INTRODUCTION TO MATCHA MOUNTAIN:

If you’re an avid hiker or an Instagram enthusiast, you may have heard of Matcha Mountain (抹茶山) in Taiwan. Officially named the Our Lady Hiking Trail (聖母登山步道), this scenic day hike is located next to Wufengqi Waterfall in Jiaoxi, Yilan County. and is a highly recommended addition to any visit to Taiwan. It’s a perfect day trip from Jiaoxi or even Taipei.

But you likely won’t be the only one there. Thanks to Japanese photographer Kengo Kobayashi, the lush green ridges resembling matcha soft-serve ice cream have become a bit of a viral sensation. Pre-Covid, the Japanese photographer took a picture and posted it on Instagram, with the caption “臺灣の抹茶冰淇淋山” (“Matcha Ice Cream Mountain in Taiwan”). It blew up. Both for international and Taiwanese. Now a popular hiking destination, officially called Mt. Sanjiaolun (三角崙山), it is more commonly referred to as Matcha Mountain (抹茶山). But beyond its social media fame, this trail holds deep religious significance and is a rewarding hiking experience with stunning views and historical landmarks.

This trail and hiking destination is unlike many you will experience in Taiwan, primarily because the trail is filled with religious imagery.

Essentials for Matcha Mountain

DISTANCE: 6km one-way (total of just over 12.1km return)

TIME: Hiking time should be around 5.5 hours on the trail. Adding in stops at the peak, lunch and along the way might end up extending this trip to 6-7 hours.

TOTAL ASCENT: About 830m

DIFFICULTY (RATING): We’d rate this about 5/10. For avid hikers, you’ll find this trail quite easy, but the steep and steady ascent can be somewhat challenging for some.

FOOD AND WATER: One meal and some snacks should suffice. We drank around 1.5L of water in the fall/winter. We’d suggest about 2L if you’re hiking in the summer. This brings us to the shade and exposure on the trail.

SHADE AND FOREST COVER: It’s best to look at this trail in two parts. The trail provides ample shade, especially in the middle section (Catholic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Wufengqi to Tongtian Bridge) which offers a pretty beautiful forested hike. The final 1.6km ascent from Tongtian Bridge to Our Lady Villa is more open and exposed. One summer day, this section can get pretty intense.

SIGNAGE AND MOBILE NETWORK: The signage along this trail is pretty decent in both English and Chinese. With a main trail map located at the parking of (INSERT). The most notable

HOW TO GET TO TRAILHEAD:

By Car: From Taipei, it should take about 1 hour with no traffic. As you’ll likely travel through Xueshan Tunnel (雪山隧道), Taiwan’s longest tunnel, with traffic, it could take anywhere from 2-3 hours on a weekend after 9am. Punch in Wufengqi Waterfall Scenic Area (五峰旗瀑布風景區) into Google Maps. Take Provincial Highway 9 to Jiaoxi. Follow signs for Wufengqi Waterfall Scenic Area (五峰旗瀑布風景區). Park at the Wufengqi Scenic Area parking lot or wherever parking is available. 

By Public Transport

• Train/Taxi: Take a train to Jiaoxi Station. From the station, flag down one of the taxis that are likely available outside Jiaoxi Train Station. This will be about NT$170 one-way, cheaper when shared. Just remember that you’ll need to get back, so grab the taxi driver’s number. 
• Train/Taiwan Tourist Shuttle: Another option is to take the convenient Taiwan Tourist Shuttle bus from the train station right to Wufengqi Scenic Area. You’ll be taking the Jiaoxi Line G11-A Bus to Wufengqi Scenic Area. It should take about 15 minutes (but check the timetable here). At the time of writing this, it is Nt$10/rider/trip).

History

The Our Lady Hiking Trail was originally established as a Catholic pilgrimage route, leading to Our Lady Villa, a spiritual retreat and relay station for hikers continuing to Sanjiaolun Mountain. Around 1979, a gentleman named Brother Barry and local volunteers were carrying materials up the mountain to build a prayer platform. A year later, they reported seeing an apparition of the Virgin Mary on Matcha Mountain. This led to the erection of a marble statue of the Virgin Mary and the later construction of the Wufengqi Marian Shrine near the peak. Today, the Marian Shrine (or ‘hut’) serves as a place for confession and thanksgiving, but also a spot where many Taiwanese ‘uncles’ and ‘aunties’ rest, have tea and share a laugh.

A viewing platform at the top of the mountain features a statue of Jesus on the cross. From here, hikers will have stunning views of the surrounding area. If you make it to the top, soak in the views of Mt. Sanjiaolun (三角崙山). You might get lucky and spot the Pacific Ocean in the distance on a clear day.

Route of Matcha Mountain

This route can be split into three sections, all offering a different hiking experience. 

Wufengqi Scenic Area Parking Lot → Catholic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Wufengqi / 五峰旗聖母朝聖地 (650m)

After arriving at Wufengqi Waterfall Scenic Area parking, you’ll find a few local vendors selling food, snacks and sometimes basic hiking gear. At the end of this area is the stone path that starts next to the trail map kiosk board. There are some winding paths that veer off to the right, which take you to the actual Wufengqi Waterfall area (note: this area is closed until September 2025 to some damage caused by a typhoon in 2024). Until that reopens, stay left and follow the signs for “Our Lady Hiking Trail,” and you will reach the Catholic Church. We definitely recommend stopping here either on the way up or down from your hike. It’s very unique and the grounds are in great shape. 

Once you reach the church, you’ll find a paved road that weaves around the back of the facility. Follow this road and enjoy the spectacular views of the church and the Langyan Plains that stretch out into the distance towards the pacific ocean. On a clear day, these views alone make it worth a trip here. But you’re not done quite yet. You’ve got a little work and a lot of reward ahead of you! Snap some pics and head on up. 

Catholic Church → Tongtian Bridge (3.6 km)

From the church, you’ll begin about a 3.5km section of the trail up a gentle slope and gravel road. This is still not the official trail but it is surrounded by secondary forests and with the occasional views that can be seen along the way. There is shade here and the hiking is pretty easy. The Tongtian Bridge is a short arched bridge over a small creek that you’ll follow up for a section of the upcoming trail. While this section is not the most natural or scenic, it is necessary as no public or private vehicles can reach here (note: some people, likely locals or staff do drive their scooters here). This is an ok spot to stop for a quick rest, with washrooms and a small gazebo. 

Tongtian Bridge → Our Lady Villa/Marian Hut and the Peak (1.6 km)

After arriving at Tongtian Bridge, you will reach the official trail of the Our Lady or Matcha Mountain Hiking Trail! There is a rest station here where you can take a break, use the toilet, or replenish calories (aka eat some chocolate – you’ve earned it!). This next section is where the work starts. It features a 1.6km continuous uphill climb. Here the elevation rises from 450 meters to 900 meters over a pretty short distance. The trail consists of mostly slippery stone steps, so slow and careful hiking is necessary to avoid slipping. Some sections of the path are narrow, requiring hikers to give way to those ascending to avoid accidents.

When you arrive near the peak, you’ll hike over a short section of stairs that offers an opportunity to look east back along the trail before descending into a clearing with a small, man-made pond and . 

Also known as the Marian Hut, this building is located near the top viewing platform and is a small sanctuary (from the windy peak) with a unique and colorful history. Dating back to 1979, the building of the hut was funded by the Italian monk, Br. Luigi Pavan, and the statue of the Virgin Mary was erected as a resting place for both climbers and pilgrims. This is a great place to find some protection from the wind and elements to have lunch or chat with friends and catch a rest.

Final Thoughts on Matcha Mountain

Matcha Mountain is a very popular hiking trail in Taiwan and can get busy on the weekends. If you can hike it during mid-week, it would be recommended. However, regardless of when you hike it, it’s worth ever step.

Make sure you allocate enough time to enjoy the peak. The weather changes quickly in the mountains of Taiwan and particularly near the coast. One minute the mountain can be covered clouds and raining and 10 minutes later it can be clear and dry.

Equipment Recommendations　

This is an out-and-back hike and round trip itinerary that can be done on the same day. It is not overly difficult, but you can still best prepare for the day. Everyone is different, but here are our suggestions: 

• Clothing: Sportswear, shorts or hiking pants depending on the weather, rain jacket or windbreakers, hiking/trekking shoes, and even running shoes are all acceptable. It is not advisable to wear flip-flops or jeans.
• Backpack: A 15-20L backpack is sufficient.
• Trekking poles: Like them, love them or hate them, they come in handy during hikes with steep descents. Matcha Mountain is just that. Particularly between the peak and Tongtian Bridge, where there are quite a few spots that can get slippery when wet. It’s also about 4km of descent. Your knees might appreciate it.
• Offline map: While there is good signage and reception throughout this trail, it’s always recommended to upload a gpx file to an offline map app. Here’s what we recommend for Taiwan. 
• Other stuff to consider: power bank (if you’re taking lots of video/photos on your phone), a headlamp (if you’re heading out for sunrise/sunset), simple personal stuff (mosquito repellent, Band-Aids, tissues etc.), and a garbage bag (so you can pack out any of your garbage and any you might find on the trail)