Emperor Shrine Hiking Trail Introduction
The Emperor Hall Hiking Trail is located in Shiding District, New Taipei City, and is part of the Xueshan Mountain range that extends northward. Its most famous feature is the ridge trail between the East Peak and the West Peak, named after the Tian Wang Temple located beneath the ridge, where "Emperor Hall" is an alternate name for the temple. The term "Emperor Hall Mountain" generally refers to the narrow rocky ridge that stretches from the East Peak to the West Peak. The ridge top is so narrow that it barely allows one person to pass at a time, with a nearly vertical cliff on one side and a slope that is parallel to the ground on the other. Hikers usually slow down while walking, and some even crawl, which has led to the term "ants passing the threshold" being used among mountaineers. In some of the more treacherous sections, there are chains, ropes, and iron railings for protection, yet the trail remains thrilling and is a highly popular hiking route. Due to the geology of the area being in its youthful phase, there are many unique landscapes such as sheer cliffs and deep ravines. Notably, the Yongding Shiba Peak juts directly towards Shiding, having a straight-line distance of 4 kilometers, making it a rare rock climbing location. The East Peak stands at an elevation of 593 meters, the West Peak at 560 meters, and Tian Wang Peak (Middle Peak) at 562 meters, which is located right in the middle of this ridge. A yellow flag with the characters "Tian Wang Temple" is planted at the summit. Although the mountains in this area are not very high, they offer excellent northern views, allowing for visibility of Shifen Mountain to the north and, on clear days, long-range views of Qixing Mountain and Huangzuishan to the northwest.
