Hiking Tukuyue (土庫岳)

Interested in hiking Tukuyue? Below you’ll find a how to guide on how to get the most out of this urban hike in New Taipei City.

Hiking in Taiwan is a remarkable experience and Taiwan’s Xiao Bai Yue (小百岳) is a great place to start. Taiwan’s Xiao Bai Yue is a perfect list of 100 suburban mountain peaks suitable for hikers of all skill levels.

The Xiao Bai Yue is 100 mountain climbs oriented towards sub-urban destinations and routes suitable for novice hikers. These include beginner routes like Dawulun Mountain, novice routes like Dongyanshan National Forest and some that are more challenging, like Jialishan.

Tukuyue (土庫岳) is listed at #014 of the Xiao Bai Yue (小百岳). Located in Shengken District (深坑區) in New Taipei City (新北市), Tukuyue is about a 30 minute drive or 1 hour on public transit from Taipei Main Station.

About Tukuyue (土庫岳)

The Gengliao Historic Trail (更寮古道) actually takes hikers up to Tukuyue peak. This historic trail has mostly been refurbished with stone and crushed stone pathways. It is well maintained and is one of the most complete and frequented of the five ancient trails that were built and lead to Shenkeng and Shiding in Nangang. The trail itself is at least 100 years old and features a number of old ruins of ancient houses. 

Hiking Tukuyue (土庫岳)

Access the trail head directly to the right side of the 萬景茶莊 restaurant. You’ll see the trailhead signage with information about the trail. This part of the Genliao Historic Trail (更寮古道) has been paved with granite and stone steps and is a relatively narrow path that quickly becomes covered and shaded in a nice forest.

A mix of steps and path continue to climb the edge of the mountain, frequently popping hikers out into the open with nice views off to the right. While hiking Tukuyue, you’ll ascend some steps up to a small roadway. Turn right and continue walking for a minute or so, before you see the stone steps continue through a fence on your left.

The stairs continue and the trail opens up for a little bit so be sure to wear sunscreen or hat if you need it. The trail continues climbing and traverses into a bamboo forest. You’ll reach a trail junction shortly after the bamboo section and you go left up the stairs. While hiking Tukuyue, you’ll notice the trail is well-signed and be sure to follow them to stay on course.

Once the trail levels off after a few hundred meters, the trail surface changes to crushed stone for a little bit. It is still very well maintained. As you approach a paved clearing you’ll see a wall designed with the Chinese characters for the Gengliao Historic Trail. Take a hairpin turn to the left up the interlocking stone path. Meander this path up for less than 100m and you will see a trail junction This is your 2nd trail junction. Take the right.

Watch out for the “Y” Junction!

The trail transitions in and out of crushed stone and stone pathways with stairs for another several hundred meters. You’ll next approach a “Y” junction that you must go right at. From here you have a short ascent up more stone steps to get to a cleaning with a gazebo, some benches and the triangulation point and stone monument of the peak of Tukuyue. The views are pretty great up at the peak with almost 360 degree views of the area.

On your way back down you can either return the same way you came up or at the first “Y” junction go right and circle back towards the 2nd trail junction. From here you continue the same path down to the trailhead.

What to Bring

When hiking in Taiwan consider your capabilities before heading out. We hope this helps provide insight into the level of difficulty. When it comes to the kinds of equipment or resources one should bring when hiking this trail in Taiwan, we’ve provided a list below:

• Water – About 1 to 2L of fresh drinking water
• Food/Lunch – There are no services along this trail, so get supplies before you arrive
• Sunscreen – The trail is a steady mix of shaded and unshaded. Bring a hat or sunscreen if you wish
• Camera/Phone – Reception is good on this trail

How to Get to Tukuyue (土庫岳)

Driving to Tukuyue (土庫岳): If you are driving, you can set this as your location – HERE. There is no designated parking lot, but parking is available along the roadway in both directions. The road is in good shape not too narrow. Tukuyue is approximately 25 minutes from Taipei Main Station.

Public transport: Taking public transportation to Tukuyue take about 40-50 minutes from Taipei Main Station. Take the High Seed Train to Nangang Station and walk to Nangang District Administrative Center. Take the 306 bus 11 stops to Jiuzhuang and walk the final 10-15 minutes. Here is the transit plan.