Iron Man Ridge Introduction
Yinghan Ridge, with an elevation of 616 meters, is the highest peak of Guanyin Mountain. It is located on the left bank of the Tamsui River, spanning three administrative districts: Wugu, Bali, and Linkou. The mountain is named for its shape, which resembles a reclining Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin Bodhisattva), and there are several ancient temples within the mountain dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. Guanyin Mountain is part of the conical volcanoes in the Datun Volcano Group, where marine moisture brought by monsoon winds transforms into clouds and mist, creating a breathtaking sight known as "the mist rising from the ridge," which is listed as one of the Eight Sceneries of the North in the Qing Dynasty. The hiking trail known as Yinghan Ridge, formerly called the Guanyin Ancient Path, derives its name from the "hard man spirit" trained here in the 1960s at the Military Police Academy. The gradient of Yinghan Ridge reaches 14.87%, making it a relatively steep second-level slope, with a single-trip distance of approximately 1,563 meters, mostly consisting of stone steps. A leisurely walk takes about 60 minutes to reach the top of the trail at Yinghan Ridge, qualifying it as a training-level trail. At the summit of Yinghan Ridge stands a paifang (archway), with an inscription on the uphill side reading "Take the hard path when walking, choose the heavy burden when carrying," and a couplet on the downhill side stating, "Here to learn to be a hard man, leaving to become a hard man," encouraging the mental and physical resilience of hikers. The first viewpoint at the mouth of the Tamsui River offers a panoramic view of the greater Taipei area. From the viewing platform atop Yinghan Ridge, you can overlook the entire Taipei panorama, with distant views 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 beautiful Eighteen Peaks surrounding Guanyin Mountain. Guanyin Mountain is also an important migratory stop for eagles and hawks, attracting many bird enthusiasts to observe these magnificent raptors.
