FREE, Taipei Grand Trail. From Shilin to Neihu Amazing Mountain Hiking.

A free, English-guided afternoon on the Taipei Grand Trail. We start at Jiantan in Shilin and end up on Jinmianshan, a Neihu favorite with locals, where the last stretch has you hauling yourself up on ropes. Your legs work hard, and so do your arms.

The route, leg by leg

• Meet at MRT Jiantan Station (R15), then off we go

• To the Jiantan mountain entrance (about 30 min)

• Up to the observation deck (about 1 hr)

• Picnic break (about 30 min), so pack something good

• On to Jinmianshan (about 3.5 hr). This is the rope section and the highlight of the day.

The peak is only 258 m, but don't let that fool you. With 10 km of up and down plus the rope climbs, this hike is rated medium to hard. If you hike now and then and don't mind using your hands, you'll be fine.

Pack list

• A jacket

• Plenty of food: lunch for the picnic plus snacks for the climb

The hike is free and comes with an English-speaking guide.

Where and when

We meet outside Exit 2 of MRT Jiantan Station on the Red Line.

If you're in, RSVP as going. Then bring your jacket and your lunch, and get ready to grab a rope.