Iron Man Ridge Introduction
Yinghanling, with an elevation of 616 meters, is the highest peak of Guanyin Mountain. It stands majestically on the left bank of the Tamsui River, spanning across three administrative districts: Wugu, Bali, and Linkou. Its name is derived from its mountain shape, which resembles a reclining statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva, and there are several ancient temples dedicated to Guanyin within the mountain. Guanyin Mountain is a conical volcano belonging to the Datun Volcano Group, where the maritime moisture brought by the monsoon transforms into clouds and mist around the mountaintop, creating a stunning spectacle known for its "mist rising from the mountain ridge," and it is ranked as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Tamsui in the Qing Dynasty. The Yinghanling Trail, formerly known as the Guanyin Ancient Path, is named after the "hard man spirit" from the military police school that trained here in the 1960s. The trail has a steep gradient of 14.87%, making it a relatively steep secondary slope. The one-way distance is approximately 1,563 meters, mostly composed of stone steps, requiring about 60 minutes of slow walking to reach the top of Yinghanling, making it a trail for physical training. At the summit of Yinghanling stands a gateway, with the phrase "Take the difficult path when walking, choose the heavy load when shouldering," carved on the uphill side, and a couplet inscribed on the downhill side stating, "To learn the hard man spirit, to embody the hard man spirit," aimed at encouraging climbers' mental and physical resilience. The first viewing platform at the Tamsui River estuary offers a panoramic view of greater Taipei. From the viewing platform at Yinghanling, you can overlook the entire landscape of Greater Taipei, including a distant view of Bali, the confluence of the Tamsui River and the ocean, the Tamsui historical sites, the Datun Volcano Group, the Guandu Bridge, Taipei 101, the New Taipei Bridge, and the surrounding beautiful Eighteen Peaks of Guanyin Mountain, encompassing mountains, sea, rivers, and city in sight. Guanyin Mountain is also an important migratory site for eagles and falcons, attracting many bird enthusiasts to observe the magnificent raptors that come from afar.
