North Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area Introduction
The North Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area was established on February 20, 2001. It integrates three provincial scenic areas: the North Coast, Yehliu, and Guanyin Mountain, and the management office was set up on July 22, 2002. The area includes the "North Coast Region," which comprises four administrative districts in New Taipei City: Sanjhih, Shimen, Jinsan, and Wanli, as well as the "Guanyin Mountain Region," which covers two administrative districts: Wugu and Bali in New Taipei City. The area is rich in tourism resources, with the North Coast Scenic Highway featuring beautiful mountains and blue seas. Along the way, there are numerous attractions and recreational facilities, with famous scenic spots such as Baisha Bay, Lianshan Cape, Fugui Cape Park, Shimen Cave, Jinsan, Yehliu, and Emerald Bay distributed in a linear fashion. It also hosts a diverse range of cultural and artistic resources, such as the Li Tianlu Puppet Museum and the Ju Ming Museum. Yehliu Geopark is renowned for its iconic Queen's Head and Fairy Shoe, with their unique shapes, as well as the peculiar landforms caused by the collision of the Eurasian and Philippine plates, showcasing the wonders of nature. The coastal erosion platform features intertidal zones and serves as a paradise for migratory birds. Guanyin Mountain's majestic beauty can be appreciated from Hard Guy Ridge, where the Tamsui River meanders continuously day and night into the sea, revealing the bustling scenery of the Taipei Basin. To maximize the stunning views from the heights of Guanyin Mountain, six hiking trails have been specially planned: Fulong Mountain, Niugang Ridge, Hard Guy Ridge, Jianshan, Fenggui Dou Lake, and Niuliao Pu Hiking Trail. Among them, Hard Guy Ridge is the highest point of Guanyin Mountain, with an elevation of about 616 meters. The main trail enters beside Lingyun Zen Temple to reach Hard Guy Ridge; the secondary trail (Fenggui Dou Lake Trail) enters from behind the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center and, although shorter, has a steeper gradient, testing your physical fitness. Once you reach Hard Guy Ridge, the view opens up dramatically. Each trail has its unique features and is equipped with complete wooden boardwalks and guiding markers, aiming to highlight the delicate charm of Guanyin Mountain's scenery as visitors explore at their leisure. Watching the boats shuttle back and forth at Fisherman's Wharf and the countless lights intertwining to form a sea of lights, one realizes that the nights at Guanyin Mountain can be equally beautiful! Reference: Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, North Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area Administration.
