Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail

From Sandiaoling station a trail climbs into a wooded valley and passes three waterfalls in sequence: Hegu, where the path runs behind the curtain of water under an overhang, Motian, the largest at around thirty metres, and Pipa Dong. Ladders and ropes are fixed on the steeper sections. It is one of the better short walks reachable by train from Taipei and it is wet, green and slippery in every season.

What you actually see

• Hegu falls - a path running behind the water under a rock overhang.
• Motian falls - the largest of the three at around thirty metres.
• The fixed ladders - metal ladders and ropes on the steep sections.
• The train access - the whole walk done from a station on the Pingxi line.

When to go

March to November is the season, with flow strongest after rain. The path is slippery in any weather and dangerous after heavy rain. Weekends bring crowds from Taipei.

Honest expectations

The ladders are steep and wet and the rock is slippery throughout; this is not a casual stroll. Flash flooding after heavy rain is a real hazard. Trains on the branch line are infrequent.

Nearby

Houtong is up the line, and the Pingxi villages are beyond it.