Hiking Teapot Mountain: My Experience & Tips for this Amazing Hike in 2025

Hiking Teapot Mountain Taiwan ended up being one of my favorite things I did around Taipei, way better than I expected. In case you haven’t heard of it, Teapot Mountain is a “mountain” near Jiufen (the popular day trip spot from Taipei). It gets its name from the rock formation at the top that supposedly looks like a teapot.

The hike itself is super fun, with amazing views over the northern Taiwan coastline, the ocean, and all the little villages below.

In this quick guide, I’ll share my personal experience hiking Teapot Mountain and give you some straightforward tips and tricks so you know exactly what to expect.

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Hiking Teapot Mountain: My Experience & Tips for this Amazing Hike in 2025 — This is the Teapot!

The Teapot Mountain Trail – My Experience

I always like to start my guides with my personal experience. I think it gives you a way better idea of what things are really like, instead of just listing dry step-by-step instructions.

When I did the Teapot Mountain hike, I was staying in Jiufen. I set my alarm for 6am and was out the door by 6:30am. The trailhead is in the next town over, about a 40-minute walk from Jiufen Old Street. I just followed Google Maps, which worked perfectly, it even sent me through a bunch of little shortcuts and alleyways but straight to the trailhead.

I got to the trailhead around 7:10am and from there it took me about 50 minutes to reach the top. The reason it’s so quick? Stairs. So many stairs. I was joking the whole time that it felt like a real-life Taiwanese StairMaster. Nearly an hour of straight stairs, and no one warned me about it!

At the top, there’s a big rock formation that looks (kind of) like a teapot. I climbed around inside for a bit, enjoyed the incredible views over the ocean and mountains, then started my way back down. I was back at the trailhead by 9am, and by 10am I was already back in Jiufen, way before checkout of my hotel.

I’m definitely not in peak shape, but I found the hike pretty easy overall. If you’re not super fit or just want to take it slow, no problem, there’s no need to rush it like I did. I was also really glad I started early because it got hot fast once the sun was up.

If you’re in Jiufen and want something different to do, this hike is 100% worth it.

What to Bring for the Teapot Mountain Trail

Sunscreen. Taiwan gets hot and super sunny. When I did the hike, it was clear blue skies and scorching by mid-morning, so I was very happy I had sunscreen with me.
A hat. Crucial. There’s almost no shade on this trail, so a hat makes a big difference.
Solid shoes. I did it in regular trainers (tennis shoes), and it was totally fine. The trail is mostly paved stairs, with just a short section of gravelly steps at the top. You definitely don’t need full-on hiking boots.
Water. Bring plenty. It gets hot fast, and there’s nowhere to refill along the trail. There is a FamilyMart behind the Gold Museum where you can stock up before you start.
Phone or camera. The views at the top are insane — you’ll want photos.
Cash or your EasyCard. In case you want to take the bus back to Jiufen (like I did).

Overall, don’t overpack. The hike is short, and a heavy backpack will just make it more annoying. As long as you have water and sun protection, you’ll be totally fine.

The Best Time to Hike Teapot Mountain Taiwan

For the time of year, I recommend visiting Taiwan in general during spring or fall. Summers here get insanely hot. I was there in May, and honestly, it already felt borderline uncomfortable just walking around outside. So I’d aim for March, April, September, or October when the weather is still sunny but way more manageable. Those months are also the best time to hike Teapot Mountain for exactly the same reason.

As for the time of day, the earlier the better. I left my hotel at 6:30am, and it was already starting to warm up. The sun was up, but it wasn’t brutal yet. I’d say go as early as you can (once there’s daylight) and you’ll avoid the worst of the heat and also beat the crowds.

How to Get to the Teapot Mountain Trail Head (Beginning of the Hike)

TEAPOT MOUNTAIN TRAILHEAD GOOGLE LOCATION – CLICK HERE

I’m not really the type to have a detailed plan for every little step, so when I started my hike from my hotel in Jiufen Old Street, I just plugged “Teapot Mountain trailhead” into Google Maps and went for it.

It took me about 40 minutes to walk there. The route led me through some woods, past a cemetery, and then up the winding main road to the next village, all the way to the Gold Museum (one of Jiufen’s main sights).

From there, I followed the road toward the museum but kept walking past it toward the FamilyMart at the end of the street. After that, I went past the Gold Mine Crystal Cafeteria, down a few steps, and onto a little path that heads into the woods, over a stream and a small bridge, and back out on the other side. From there, it was a straightforward walk to the trailhead.

I highly recommend doing exactly what I did: just put the trailhead into Google Maps and follow it. It worked perfectly and actually took me on a really cool, scenic route through small paths and quiet areas. Honestly, that walk alone was already part of the fun for me.

How to get to Teapot Mountain From Taipei:

I did the Teapot Mountain hike as part of my visit to Jiufen, which is what I’d recommend. (I also have guides on how to get to Jiufen and where to stay, definitely check those out.)

Getting there is super easy. Just take the MRT in Taipei to Songshan Station, then hop on bus 1062. This bus stops at Jiufen Old Street as well as the Gold Museum, which is where you can start your hike to Teapot Mountain. The whole journey should only take about 1 hour.

Is Hiking Teapot Mountain Difficult? My Honest Take

Honestly, not really. I guess it depends on your fitness level, but from my experience, it wasn’t hard at all. I don’t work out or anything, but I’ve done a few hikes before, and this one felt pretty manageable. At the end of the day, it’s basically just a lot of stairs.

If you’ve got knee issues, you might struggle a bit, otherwise, you’ll be fine. You can take a bus or taxi to and from the trailhead, and there are a few pagodas along the way where you can stop and rest in the shade.

My main tip: start early. The heat gets intense once the sun’s out, and that’s probably the biggest challenge. Other than that, just pace yourself and enjoy it. For me, it was one of the best experiences I had in Taiwan and the views were just amazing.

Combining Teapot Mountain with Jiufen

I really recommend doing the Teapot Mountain hike as part of your visit to Jiufen, instead of trying to squeeze it into a day trip from Taipei. Jiufen and Teapot Mountain are right next to each other, so it would be silly not to combine them.

What I did (and what I think is the best way) was skip the typical day trip tour to Jiufen and take public transport to Jiufen Old Street on my own. The bus 1062 from Songshan Station in Taipei goes straight to Jiufen Old Street in about an hour.

On my first day, I explored Jiufen, wandered around the cute little mountain town, checked out the teahouses, enjoyed the views, and saw all the red lanterns light up at night. The next morning, I got up super early and did the Teapot Mountain hike. I was back at my hotel by 10:30am, way before checkout.

You can also ask your hotel for a late checkout or just leave your bags there if you want to take a shower after the hike.

This way, I only spent one night in Jiufen but still got to fully explore the town on day one and hike Teapot Mountain on day two. It worked out perfectly for me.

If you scroll down, I’ve linked a few more Jiufen guides, including my “where to stay in Jiufen” guide, in case you’re thinking about spending the night like I did.

FAQs About Hiking The Teapot Mountain Trail

Is Teapot Mountain closed / Is Teapot Mountain open ?

Apparently, the very top, the rock formation you can climb inside, is technically supposed to be closed. But when I went, there were no signs or barriers, so I climbed up anyway.

How to get to Teapot Mountain from Jiufen Old Street?

You can either take one of the tourist buses that run between Jiufen and the Gold Museum, or just walk (which is what I did). I recommend walking if you’re up for it, it’s part of the adventure.

Is hiking Teapot Mountain hard?

I don’t think so. It’s not exactly a casual stroll, it’s about an hour of stairs, but it’s totally manageable, even if you’re not in top hiking shape.

Is hiking Teapot Mountain worth it?

100%. So much of Taiwan is about exploring cities, so I loved getting out in nature for a change. This hike was a highlight of my trip.

Final Thoughts on the Teapot Mountain Hike

I absolutely loved hiking Teapot Mountain and it ended up being one of my favorite activities in Taiwan. I didn’t get to explore Taiwan’s east coast (which is known for its nature), so being on the west coast, I mostly saw cities. That’s why every bit of hiking and nature felt extra special to me, and this trail stood out.

The hike itself is pretty easy, but the views you get at the top are amazing. It’s one of those great effort-to-reward ratio hikes, and you walk away with a real sense of accomplishment. I’d totally recommend it to anyone visiting Jiufen or looking for a quick escape from the city.