Taipei Grand Trail
The Taipei Grand Trail is a long-distance trail located in Taipei, Taiwan, combining hiking trails and bicycle paths. It is 130 kilometers long and has an elevation difference of nearly 1,120 meters. The entire route is divided into eight sections, of which 1–7 are green belts, and section 8 and its extensions are "blue belts". One-third of the green belt route passes through Yangmingshan National Park and includes the Tatun Volcanic Group, Qixing Mountain, the Zhuzihu Flower Sea, the Shuangxigou Historic Trail, as well as the Bishan campsite, the Baishihu Suspension Bridge, the "Jiantanshan Old Place" viewing platform, and the Maokong Tea Garden.
History
In 2017, the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Public Works Bureau of the Taipei City Government began investigating the mountain trails under its jurisdiction in order to improve the quality of leisure and recreation and build a trail tourism industry. This led to the creation of the Taipei Grand Trail, which connected mountain ridges, ancient trails, mountain paths, and urban roads. The entire network measured about 92 kilometers, divided into seven sections. It was inaugurated on 17 September 2018. In 2021, an eighth section was added, connecting the Taipei Grand Trail to the existing Riverside Park Bikeway, which had been completed in 2011. The section passes by the Jingmei, Xindian, and Tamsui rivers, and the riverside parks along the way, and includes an optional extension. This turned the multiuse trail network into a 130-kilometer loop.