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 established on July 22, 2002. The area includes the "North Coast region," which comprises four administrative districts: Sanzi, Shimen, Jinshan, and Wanli in New Taipei City, and the "Guanyin Mountain region," which includes two administrative districts: Wugu and Bali in New Taipei City. The area is rich in tourism resources, with the North Coast Coastal Highway showcasing stunning landscapes of mountains and water, alongside diverse scenic spots and recreational facilities. Notable attractions such as Baisha Bay, Linshanbi, Fuguei Cape Park, Shimen Cave, Jinshan, Yehliu, and Emerald Bay are distributed along the coastline, in addition to rich and diverse cultural and artistic resources like the Li Tianlu Puppet Museum and the Ju Ming Museum. Yehliu Geopark is famous worldwide for its Queen's Head and Fairy Shoes, whose exquisite shapes, along with the unique topography formed by the collision of the Eurasian Plate and the Philippine Plate, leave visitors in awe of nature's wonders. The wave-cut platforms also serve as a paradise for intertidal zones and seasonal migratory birds. Guanyin Mountain's stunning beauty can be appreciated from the Hard Man Ridge, where the meandering Tamsui River endlessly flows into the sea, providing a magnificent view of the bustling Taipei Basin. To make the most of the picturesque landscape and the advantageous high vantage points of Guanyin Mountain, six hiking trails have been specially planned, which can be categorized into Fulong Mountain, Niugang Ridge, Hard Man Ridge, Jianshan, Fenggui Dou Lake, and Niuliao Pu hiking trails. Among them, the Hard Man Ridge is the highest point of Guanyin Mountain, with an elevation of approximately 616 meters. The main trail and the secondary trail (Fenggui Dou Lake Trail) serve as routes to reach the summit. The main trail enters from beside Lingyun Zen Temple, leading directly to Hard Man Ridge; the secondary trail, accessed from behind the Guanyin Mountain Visitor Center, offers a shorter route but features a steeper incline, which tests your physical strength. Once at the summit of Hard Man Ridge, the view opens up dramatically. Each trail has its unique characteristics, with well-constructed wooden paths and signage to enhance the experience of visitors strolling through the beautiful scenery of Guanyin Mountain. Watching the boats shuttling back and forth at Fisherman's Wharf and the twinkling lights of countless homes merging into a sea of lights, one realizes that the nights at Guanyin Mountain can be just as beautiful! Data reference: Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, North Coast and Guanyin Mountain National Scenic Area Management Office.
