The Taipei 101 fireworks’ display is the climax of New Year’s Eve events in Taipei every year, and although you would like to see the fireworks, you probably do not want to be part of the huge crowd gathering in front of Taipei City Hall Plaza. The Taipei City Department of Economic Development is recommending scenic spots in areas such as Elephant Mountain and Tiger Mountain in Xinyi District’s Sishou (Four Beast) mountain range, and even the Xianjiyan Hiking Trail in Wenshan District and the Zhinan scenic spot in the Maokong area, to enjoy the fireworks display at a distance and away from the hubbub.
The Taipei City Geotechnical Engineering Office says Xinyi District’s Sishou mountain range offers excellent views, of which the trails at Elephant Mountain and Tiger Mountain are closest to the city area, adding that there are great facilities along the trails and that it has always been the most popular spot for people watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks display. They especially recommend 11 specific spots that are best for watching the fireworks, and people can go up the mountain earlier instead of jostling in the city crowd.
The Taipei City Geotechnical Engineering Office offers maps for the mountain trails, or they can be downloaded on their Web site for free (http://www.ed.taipei.gov.tw/gowalking/).
Photo: Hu Shun-Hsiang, Taipei Times
照片：自由時報記者胡舜翔
(LIBERTY TIMES, TRANSLATED BY KYLE JEFFCOAT)
台北市每年跨年活動重頭戲，非台北一○一跨年煙火莫屬，想看煙火，又不想到市府前廣場人擠人，台北市產發局推薦跨年看煙火的私房景點，包括信義區四獸山的象山及虎山，甚至文山區仙跡岩風景區、貓空地區的指南風景區等郊山步道，享受遠離塵囂的煙火遠景。
台北市大地工程處表示，鄰近一○一大樓的信義區四獸山擁有絕佳視野優勢，其中象山與虎山步道鄰近市區，又有完善的步道設施，向來是民眾欣賞跨年煙火最熱門的地點，大地工程處特別推薦十一處極佳觀賞位置，民眾可以提早上山，不必再到市區人擠人。
台北市大地工程處提供免費索取「登山步道路線圖」，或上親山步道主題網（http://www.ed.taipei.gov.tw/gowalking/）下載路線圖。
（自由時報記者劉榮）
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