Taipei’s Elephant Peak: 600 Steps, Sweaty Regret, and a Skyline That Stole My Breath

Let me just say this upfront: if you’re ever in Taipei, slightly full from night market snacks, jet-lagged but optimistic—and someone suggests, “Let’s climb Elephant Mountain!”—you should pause. Not to say no. Just… prepare your legs and your soul. Because Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan) isn’t some gentle stroll. It’s a stairway straight into the sky, carved for people who’ve made peace with glutes of steel and questionable life choices. But here’s the kicker: it’s 100% worth it. I started my ascent in the late afternoon, chasing that golden hour glow. The trail is deceptively short—just about 600 steps to the viewpoint—but it’s all vertical. My legs were protesting by step 80. By step 200, they were drafting a resignation letter. But then… around step 300, the trees parted, the air cooled slightly, and Taipei 101 poked through the skyline like a sci-fi monolith wrapped in sunset. That’s when I knew I was onto something. At the top viewpoint, breathless but victorious, I joined a crowd of photographers, couples, hikers, and one guy doing pull-ups (overachiever). The city spread out below like circuitry—alive, buzzing, glittering in the dusk. From here, Taipei looked like it was breathing. If you wait long enough—and you should—the skyline transforms. Day fades into deep blue, and one by one, lights flicker on. The city turns into a constellation, with Taipei 101 glowing like the North Star. And standing there, sweat-soaked and slightly shaky, I felt it—that unmistakable “I made it” buzz. No roller coaster or rooftop bar could match this high. So yes, the climb is steep, your knees may mutiny, and there might be mosquitoes plotting in the shadows. But trust me: Elephant Mountain gives you a front-row seat to one of the most iconic city views in Asia. And that, my fellow wanderers, is a peak worth chasing.