Lion's Head Mountain Hiking Trail Introduction
The Xindian area has two Shitoushan (Lion Head Mountain). One is located in the mountainous area at the source of the Hwangku Creek at the border between Xindian and Sanxia, known as Shizaitou Mountain, which is a first-class triangulation point in the southern part of Greater Taipei. The other Shitoushan is situated next to Bitan, referred to as Xiaoshishan (Little Lion Mountain). Xiaoshishan and Shizhiyan in Shilin are among the few protected mountainous areas since the Qing Dynasty and the Japanese occupation period, allowing the tall trees to be seen everywhere, and it retains the characteristics and tranquility of a primeval forest. There is also a towering Banyan fig with impressive aerial roots nearby, which is astonishing in its beauty; the plant apartment on the Philippine fig is covered with various epiphytic or climbing plants, resembling a large natural painting. Along the path beside the Plum Blossom Lion Pavilion on the left, there is a special sight of tree roots embracing rocks. Shitoushan lies between the Bitan Fault and the Xindian Fault, in the Nangang Formation, where the strata are steeply inclined or overturned. Walking on the Shitoushan trail, one can observe the frequently appearing towering thick sandstone and giant boulders covered with moss along the way. Shitoushan is made up of a series of five undulating mountains, among which three peaks are connected by ridges, with each peak equipped with a pavilion for visitors to rest.
