Matcha Mountain (抹茶山) Taiwan: Everything You Need to Know Before You Hike | City Escape

Is it a mountain or a bowl of green tea? In this episode of City Escape, we tackle the world-famous Matcha Mountain (Mt. Sanjiaolun) in Yilan, Taiwan. Originally a sacred pilgrimage route known as the St. Marian Hiking Trail, this location went viral after a Japanese photographer compared its lush, rolling green ridges to "Matcha ice cream." But don't let the fluffy name fool you—this hike is a grueling climb with over 900 meters of elevation gain and thousands of stairs. 📍 Episode Highlights & Key Locations: The Viral Origin Story: How a single Instagram post turned a quiet pilgrimage into a global sensation [00:48]. St. Marian’s Catholic Church: A beautiful round church built to commemorate a 1980 miracle [05:06]. The "Matcha" Viewpoint: Reaching the iconic viewing platform at Sanjiaolun Mountain [16:11]. The Extra Challenge: Pushing past the viewpoint to the true Main Peak (Sanja Mountain) using ropes and rugged trails [18:52]. The Matcha Feast: Rewarding ourselves with local matcha desserts back in Jiaoxi [22:30]. 🥾 Essential Hiking Intel: The Route: The journey begins with a 4km industrial road "warm-up" before hitting the actual 1.6km steep trail [02:00]. Safety First: We encountered a snake on the trail! Learn why proper footwear and hydration are non-negotiable here [11:52]. Facilities: St. Marian’s Hut offers a place for refuge and even overnight stays (if arranged in advance) [18:18]. Weather Warning: Watch out for the "White Wall"—thick fog that can completely block the viral view in minutes [19:43]. 🚆 How to Get There: Take the train to Jiaoxi Station, then transfer to the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle toward Wufengqi Scenic Area. It's a short 15-minute walk from the bus stop to the start of the trail [01:23]. Are you ready to take on the stairs for that perfect Matcha view? Subscribe for more City Escapes across Taiwan! . 🏞️ Trail Entrance: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NxjhxGf2n7DAd... 🏞️ Catholic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Wufengqi: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KPYpTNKRYwtaR... 📍City Escape with Kenna Lee: 00:00 City Escape: St Marian’s Hiking Trail (Matcha Mountain) 01:18 Basic Trail Information 02:10 Trail Start 04:50 Arrival at St. Marian’s Church 06:25 Onwards to St Marian’s Trail 09:30 St. Marian’s Hiking Trail Begins 16:03 St. Marian’s Summit and Matcha Mountain 17:55 Mt. Sanjiaolun Peak 22:17 A Matcha Treat 23:37 End Credits #MatchaMountain #StMariansTrail #MtSanjiaolun #Yilan #Hike #Hiking #HikingTrail #Taiwan #TaiwanPlus #抹茶山 #聖母登山步道 #三角崙山 #小百岳 #聖母山莊 #宜蘭 #礁溪鄉 #五峰旗風景區#步道 #登山 #TaiwanHiking #Yilan #CityEscape #StMarianTrail #Sanjiaolun #InstagrammableTaiwan #HikingGuide ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ 🔔 Turn on notifications to stay updated! Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/taiwanplus/youtube... Website: https://www.taiwanplus.com/ 📱 Download our app: Android: https://bit.ly/3xg4mcz iOS: https://apple.co/3YKkgYh 🇹🇼 Curious about Taiwan’s culture? Planning a visit? Facebook: https://tw.plus/facebook Instagram: https://tw.plus/instagram 🌏 Want to stay up to date on the latest news from Taiwan and beyond? YouTube: @taiwanplusnews Facebook: https://bit.ly/3IgSInZ Twitter: https://tw.plus/twitter