Datong Mountain Trail Introduction
Datong Mountain, with an elevation of 237 meters, is a hill located on the southeastern extension of the Datong Mountain range, directly north of the Shanjia Station. It is known as the "back garden" of the forest area. The hiking trails on Datong Mountain consist of stairs, primitive paths, and cement paths, with a total of three main routes that converge at the Qinglong Ridge. Two of the trailheads are not far from Shulin Station and Shanjia Station, making it accessible by Taiwan Railways for hiking. The trails are lined with dense shade from trees and feature gentle ups and downs. The observation platform at the summit offers excellent views, allowing visitors to see the panorama of the Taipei and New Taipei metropolitan areas. At the summit of Datong Mountain, there is an observation platform and a pavilion. On clear days, visitors can enjoy the magnificent skyline of the greater Taipei area and Keelung Mountain far away in Ruifang. High-speed trains can be seen racing through the city like a long dragon. During sunset, one can relax at the observation platform, enjoying the refreshing mountain breeze while waiting for the city lights to flicker on. Datong Mountain is also known as Jiucha Mountain or Dog’s Paw Mountain; archaeologists have discovered numerous Neolithic pottery and stone tools on the mountain, leading to the naming of the Dog’s Paw Mountain archaeological site. Along the hillside, there are various temples such as Nanjiao Fude Temple, Haijing Zen Temple, and Wangmu Temple for hikers to rest. Among them, Fude Temple also features a stone slide and a cool mineral spring pool for visitors to enjoy.
