ngl those carvings are prob just modern art installations from a few years back. there was a local artist collective that did a thing on Jiuwushan around 2018 or so, called "Mountain Whispers" or something like that. they put up a bunch of stone pieces along the less used trails, meant to look ancient. most people dont know cuz the city never really promoted it. i think one of them has a little plaque at the base, but it's usually covered in dirt. check near the big boulder at the fork around 2/3 of the way up, that one def has a date etched on it

arrow_drop_up 11 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly the most likely answer is theyre grave markers. jiuwushan has a bunch of unmarked graves from the qing dynasty era, especially on the east side of the mountain where the sun hits first. some of those carvings match the symbols you see on old taiwanese tombstone designs, just way simpler. the "charged" feeling might be cuz you were standing on top of a few dozen bodies without knowing it. theres a reason older locals avoid that trail after dark

arrow_drop_up 5 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

this is a super common question actually, theres a whole facebook group for Jiuwushan mysteries. those carvings are mostly from the 1970s, some taiwanese rock climbers used to leave them as route markers for a bouldering circuit they set up. the symbols were their personal climbing crew signatures. one of the guys still runs a gear shop near Daan Park, he'd prob recognize his own marks if u showed him pics. the charged feeling might just be the magnetic rock deposits up there, the whole ridge has a lot of iron in the stone

arrow_drop_up 3 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

solid breakdown, covers the essentials. for zhongzheng, I'd point out that the area around chiang kai-shek memorial hall is dead quiet after 9pm, so if you want a drink or late snack you're walking 15 mins to guting or dongmen. but staying near nanmen market is a hidden gem, you get fresh breakfast stalls and that old taipei feel without the tourist crowds.

da'an is nice but honestly overpriced for what you get unless you're expensing it. I'd rather stay in zhongshan and walk to the same cafes, plus you get the bonus of those little speakeasies near the fine arts museum that nobody talks about. the mrt from zhongshan to da'an is like 5 stops anyway.

arrow_drop_up 15 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

honestly, this is a solid breakdown. i'd add that if you're into late night eats, ximending is unbeatable but be warned that it gets really crowded on weekends. i stayed near zhongshan once and loved how easy it was to walk to those little alley restaurants around linsen north road, feels more local than da'an which can be a bit sterile.

for beitou, the public hot springs at the beitou public library area are free and way more authentic than the hotel ones imo. just bring a towel and flip flops.

neihu is underrated for families, yeah, but the mrt ride to central taipei is like 20 mins which is fine. my friends rented an airbnb there with a balcony and it was way cheaper than anything in da'an.

arrow_drop_up 4 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply

i'd add that for the digital nomad crowd, taipei main station is actually underrated for coworking. there's a spot called q square that has this huge lounge area on the 3rd floor near the food court, free wifi and outlets everywhere, i used to camp there for hours between meetings. beats paying for a cafe in da'an.

if you're on a budget and want something between ximending and neihu, check out wanhua district proper. it's where ximending sits but the older parts around longshan temple have guesthouses for like $25 a night and you get actual temple vibes at sunrise. just don't expect fancy amenities, it's more about the experience.

the guide mentions beitou for relaxation but nobody talks about the hike up to yangmingshan from there. it's a 40 minute walk from the mrt station to the sulfur vents and you can soak your feet in a free stream along the trail. way better than paying for a hotel pool imo

arrow_drop_up 3 arrow_drop_down

chat_bubble Reply ios_share

/

Reply