North Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area Introduction
The Beihai Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area was established on February 20, 2001, integrating three provincial scenic areas: Beihai Coast, Yehliu, and Guanyin Mountain. The management office was set up on July 22, 2002. The area includes the "Beihai Coast Region," which covers four administrative districts of New Taipei City: Sanjhih, Shimen, Jinshan, and Wanli, and the "Guanyin Mountain Region," which comprises two administrative districts: Wugu and Bali, also in New Taipei City. The district is rich in tourist resources, with the Beihai Coastal Highway featuring beautiful mountains and waters, and a deep blue sea. Numerous attractions and recreational facilities are scattered along the way, with famous scenic spots such as Baisha Bay, Linshan Cape, Fuguei Cape Park, Shimen Cave, Jinshan, Yehliu, and Emerald Bay distributed in a belt-like manner. It also boasts diverse art and cultural resources like the Li Tianlu Puppet Museum and the Ju Ming Museum. Yehliu Geopark is renowned for its Queen's Head and fairy shoes, remarkable for their lifelike shapes, as well as the single-sided mountain formed by the collision of the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Plate, astonishing visitors with nature's artistic creations. The coastal platform features an intertidal zone and is a haven for seasonal migratory birds. Guanyin Mountain is exceptionally picturesque; from the peak of Hanjian Ridge, one can overlook the winding Tamsui River as it endlessly flows into the sea, offering a panoramic view of the thriving Taipei Basin. With beautiful scenery along the way and the unique vantage point of Guanyin Mountain, six hiking trails have been specially planned. These trails include Fulong Mountain, Niugang Ridge, Hanjian Ridge, Jianshan, Fenggui Dou Lake, and Niuliao Pu Mountain Trail. Hanjian Ridge, being the highest point of Guanyin Mountain, stands at an elevation of about 616 meters, with the trail divided into a main line and a secondary line (Fenggui Dou Lake Trail). The main line begins beside Lingyun Zen Temple and leads to Hanjian Ridge; while the secondary line, which enters from behind the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center, is shorter but steeper, testing one's physical strength. Upon reaching Hanjian Ridge, the view opens up dramatically. Each trail has its own unique features and includes well-constructed wooden paths and guiding signs, enhancing the exquisite beauty of Guanyin Mountain as visitors stroll through. Watching the boats shuttle back and forth at Fisherman's Wharf and the myriad lights twinkling like a sea of stars, one realizes that Guanyin Mountain's night view is stunning as well! Reference: Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Beihai Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area Management Office.
