Hiking Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail 獅頭山古道

Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail

We all need breaks from city life. When the traffic is getting you down and you feel as if you have no air left to breathe, you’ll want to escape the concrete jungle and travel up to Taiwan’s mountains. If you’re coming from Hsinchu or Miaoli, one of the easiest trails to hike is the Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail ( 獅頭山古道). Located about an hour away from the city, this is one of the best day trips from Hsinchu you can find!

Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail not only takes travelers through nature but also showcases the many Buddhist and Taoist temples built into the very rock of the mountain. With ornate caves decorated in traditional fashion and monks hiking the trails along with you, you won’t be able to see everything in just one trip.

If you’re wanting to get a bite to eat after your hike, be sure to check out the Green Grass Lake Night Market!

Getting to Lion’s Head Mountain

Lion’s Head Mountain (also known as Shitou Shan) is unique in the fact that it is located on the border between Hsinchu and Miaoli Counties. The Shitou Shan Historic Trail actually goes from one county to the other! Depending on where you are coming from, you’ll be either starting at the Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Gate in Miaoli or by the Lion’s Head Mountain Visitor Center in Hsinchu.

If you’re coming from Zhunan, you’ll want to first head over to the Zhunan Train Station. From there, take the 5805A bus to Lion’s Head Mountain (獅頭山). The price for the bus is 92 NT (2.90 USD). If you’re looking to start your journey from the visitor center, first head to the Hsinchu HSR station in Zhubei. Then take the 5700 bus to the visitor center (獅山遊客中心). The price for this ticket is 112 NT (3.60).

Want to learn more about local Hakka history? be sure to visit the Liujia Historical Residences!

Hsinchu or Miaoli?

One of the first questions you’ll want to ask yourself is what side of the border do you want to start your hike on? Bear in mind, that if you’re wanting to take the same bus, you’ll have to come back over the mountain at the end of your hike. The main congregation point at the top of the Shishan Trail is at the Wangyue Pavillion (望月亭). From here the trails sharply descend down to the two entrances at the visitors center in Hsinchu and the Historic Gate in Miaoli. The entire trail is about 5km long and takes about 2 hours to complete.

The Shishan Historic Trail starting from the Lion’s Head Mountain Visitor Center is a much more gradual climb. The trail is well-paved and will take travelers past some of the most famous Buddhist monasteries and temples. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sharing the trail with nuns and monks. The Lion’s Head Mountain Trail starting from the old gate will take hikers past the breathtaking Quanhua Temple (勸化堂). From there it is a quicker, but much steeper climb to the Wangyue Pavillion.

Take a step back in time and walk through the old Hsinchu Japanese Police Commissioners Home. Read more here!

The Peak of Lion’s Head Mountain

At the “top” of Lion’s Head Mountain, there is a small pavilion where hikers can be found catching their breath before continuing down either side of the mountain. At this small courtyard, you may find families having picnics, locals playing music, and travelers lining up to buy refreshments at the shop. Unfortunately, there are no real sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. For this, you’ll hike to hike just a few minutes in either direction.

Some of the best viewpoints from the Shishan Trail are from Jiujiu Trail (九九步道) or from the actual peak of Lion’s Head Mountain. When looking at the pavilion, Jiujiu Trail is directly in from of you while the marker for the peak of Shishan is in the opposite direction.

Want some more exercise? Hop on your bikes and ride over the Hsinchu’s Tofu Rocks!

At the Top

When hiking toward Quanhua Temple from Wangyue Pavillion you’ll find one stone trail heading steeply down the side of the mountain. To your right, there will be a dirt path that slightly inclines up higher into the forest. If you’re wanting to find the marker for the peak of Lion’s Head Mountain, take a right at the fork in the road.

Compared to the nicely paved concrete paths, this short trail will have you properly hiking in the woods. After a short 5-minute hike and some careful footing, you’ll find yourself staring at a small cylinder stone stuck in the mud. This is the actual peak of the mountain. This site is often used for photo ops more than anything else. With the sign, you too can pose for the camera at the top of Shishan. This is an in-and-out trail, meaning you’ll need to head back to Wangyue Pavillion.

One of the most unique temples in Hsinchu is Putian Gong. Read more about this temple here!

Jiujiu Trail

The Jiujiu Trail starts from the top of Shishan Trail and actually snakes its way back to the entrance on the Hsinchu side. Passing through the Wangyue Pavillion, you’ll find a narrow dirt path leading further up the mountain to your left. The sign is crude and not in English, so keep your eyes open. If you’re not wanting to descend all the way down the mountain, you can always climb to Jiujiu Trails’ highest point and turn back towards Wangyue Pavillion.

Compared to Lion’s Head Mountain Historic Trail, Jiujiu Trail is slightly more strenuous. There are even ropes provided to help yourself up more slippery paths. Even though it is more of a challenge, you’re still sure to find old aunties pushing past you for hiking too slowly. If you continue down the mountain on this hike you’ll eventually link up with the Liouliao Historic Trail (六寮古道) which also leads to the visitor center.

If you’re wanting to get some food in a historical home, be sure to check out the Lakeside Ryotei!

How to Hike Lion’s Head Mountain

Lion’s Head Mountain Historical Trail is just one of the many journeys you can take in this area. There are numerous trails that all overlap and show different sides of Taiwan’s beauty. The Shiahshan historical trail is a great way to get your feet in the water before you start to tackle some of the more challenging hikes Taiwan has to offer in places such as Xue Mountain and Yu Mountain.

Even though Shitou Mountain is not considered the most difficult hike, it is still an experience in itself. Not only will you be exploring breathtaking nature, but the religious significance of this trail alone will have you wanting to come back. With monasteries, shrines, and temples lining the trail, you’ll always be discovering something new!

Looking for all the best things to do in Hsinchu? You can find a complete list here!