Dakeng (大坑) is Taichung's own hiking ground: a hill area in Beitun District on the city's eastern edge, laced with numbered trails. Some are gentle boardwalks a family can do in an hour; others are steep log stairways that test fit hikers. You can be on a trail within a short taxi ride of the MRT, back in the city for lunch, and still have the afternoon free.
- Where Dakeng Scenic Area, Beitun District, Taichung
- Trails No. 1 to No. 11, plus side trails 3-1, 5-1 and 9-1
- Getting there Taxi from MRT Jiushe (103 Green Line) or Songzhu Station (104 Green Line, also on Taiwan Railway), or a city bus
Which trail?
Taichung City Government grades the trails as parent-child, recreational or experienced. A few to start with:
| Trail | Length | Elevation | Time | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 9 | 1.6 km | 170 to 320 m | About 1 hour | Parent-child |
| No. 10 | 1.2 km | 170 to 320 m | About 1 hour | Recreational |
| No. 5 | 1.4 km | 595 to 859 m | 1 to 2 hours | Recreational |
| No. 1 | 1.6 km | 433 to 705 m | 1 to 2 hours | Experienced |
| No. 4 | 1.9 km | 470 to 859 m | About 2 hours | Experienced |
Trails 9 and 10: the easy loop
The lower trails are the popular ones. Trail 9 has a gentle slope the city calls suitable for all ages, and Trail 10 runs through bamboo and acacia to a two-level viewing platform. The two join to make a loop, and both connect to Trail 6 at Guanyin Pavilion. The city's directions: pass the Jingbu parking lot, walk along Jingbu Road and cross the bridge to the trailhead, by Dakeng Earthquake Park, which stands on the site of two schools destroyed in the 1999 earthquake. There are toilets and parking.
Trails 1 to 5: the hard ones
Trails 1 and 4 are steep log stairways up and down; you come back the way you went. Trail 5 runs along the ridge between them. The city says trails 1 to 5 and 5-1 are not recommended for older people or anyone with high blood pressure.
Good to know: Taichung's tourism site marks Trail 10 as under renovation (in a September 2026 listing), and the Dakeng trails close after heavy rain and typhoon damage. Check the city's trail pages before you set off, and pick Trail 9 if 10 is shut.
Before you go
- Go early. The lower trails are busy, and the heat builds by late morning.
- Watch for bees, and don't light fires, as the city's trail notices ask.
- Water and grip. The log steps are slippery after rain.
- Bus or taxi. City buses serve the trailheads; check current routes on Taichung's city bus site. → Taichung buses · Taxis
→ Parks in Taichung · North Taichung · All day trips
Sources
Trail lengths, elevations, times, levels, directions, warnings and the Trail 10 renovation mark from Taichung City Government's tourism site: Trail 1, Trail 4, Trail 5, Trail 9, Trail 10 and the Trail 10 attraction page. MRT station codes from Taichung Metro's station information. Checked October 2026.