Lion’s Head Mt.
A mountain of culture that inspires the soul
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A charming site interwoven with Hakka, Saisiyat, Atayal and Buddhist culture
Spanning Hsinchu and Miaoli, Lion's Head Mountain features a diverse culture that makes it a unique and culturally rich landscape. Tourists can savor Hakka cuisine on Beipu Old Street, experience traditional Saisiyat culture at the Xiangtian Lake, visit numerous century-old temples along the Lion's Head Mountain Historic Trail, or stroll along Emei Lake while observing the waterfront wildlife. The most beautiful season in the Lion's Head Mountain is between April and May. Snow-white tung flowers will be in full bloom like snow, and fireflies will light up the dark forest during the night. This is a seasonal beauty that should not be missed.
- The charm of Hakka village
- Indigenous tribal culture
- Pilgrimage to the Buddhist holy sites
- Tung blossom trail
Regional features
- Each year, visitors can enjoy the scenery of snow-white tung flowers from April to May during the day and fireflies at night all at once!
- The must-eat Hakka cuisine includes Hakka stir-fry, Lei Cha, and rice noodles, along with seasonal delicacies like dried persimmons and Sanwan pears.
- Internationally certified! Slow down and explore the unique charm of the slow city Nanzhuang.
- While strolling along the circular Emei Lake Trail, you may be lucky enough to spot one of the many beautiful waterbirds that call this place home, including charming species like the little egret (Ardea alba), black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)!
- PaSta'ay (known as “Pas-ta'ai” in Saisiyat), commonly known as the Saisiyat Ritual of the Short Black People, is a rarely seen bi-annual event that holds immense value as a precious tribal culture of the Saisiyat people.
The must-visit scenic spots of Lion’s Head Mountain
Nanzhuang Old StreetWalk into the Osmanthus Alley to savor authentic Hakka delicacies, and explore the charm of historic buildings, such as the old Nanzhuang post office, Nanzhuang Theater, and Sake (literally refers to the stone stairs).
Emei LakeVisit the Great Maitreya Buddha Statue, Ximaopu Suspension Bridge and other scenic spots along the circular lake trail, which is also a great place for observing waterbirds.
Lion's Head Mountain Historic TrailThe natural ecology and solemn temples along the trail make it a great destination for hiking, immersing yourself in the lush greenery, worshiping Buddha, and enjoying the scenery. The best time to visit the trail is between April and May when the tung trees are in bloom.
Fairy ValleyBy standing on the suspension bridge, you can simultaneously take in the unobstructed view of the naturally formed canyon terrain and magnificent waterfall scenery.
Xiangtian LakeNestled amidst the mountains, Xiangtian Lake offers breathtaking panoramas of the lake and the surrounding peaks, as well as the traditional culture of the Saisiyat people, providing visitors with the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature and culture.
Explore more scenic spots ➞
Local delicacies that must not be missed
Hakka Lei Cha
Known as the most characteristic traditional beverage of the Hakka people, Lei Cha, also known as Hakka ground tea, is made from green tea, black sesame seeds, white sesame seeds, and peanuts mixed and ground together in a mortar. After pouring in hot water, the mixture releases a nice smell and provides a smooth and rich mouthfeel. It is also considered a healthful beverage.
Hakka cuisine
“Si Wen Si Chao” (literally refers to “four braised and four stir-fried dishes”), which includes braised pork belly with pickled vegetables and Hakka stir-fry, are typical Hakka dishes that exemplify the concepts of saltiness, fragrance, and richness in Hakka cuisine. Hakka people's wide array of rice-based dishes are also typical delights that should not be missed.
Oriental beauty
Also known as white-tip oolong and champagne oolong, Oriental Beauty tea is produced from leaves that have been bitten by tea jassids and undergo a process involving roasting, fermentation, and the removal of tea bitterness. The tea soup has an amber color and a sweet, fresh taste with natural fruit and honey notes.
Delve deeper into Lion's Head Mountain
Natural ecology
The Lion’s Head Mountain Scenic Area is predominantly situated in the buffer zone where hills transition into mountains, featuring rich mid to low-altitude ecosystems. When you walk into the Lion’s Head Mountain, you will have the opportunity to see a number of species endemic to Taiwan, such as the Taiwan whistling thrush (Myophonus insularis), Taiwan blue magpie (Urocissa caerulea), Taiwan horse mouth (Candidia barbata), and Taiwan Torrent Carp (Acrossocheilus paradoxus). Moreover, within Lion's Head Mountain, you can also behold the allure of fragrant white garland-lilies (Hedychium coronarium) that bloom between May and November, as well as the Formosa palms (Arenga engleri), which play a significant role in the Saisiyat ritual.
Candidia barbatus Regan
Myiophoneus Insularis
Acrossocheilus paradoxus
Lychnuns praetexta
Spilornis cheela
Taiwan Blue Magpie
Ginger Lily
Formosan Sugar Palm
Cultural Charm
Hakka culture
Beipu, Emei, and Nanzhuang are brimming with the charm of Hakka villages. In addition to savoring local delicacies and exploring brick houses hidden in the alleys, you can also admire the beauty of tung flowers in May and June, experience the Hakka Yimin Festival in July and August, or witness the process of making dried persimmons between September and November – all of which are characteristic activities that should not be missed.
Saisiyat culture
The Saisiyat ethnic group is distributed in Hsinchu and Miaoli. The interwoven geometric patterns in red, black, and white are the most prominent features of traditional Saisiyat attire. The biannual paSta'ay ritual is the grandest and most mysterious ritual of Saisiyat people, and is one of the indigenous rituals that have been well-preserved.
Atayal culture
The Atayal ethnic group is distributed in mountainous areas in central and northern Taiwan. Atayal people are skilled in hemp weaving and textile craftsmanship. The diamond-shaped pattern is a common motif in Atayal clothing because it symbolizes the eye of their ancestors, carrying a sense of reverence. Traditional Atayal clothing is primarily made of hemp fabric and is often adorned with shell beads, especially on the chest and back. The garment woven with shell beads is called “lukkus-kaxa”, meaning “the shell-bead clothes”.
Transportation
Public transportation
Taiwan Railway
Take a ride to Hsinchu, Zhunan, or designated stations. Then transfer to other transportation options to reach your destination.
Taiwan High Speed Rail
Take a ride to Hsinchu Station. Then transfer to other transportation options to reach your destination.
Intercity Buses
Both Hsinchu Bus and Miaoli Bus have routes to reach scenic spots within the Lion’s Head Mountain Scenic Area.
Taiwan Tourist Shuttle service
Shuttling between hot scenic spots and the main transfer station will facilitate your journey to Lion’s Head Mountain!
Taiwan Tour Bus
Register for a Taiwan Tour Bus itinerary to discover the beauty of Lion’s Head Mountain with professional tour guides through an in-depth exploration.
Self-drive travel
Departing from Northern Taiwan
- To Zhudong, Beipu
Take exit at Zhulin Interchange on National Freeway 3 → County Highway 123 → County Highway 122 towards Zhudong → Provincial Highway 3 towards Beipu - To Emei
Take exit at Baoshan Interchange on National Freeway 3 → Rural Hwy Chu 43 → Rural Hwy Chu 43-1 → Provincial Highway 3 towards Emei - To Nanzhuang, Sanwan
Take exit at Toufen Interchange on National Freeway 1 → County Highway 124 towards Sanwan and Nanzhuang
- To Zhudong, Beipu
Departing from Central and Southern Taiwan
- To Nanzhuang, Sanwan, Emei, Beipu
Take exit at Toufen Interchange on National Freeway 1 → County Highway 124 towards Sanwan and Nanzhuang → Turn to Qinmin Road at 11K, and Provincial Highway 3 towards Emei and Beipu - To Zhudong
Take exit at Zhulin Interchange on National Freeway 3 → County Highway 123 → County Highway 122 towards Zhudong → Provincial Highway 3 towards Beipu
- To Nanzhuang, Sanwan, Emei, Beipu
Departing from Eastern Taiwan
- Travel southward via National Freeway 5 after reaching northern Taiwan; or travel northward via the South Link Highway or Southern Cross-Island Highway after reaching central and southern Taiwan.
