Visit Shamau Mountain Trail and Yangming Lake

Shamau Mountain is located on the southwestern side of Yangmingshan National Park, with an elevation of 643 meters. Its bell-shaped, rounded peak resembles the traditional black hat worn by ancient officials, hence the name "Shamau Mountain." The Shamau Mountain Trail stretches 2.2 kilometers from the southern Dapu Trailhead to the northern Yangming Lake Trailhead. Thanks to the shielding effect of Qixing Mountain, the trail is less affected by the northeast monsoon, resulting in dense greenery along the path, with only a few patches of silvergrass and arrow bamboo near the summit. The trail is rich in biodiversity, with mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and butterflies frequently spotted. Additionally, historical relics from the Qing Dynasty and Japanese colonial period, such as the Chen-He Boundary Stone and the Chen Xia-Lin Grandmother's Cemetery, add cultural significance to the trail. Near the Yangming Lake Trailhead, there are free hot spring baths, offering a relaxing treat after a hike. Image 16: The Chen-He Boundary Stone on Shamau Mountain served as a land marker for early settlers. Scholars believe it was set up by the Chen and He families to delineate their land boundaries. Image 17: The cemetery of Qing Dynasty scholar Chen Xia-Lin's grandmother and her maid is particularly notable for the "Tomb of the Loyal Maid Zhou" beside Chen's grandmother's grave. There were rumors that this was a live burial site, even documented in the 1954 publication "Taiwan Scenery Magazine." Since it is a cemetery, I chose not to venture further for photos.