The mystical marriage of the mountain and the sea
If I had to say which mountain makes for my I-would-go-there-any-day hike in the north of Taiwan, I would not go for the highest, or the most challenging. It is not the closest to where I live either. I would say Teapot Mountain (茶壺山), for it is more than a steep terrain to climb, a good dose of stairs for a workout, or a pile of rocks that accidentally take the shape of a Teapot and crown the mountaintop.
After a ride of some 100 minutes from Taipei City through the countryside, with its little towns with old houses and narrow alleys, and the creeks with their bridges spanning from side to side, one arrives at Jinguashi, New Taipei. Then, a meandering trail starts. In fact, one can take one of several routes, and eventually reach the summit. But hiking Teapot Mountain is about the spectacular view, in fact, the many views one gets on the way to the top. It is about contemplating the fusion of the ocean with the mountains, and everything in between.
In short, the unparalleled charm of Teapot Mountain is better illustrated with pictures rather than with words. On a clear, bright day, this one-day hike shines like no other.
All pictures were taken with the Canon EOS M50 camera system.
