Yinghan Mountain Introduction
Yinghan Ridge, with an elevation of 616 meters, is the highest peak of Guanyin Mountain. Guanyin Mountain stands majestically on the left bank of the Tamsui River, spanning across San Chung, Bali, and Linkou administrative districts. It is named for its shape resembling the reclining figure 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. The moisture from the ocean brought by the monsoon transforms into clouds and mist on Guanyin Mountain, creating a spectacular sea of clouds, renowned for its beauty as "Clouds Spilling from the Peak," and is listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Tamsui in the Qing Dynasty. The Yinghan Ridge Trail, formerly known as the Guanyin Ancient Trail, was named after the "hardman spirit" cultivated during training at the Military Police School in the 1960s. The slope of Yinghan Ridge reaches 14.87%, classifying it as a steeper secondary slope. The one-way distance is approximately 1563 meters, mostly consisting of stone steps, and it takes about 60 minutes of slow walking to reach the summit of Yinghan Ridge, making it a trail for physical training. At the top of Yinghan Ridge stands an archway, inscribed with "Choose the Difficult Path when Walking; Choose the Heavy Burden when Carrying," on one side, and the couplet "Here to Learn to be a Hardman; Leaving to Become a Hardman" on the other, to inspire climbers' mental and physical strength. The first viewing platform at Tamsui River Estuary offers a panoramic view of Greater Taipei. From the Yinghan Ridge viewing platform, one can overlook the entire Greater Taipei area, observing elements such as Bali, the intersection of Tamsui River and the sea, the Tamsui historic site, the Datun Volcano Group, Guandu Bridge, Taipei 101, New Taipei Bridge, and the beautiful Eighteen Peaks surrounding Guanyin Mountain, all in one glance. Guanyin Mountain is also a significant migratory stop for eagles and hawks, attracting many bird enthusiasts to observe the majestic raptors that travel from afar.
