Tataka Three Mountains – Mt. Linzhi, Mt. Lulin, and Mt. Lulin Front Peak
If you're seeking a hike in Taiwan that requires no permit, offers easy navigation, boasts photogenic views, and takes you along high mountain trails, the Tataka Three Mountains hike is perfect for you. Starting from the same trailhead as Yushan (Jade Mountain), the Tataka Three Mountains—comprising Mt. Linzhi, Mt. Lulin, and Mt. Lulin Front Peak (Lulin Front Mountain) — offer a fantastic combination of scenic beauty and convenience, all achievable in a single day.
This hike is an excellent extension of Alishan, providing a relaxing and flexible way to explore the stunning landscapes near the Alishan area. Whether you're an avid hiker or just looking for a serene outdoor experience, the Tataka Three Mountains hike is an ideal choice.
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Trail Information: Mt. Linzhi, Mt. Lulin, and Mt. Lulin Front Peak
Trail Name: Mt. Linzhi 麟趾山, Mt. Lulin 鹿林山, and Mt. Lulin Front Peak 鹿林前山, aka Tataka Three Mountains 塔塔加三山
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles), depending on how you hike.
Route type: Loop
Days/Hours Needed: 3-5 hours
Total Ascent/Descent: 530 m/530 m
Best Time to Go: All seasons.
Permits: Not required
Difficulty Level:
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles), depending on how you hike.
Route type: Loop
Days/Hours Needed: 3-5 hours
Total Ascent/Descent: 530 m/530 m
Best Time to Go: All seasons.
Permits: Not required
Difficulty Level:
Peaks or Places to Reach
- Mt. Lulin 鹿林山, 2,845 meters (9,334 feet) above sea level.
- Mt. Lulin Front Peak 鹿林前山, 2,862 meters (9,390 feet) above sea level. There is a Class 3 Triangulation Stone on the summit, and it's close to the Lulin Observatory 鹿林天文台.
- Mt. Linzhi 麟趾山, 2,854 meters (9,363.5 feet) above sea level.
- Lulin Lodge 鹿林山莊, 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) above sea level.
- Giant Taiwan Hemlock 塔塔加大鐵杉, 2,740 meters (8,989 feet) above sea level.
Map/GPX Data, Transportation, and Accommodations
GPX Track From My Hike
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From Your Location to Tataka Trailhead
Public Transport: from Chiayi to Alishan
No matter where you are in Taiwan, you go to Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) Chiayi Station to take Taiwan Tourist Shuttle Bus, Alishan Route.
Take Alishan Route 7329 From Taiwan High Speed Rail Chiayi Station to Alishan Transport Station 阿里山轉運站. The bus fare for one trip is NT$278.
Public Transport: from Alishan Transport Station to Upper Dongpu
Take Yuanlin Bus 6739 員林客運 6739 from Alishan Transport Station 阿里山轉運站 at 14:00. Get off at Shangdongpu Stop 上東埔站, and then walk to Dongpu Lodge.
For the latest schedule, please check Yuanlin Bus 員林客運 website for updates. According to their website, passengers must make a reservation 2 days in advance if they want to use EasyCard to pay the bus fare.
Driving to Shangdongpu Parking Lot
Click the map of Shangdongpu Parking Lot. If you drive from Shuili, Nantou, please check the traffic control before you go. The section between 110 and 145k of the Taiwan Provincial Highway 21 台21線 is closed from 17:30 to 7:00 the next day.
Accommodations
Dongpu Lodge is the only hostel near the Paiyun Mountaineering Service Center, and the altitude is high enough to acclimatize. Dongpu Lodge offers bunk beds for NT$400 per person per night. Dongpu Lodge is 2,580 meters above sea level.
Another option is to stay at Wangxiang Village before the hike. The drive from Wangxiang Village to Shangdongpu Parking Lot takes around one hour. We often stay at Xiaosong Kalibuan Village, which also provides a porter and pickup service. Wangxiang Village is 850 meters above sea level.
Mt. Linzhi, Mt. Lulin, and Mt. Lulin Front Peak Hike
Suggested itinerary: Shangdongpu Parking Lot ➔ the Giant Taiwan Hemlock ➔ Yushan Forest Road ➔ Lulin Front Peak/Lulin Observatory ➔ Return to Yushan Forest Road to Lulin Lodge ➔ Mt. Lulin Trail ➔ Mt. Lulin ➔ Mt. Linzhi Saddle ➔ Mt. Linzhi ➔ Return to Mt. Linzhi Saddle ➔ Return to the Giant Taiwan Hemlock ➔ Return to Shangdongpu Parking Lot
The trail between Mt. Lulin and Mt. Lulin Front Peak is the dirt trail, and might not be easy for new hikers.
This trail can be a loop hike, but you can decide how many peaks to hike, depending on your time. The trail is straightforward to navigate and well-maintained. You can enjoy this hike by following the footpaths and steps.
If you only have 2 hours to hike, hike from Shangdongpu Parking Lot, to the Giant Taiwan Hemlock, and take the road to Mt. Linzhi Saddle. Then, hike the footpath to Mt. Linzhi to see the amazing Yushan ridge.
Mt. Linzhi 麟趾山
There are two exits to Mt. Linzhi; one is close to the Giant Taiwan Hemlock, and the other is at Tataka Trailhead. However, the one from Tataka Trailhead is very steep. So, most visitors start the hike from the one close to the Giant Taiwan Hemlock.
After passing through the saddle, the view opens up with the Yushan Range and high mountains on the South Cross-island Highway.
Then, follow the footpath on the left, the landscape is amazing when the weather is good.
When reaching Mt. Linzhi, you will see Yushan peaks on the one side and Alishan on the other side.
Mt. Lulin 鹿林山
After completing the hike to Mt. Linzhi, you can retrace your steps back to the Mt. Lulin Saddle and continue your hike to Mt. Lulin.
While Mt. Lulin doesn't offer the panoramic views that Mt. Linzhi does, you can still enjoy some scenic vistas.
If you take Yushan Forest Road 玉山林道 to hike Mt. Lulin, you will see Lulin Lodge at the junction.
The trail between Mt. Lulin and Mt. Lulin Front Peak is a dirt path, which may be challenging for newbie hikers. An alternative option is to take the stairs down to Yushan Forest Road and then proceed to Mt. Lulin Front Peak.
Mt. Lulin Front Peak (Lulin Front Mountain) 鹿林前山
When I first hiked to Mt. Lulin Front Peak in November 2025, it looked different. Many trees at the summit had been removed, resulting in more open views.
I sat down to enjoy my breakfast, but the morning sun quickly became too hot to handle. So, I took the steps back to Yushan Forest Road and returned to the Taiwan Giant Hemlock.
See the Giant Taiwan Hemlock
The section from the Shangdongpu Parking Lot to the Giant Taiwan Hemlock might be the steepest part of this hike, but it gets easier when you turn to the Yushan Forest Road.
The Giant Taiwan Hemlock, which is around 24 meters high, is estimated to be around 900 years old. It has become a landmark in the Tataka area.
While on my way to the Shangdongpu Parking Lot, I saw clouds rising from the valley, which was a perfect way to end the hike.
About Tataka Three Mountains
During the early Japanese colonial era, there were three main routes to climb Yushan. One of these routes started from Zhaoping Station 沼平車站 in Alishan, winding through Shuishan, Shishan, and the Lulin Mountain ridge, finally reaching the Tataka saddle before ascending Yushan. Unfortunately, this long and challenging path no longer exists today.
During the mid-Japanese colonial era, the government, driven by economic interests in timber extraction and the promotion of mountaineering, erected a railway from Eryu 兒玉 (now called Zhizhong 自忠) through Lulin Mountain to Dongpu (Tataka saddle). Source.
In 1926, they also established a new trail to Yushan and constructed three mountain lodges. One of these lodges, the Lulin Lodge, emerged as a pivotal overnight stop for early climbers, significantly shortening the journey's duration and distance.
Today, the route from Lulin Mountain to Yushan is no longer popular. However, it gained some attention in 2016 when former President Ma Ying-jeou chose to stay at Lulin Lodge, paying NT$15,800 per night for a private booking, before making his ascent to Yushan Main Peak. Lulin Lodge can accommodate 22 people and is only available for government staff; it is not open to the public.
About Lulin Observatory 鹿林天文台
The Lulin Observatory, officially opened in 1999, is Taiwan's most important optical astronomy base. It is managed by the Graduate Institute of Astronomy at National Central University 中央大學天文研究所 and located on the front peak of Lulin Mountain at an elevation of 2,862 meters.
Positioned in central Taiwan, it is less affected by the northeast monsoon, southwest airflow, and typhoons, and its high-altitude location provides excellent transparency and sky conditions.
Research at the Lulin site began in 1990 with a temporary observation station on Lulin's front peak for site selection studies and astronomy education. In 1999, a 76 cm ultra-light telescope, designed and manufactured in-house, was installed and tested. In 2002, Taiwan's first telescope with a diameter exceeding one meter, the Lulin One-meter Telescope, was installed.
Lulin Observatory has made numerous groundbreaking discoveries in Taiwan's nearly century-long history of astronomical development, including the discovery of asteroids and comets and the permanent naming of asteroids. Source about Lulin Observatory.
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