Datong Mountain Hiking Trail Introduction
Datong Mountain stands at an elevation of 237 meters and is located on the southeastern ridge extending from Dazhong Mountain, directly north of the Shanjia Station. It is known as the backyard of the Shulin area. The hiking trails of Datong Mountain consist of steps, primitive paths, and cement paths, with three main routes that converge at Qinglong Ridge. Two of the trailheads are not far from Shulin and Shanjia Stations, making it accessible by Taiwan Railways for mountaineering. The trails are lined with dense trees, undulating gently, and the observation platform at the summit offers excellent views with a panoramic sight of the Taipei and New Taipei metropolitan areas. At the summit of Datong Mountain, there is an observation platform and a pavilion where, on a clear day, you can admire the spectacular skyline of Taipei and New Taipei, along with the distant Keelung Mountain in Ruifang. You can also see high-speed trains of the Taiwan High Speed Rail zipping through the city. During sunset, resting at the observation platform allows one to enjoy the cool mountain breeze while waiting for the lights of the city to twinkle on. Datong Mountain, also known as Jiucha Mountain and Dog Hoof Mountain, is home to the Dog Hoof Mountain Site, where archaeologists have discovered numerous Neolithic pottery and stone tools, giving it its name. Midway up the mountain, you can find temples such as Nanjiao Fude Temple, Haiming Zen Temple, and Wangmu Temple for hikers to take a break, and there is also a stone slide and a cool mineral spring pool at Fude Temple worth a visit.
