Free tour in English - Hidden Hiking Trail near Downtown Taipei

Duration: 3h and 30min
Languages: English, Spanish
Guru: Shih-Heng
Registered on May 09, 2018

Hey there!:) I am Shih-Heng from Taipei...an enthusiastic road cyclist, an amateur violinist, a data analyst during the week, and of course, your English/Spanish/Chinese tour guide in Taipei! I started to work as a part-time tour guide outside of regular office hours (as a SQL/Python geek) since 2017, right after studying in Spain/Denmark/Slovenia for my master's degree and joining free walking tours myself in 20 European countries. Unlike most tour guides you meet in other touristy cities/countries, I am not making a living by offering these tours (don't get me wrong, I am still a licensed tour guide) - so why am I here anyway? Well, it is because I see walking tours as nice opportunities to share my knowledge about Taiwanese history/nature/culture with you, and get to know more about your own culture:D I have a great interest in languages, since I not only speak native Chinese (Mandarin) as well as Taiwanese but also English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and a bit of German and Catalan. I am also quite familiar with the cultures in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, so if you happen to be from these regions, I am pretty sure that you will understand the Taiwanese culture more easily from the stories I prepare for you on my tours. So far, I have shown 2,000+ international travelers from 30+ countries around Taipei City, and I look forward to seeing you as well! Are you a foodie, nature lover, or culture explorer? If so, I am exactly your ideal mate to accompany you in getting to know Taipei and Taiwan better! Book a tour with me or send me a private message to personalize your itinerary (especially if you are passionate about hiking, cycling, and food)!

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

🚩Who is recommended to book this tour?

  • Nature lovers who would like to go slow hiking and see panoramic views of the city
  • People who have traveled to Taiwan and are now eager to explore the less touristy places that are not well known among international travelers


Thinking of hiking in Taipei but don't want to exhaust yourself? Well, here is the best itinerary for you! 😎

Although normally associated with the image of a modern city, Taipei is surprisingly home to more than 100 hiking trails. On this tour I am going to take you to one of the steepest paths in the neighborhood called Neihu as well as the biggest temple here. In addition to enjoying the panoramic view of Taipei and getting closer to the amazing nature, being a citizen has been living in this neighborhood for more than 20 years, I will also share some historical and religious stories that only locals know here. At the end of our tour, you will have the opportunity to buy some local agricultural products. We are also going to try the typical Taiwanese tofu pudding (douhua)!

🌳This tour includes the following stops:

  • We take advantage of nature in the park along the Dagouxi River
  • Yuanjue Waterfall, perhaps the most accessible waterfall in Taipei
  • Yuanjue Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Neihu
  • Bishan Temple, a Taoist temple that is the largest temple in that neighborhood
  • Baishihu Suspension Bridge
  • Snack time at a tofu pudding shop
  • We will take the local bus to return to Neihu subway station


Insider Tips:

  • Although this is NOT a super challenging hike, for people rarely exercise or never do hiking, please reconsider your physical condition before making the reservation 
  • Wear suitable walking shoes; sneakers/trainers will be just fine!
  •  Bring your EasyCard or coins to take local bus, a single trip costs TW$15
  • While offering walking tours is just my hobby (and yes I am one of the few licensed Spanish tour guides in Taiwan), your tips will be highly appreciated!:) There is no fixed amount regarding how much the travelers should tip, but as helpful information, the minimum hourly rate according to the Taiwanese law is 6 USD/hour or TW$ 180/hour


🌊Besides:

  • If the weather is bad and it is not so safe to go hiking, I am going to recommend some tourist sites where you can explore on your own. For me, the safety of travelers is always above all things!:)

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Dahu Pk, Neihu District, Taipei City,...
    Dahu Pk, Neihu District, Taipei City, Taiwan 114
    View on map

    Outside exit 1 of Dahu Park Station (Brown Line) you can find me wearing camouflage hat and sign showing "GuruWalk"

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Dagouxi Waterfront Park
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Cataratas Yuanjue

    Perhaps the most accessible waterfall in Taipei City! This is where the locals in Neihu always come to appreciate the nature and learn about the geology of Taipei

  • 3
    Free admission
    Yuanjue Temple
  • 4
    Free admission
    Bishanyan Kaizhang Shengwang Temple

    This temple might not be as famous and busy as Longshan Temple in the city center, but this is exactly why we are exploring the spot. Being a gigantic temple sitting on a slope in Taipei's suburbs, it provides a breathtaking panoramic view just as the well-known Elephant Mountain does. Come visit, and you will be "wowed"!

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Baishihu Suspension Bridge
  • 6
    Free admission
    Mingguwu Bakery

    After the short walk, we will enjoy some local tea and snacks here to refresh ourselves a bit before heading back to the metro station.

  • 7
    Outside visit
    MRT Neihu Station

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

46 ratings
5.0
By category
Professionalism
4.98
Fun
4.98
Expression
4.98
Quality
5.0
Route
4.86
Generic
5 stars
46
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Bingming 23 Sep 2023
Singapore

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Aug 2023
I had a great time on Shih Heng's tour, it was fun and informative and not too challenging, although the heat proved to be a bit of an issue for one of our companions as he was not used to it. The tour provided a number of scenic views and great photo opportunities and culminated in quite a breath taking view, before finishing at a local tea place with great tea and bites to eat.
Rotem 20 Sep 2023
Taipei

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Sep 2023
A great experience! I highly recommend! Shih-Heng was very professional and interesting and I learned so many new things about Taiwanese society, history and religion. The itinerary was perfect, it was very nice to go off the trodden path and discover new and beautiful areas just at the outskirts of Taipei. A must visit for nature and culture lovers.
Rahel 18 Sep 2023
Kassel

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Sep 2023
Die Tour war super. Es gab im Vorfeld eine detaillierte Beschreibung wie wir den Startpunkt finden. Während der Tour gab es viele Erklärungen zu Taiwan, Land, Leute, Religion und wir konnten selbst viele Fragen stellen. Es war alles in allem eine tolle Zeit 👍. Wer kann, sollte diese Tour unbedingt mitmachen.
Sam 11 Sep 2023
Miami

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Sep 2023
Fantastic experience with Shih-heng. It was a great hike with not only nature sites but several cultural landmarks. Definitely one of the best things I've done in Taipei. Shih-heng was very knowledgeable and a great guide.
Martin 27 Aug 2023
Taipei

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Aug 2023
Shih-Heng is a great local guide who can answer you all questions regarding Taiwanese history, culture, landscape and outdoor activities. Before the tour, I was unsecure regarding how to hike the tall mountains in Taiwan. As he has seen lots of things in Taiwan and arround the world, he could totally help my with my route planning. Thanks, Shih-Heng!
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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