely cold with drizzle — bring a windproof, waterproof jacket and grippy shoes, and accept that views may be lost to fog. Allow most of a day for a visit, as the sights are spread wide and you will wait for the 108.

Optional Extra · Not Required

Want to skip the bus scramble
or pair Yangmingshan with Beitou in one day?

Visiting Yangmingshan on your own by public bus is straightforward and cheap — but if you would rather not gamble on a packed bus, or want a guide, there are day tours combining Yangmingshan with the Beitou hot springs to compare on Klook.

🚌 See Yangmingshan tours & tickets on Klook →

Wherebest is an affiliate partner of Klook — we may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Visiting Yangmingshan independently by bus with an EasyCard is also easy and inexpensive.

Insider Tips

6 tipsfor a smooth, rewarding Yangmingshan day

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Set off early

Buses fill fast and the sky is usually clearer in the morning — leave from the start of the line for a seat and the best views.

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One EasyCard does it all

Tap it on the bus up the mountain and on the 108 shuttle — no coins needed, the simplest way to get around.

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Check the forecast first

Look at the weather for the Yangmingshan area itself — the mountain can be foggy even when the city is sunny.

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Pack a wind/rain jacket

It is colder and windier up the mountain, drizzle is possible any season, and grippy shoes help a lot on the trails.

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Stay on the path at the vents

Xiaoyoukeng's ground is scaldingly hot and the gas concentrated — follow the walkways and warning signs, never climb the rails.

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Pair it with Beitou hot springs

Beitou sits right at the foot of Yangmingshan — explore the mountain by day, then soak in the springs in the evening.

Plan Next

Fit Yangmingshaninto your Taipei trip

Carry on around Taipei — soak in the Beitou hot springs, ride the Maokong Gondola, or see all of Taipei's attractions.

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Beitou Hot Spring Guide

Beitou sits right at the foot of Yangmingshan — a hot-spring district you can easily pair with the park in one day.

See the Beitou guide →

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Maokong Gondola Guide

A 4 km cable car ride up to hilltop tea houses — another of Taipei's mountain views you should not miss.

See the Maokong guide →

📍

Top 10 Taipei Attractions

The best of Taipei in one place — temples, night markets, viewpoints and nature, all rounded up.

See Taipei attractions →

Frequently Asked Questions

What to know beforeyou head up to Yangmingshan

How do I get to Yangmingshan National Park from Taipei?

There are several options. Bus 260 runs from Taipei Main Station straight up to the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal. Bus 1717 also leaves Taipei Main Station and runs into the heart of the park past the Visitor Center to Xiaoyoukeng. Alternatively, take the MRT to Jiantan or Shilin station and transfer to bus R5 (Red 5) up the mountain; from the Beitou side, buses S8/S9 climb to Zhuzihu. Once inside the park, the 108 shuttle bus loops between the main sights. EasyCard works on all of them.

Is there an entry fee for Yangmingshan National Park?

Yangmingshan National Park itself is free to enter — there is no gate fee. You can walk the Xiaoyoukeng sulphur vents, the Qingtiangang grassland and the hiking trails at no cost. Only a few extras carry a small charge, such as parking, some public hot-spring bathhouses, or guided tours. The main cost for most visitors is simply the bus fare up and down the mountain and the 108 shuttle.

When is the best time to visit Yangmingshan?

Spring, roughly February to March, is flower season — the Yangmingshan Flower Festival (around 6 Feb–15 Mar) brings cherry blossoms, azaleas and camellias, followed by the calla lily and hydrangea season at Zhuzihu from about March to June. Autumn, October to December, is silvergrass season, when golden plumes ripple across the hillsides. Whatever the season, pick a clear day, avoid weekends, and go early — buses fill up fast and the mountain is often foggy.

What is the 108 park shuttle bus?

Bus 108 is the shuttle that runs a one-way loop inside Yangmingshan National Park. It departs from the Yangmingshan Bus Terminal and stops at the Visitor Center, Zhuzihu, Erziping, Xiaoyoukeng, Lengshuikeng and the Qingtiangang grassland before looping back. Because it is a single circular route it runs in one direction only. You tap on and off with an EasyCard, and it is the easiest way to visit several sights in one day.

Does Xiaoyoukeng smell of sulphur, and is it safe?

Xiaoyoukeng is an active sulphur fumarole field, so yes — there is a strong rotten-egg sulphur smell and jets of hot steam. It is safe as long as you stay on the marked paths and viewing platforms. Do not climb over the railings or approach the vents: the ground is scaldingly hot and the gas is concentrated. People with respiratory conditions and pregnant visitors should not linger where the smell is strongest. Overall it is a dramatic and safe geological highlight if you follow the warning signs.

Is Yangmingshan really cold and foggy — how should I prepare?

Yes. Yangmingshan sits at altitude and the weather changes fast. Even when Taipei city is sunny, the mountain can be thick with fog, windy and several degrees colder. Winter can be genuinely cold with drizzle. Bring a windproof, waterproof jacket and grippy shoes, and accept that views may be lost to fog. Check the weather forecast specifically for the Beitou/Yangmingshan area before you go, and visit in the morning, when the sky tends to be clearer than in the afternoon. See more places to explore on our Taipei attractions page.

Ready to Go

Stay near the MRT or in Beitou
and head up Yangmingshan easily, first thing

Choose a hotel near Jiantan, Shilin or Beitou MRT and Yangmingshan — and the rest of Taipei — is easy to reach. Open the full Taipei travel guide to plan every day, or start your hotel search now.

📖 Full Taipei Travel Guide 🏨 Find Taipei Hotels →

A Volcano in the Middle of the City
Flower Fields — The Yangmingshan Guide

An entire volcanojust a one-hour bus ride from Taipei 101