Qiwei Mountain is the most iconic landmark of Qishan District, Kaohsiung City. At an elevation of 380 meters, it is listed as Taiwan's Small-100 Peak # 65 . Viewed from afar, the mountain resembles an ancient flag fluttering in the sky—hence the name "Qiwei" (Flag Tail). The trail splits into east and west routes, passing three sacred sites: Qiwei Fude Shrine, Qiwei Tiantai Mountain, and Lingjiu Mountain Wufan Holy Land—combining nature, culture, and faith. For guests staying at Hanyuan B&B , this is the best spot for a Qishan half-day trip, a Small-100 Peak challenge, and Hakka mountain-town faith culture. The summit commands sweeping views of Qishan town, Nanzi Creek valley, and the entire Kaoping Plain—truly spectacular.
Qiwei Mountain is named for its unique shape: viewed from Qishan town to the west, the silhouette resembles a triangular flag flying in the sky, with the sharp ridge at the summit like the corner of a flagpole blown by wind. The character "Qi" in Qishan is inseparable from this shape. The Qing-era "Fengxian County Gazetteer" records "Qiwei Mountain, fifty li northwest of the county, peak sharp as a flag," showing it was already a famous landmark. Legend has it that during the Qianlong era, when Hakka ancestors crossed Xiadanshui River to pioneer Qishan, they used Qiwei Mountain as a natural landmark for orientation, calling it "Qiwei Ridge." As Hakka settlements grew, Qiwei Mountain became a symbol of "homeland protection"—the spiritual landmark most representative of local residents.
During the Japanese colonial period, due to its steep terrain, Mt. Qiwei served as a reference landmark for flight training and map surveying by the Japanese military, with a simple meteorological observatory built on the mountain. When the Japanese established the "Takao Sugar Manufacturing Company" in Qishan in 1909, the Japanese military also set up a temporary observation post at the summit, as the terrain of Mt. Qiwei was advantageous for monitoring the sugar factory and neighboring settlements. After the war, the Nationalist Government planned the Qishan area as an agricultural and forestry hub. A large number of Taiwan Acacia and White Popinac were planted around Mt. Qiwei, serving as an important source of firewood and charcoal at the time. Around the 1970s, with the rise of religious beliefs, folk temples such as the "Mt. Qiwei Fude Shrine" and "Mt. Qiwei Tiantai Mountain" were successively built on the southeast side of the mountain. In the 1990s, the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society stationed at the foot of the west peak and established the "Ling Jiou Mountain Wufan Holy Sanctuary," transforming Mt. Qiwei from a simple suburban mountain into a religious holy mountain integrating Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist beliefs. Every year on the 19th day of the second lunar month (Guanyin's birthday) and the 16th day of the ninth lunar month (Fude Shrine's birthday), large crowds of devotees are attracted here for pilgrimage.
Qiwei Mountain's natural environment is rich. The mountain belongs to the low-elevation foothills at the tail of the Central Mountain Range, mainly composed of sandstone and shale from the Miocene era, with rock strata running northeast-southwest. Vegetation is mainly acacia, paper mulberry, Mallotus, and wild Mallotus. In the low-elevation secondary forest, Taiwan whistling thrush, five-colored bird, and crested goshawk are common. The strong winds at the summit create a unique landscape of open grass slopes and low shrubs. Every April and May, Taiwan whistling thrush breed here—birders call it a private hotspot for the distinctive "ji-ji-" calls. Qiwei Mountain is also an important water source for the Qishan Creek watershed; the permeable sandstone and shale surface channel rainwater into the groundwater table, contributing significantly to downstream irrigation of Nanzi Creek.
Qiwei Mountain's earliest literary record dates to the Qing Kangxi era "Taiwan Prefecture Gazetteer," already listed under "Qiwei Mountain" in the geography chapter. The Qianlong-era "Revised Fengxian County Gazetteer" further describes "Qiwei Mountain, fifty li northwest of the county, shaped like a triangular flag, standing among the mountains." Over 300 years ago, the shape was already widely known. The Japanese-era "Taiwan Aboriginal Territory Topographic Map" clearly marks Qiwei Mountain as a prominent landmark in Qishan—important for Japanese military surveying and administration. These records make Qiwei Mountain not just natural forest but a cultural asset carrying Qishan community memory and land identity.
Qiweishan is located in the northwest corner of Qishan District, Kaohsiung City, bordering Shanlin District to the west and Meinong District to the north. Administratively, it belongs to Yuanfu Village, Qishan District. The geographical coordinates are approximately 120 degrees east longitude.483 degrees, 22 degrees North.885 degrees, summit elevation 380 meters—the most prominent landmark at the junction of Qishan, flatland, and foothills. From Hanyuan B&B , take Highway 28 highway (Qiping Road) toward Qishan, after Qishan Old Street turn into the Qiwei Mountain industrial road; it takes about 20 minutes to reach the East Peak trailhead. For the West Peak trailhead, take Zhonghua Road in Qishan District; the full journey is about 25 至 30 min.
Public Transit:Take Kaohsiung city bus 8023、8032、8046 to "Qishan Old Street Station," then transfer to a taxi or rented scooter to the trailhead. From HSR Zuoying Station, take shuttle bus or MRT to Qishan Bus Terminal, then proceed as above.
East Peak Trailhead:Located on the Qiwei Mountain industrial road in Yuanfu Village, Qishan District, with parking and an information board, GPS Coordinates approx. 22.884, 120.487. This route is about 1.5 Kilometers, the altitude climbs about 200 meters, and the slope is relatively gentle. It passes through acacia forests, orchards and bamboo forests along the way, and ends with the Xifeng route near Tiantai Mountain in Qiwei Mountain.
West Peak Trailhead:Located uphill on Zhonghua Road, Qishan District, near Lingjiu Wufan Holy Land, GPS Coordinates approx. 22.880、120.476。This route is about 2 kilometers long, with an altitude climb of about 280 meters. The slope is steep, and there are many sleeper steps and ecological stone trails along the way. It is a more challenging route, but the view is the widest.It is recommended that first-time climbers ascend from the East Peak and descend from the West Peak, so that they can start easily and experience the magnificent ridges of the West Peak.
Suggested duration: including hiking, worship, rest, photos, and descent, takes about 3 至 4 hours. If you also want to visit ChiShan Sugar Factory and Qishan Old Street, plan a full day. From Hanyuan B&B for two days, you can arrange "morning Qiwei Mountain summit, → noon Qishan Old Street lunch, → afternoon Qishan Sugar Factory tour, → evening Lion's Head Peak for night view" into a perfect Hakka mountain-town journey.
The core of visiting Qiwei Mountain is "summit × worship × view"—a three-in-one experience. Choose East or West Peak based on your fitness, then visit three sacred sites based on your faith. Here are classic routes recommended by Hanyuan B&B:
route A: Classic Small-100 Peak Route (East up, West down)
route B: Beginner-friendly Half-Day (East Peak only)
Ideal for those who just want to summit and take photos without challenging the West Peak. From East Peak trailhead, walk gently through acacia groves; it takes about 50 minutes to the summit. Stay 30 minutes for photos and views of Qishan town and Nanzi Creek, then return the same way. The whole journey takes about 2 hours—the Hanyuan B&B most common entry-level route for guests.
route C: Religious Pilgrimage Route
For devout visitors who want to deeply experience Qiwei's religious culture. We recommend early morning 6 at ChiShan Sugar Factory for breakfast at a nearby shop, then drive to West Peak trailhead. On the way up West Peak, first worship at Lingjiu Wufan Holy Land, then continue to Qiwei Tiantai Mountain and Qiwei Fude Shrine, finally descending via East Peak. Each temple provides free tea and incense—worship according to your faith.
route D: Photography Enthusiast Route
For photography lovers wanting the best light. We recommend early morning 5 start from East Peak trailhead, arrive at the summit half an hour before sunrise to capture the golden light as the sun rises behind the Central Mountain Range ridge. Rest and lunch at the summit, then in the afternoon 3 head to West Peak to shoot sunset ridge silhouettes and sea of clouds. In the evening 6 arrive at Lingjiu Wufan Holy Land to photograph Tibetan Buddhist halls under sunset—an itinerary rich in photographic value.
No matter which route you choose, Qiwei Mountain offers multiple experiences combining nature, culture, faith, and photography. Adjust based on fitness, weather, and group size, and bring water, rain gear, and sunscreen for a smooth journey.
Qiwei Mountain offers different ecology and scenery each season:
Ecology highlights: In low-elevation secondary forest, look for Taiwan blue magpie, five-colored bird, tree pie, light-vented bulbul, and Japanese white-eye. At night, you'll find Buerger's toad and brown tree frogs along trails. In spring and fall, red-bellied and striped squirrels dart among branches. We recommend nature lovers bring binoculars and a bird guide; sitting quietly at the summit for 30 minutes can yield sightings of over ten bird species.
Because Qiweishan is located in a shallow hilly area, it is also an important habitat for many insects and butterflies. From May to September every year, swallowtails, milkweed butterflies, and whites can be seen fluttering along the East Peak trail; from March to May, rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles can be seen sucking sap on Formosan ash trees, serving as the best material for family nature observation. In addition, Qiweishan is also one of the transit routes for purple crow butterflies returning north in spring. Lucky travelers have the opportunity to witness the spectacular sight of a large number of purple crow butterflies flying over the mountain top at the East Peak ridge.
Along East Peak trails, many rare plants are visible, including native species like "golden rhododendron," "Taiwan photinia," and "Taiwan mountain osmanthus." Every 3 至 4 , golden rhododendrons bloom, wrapping the trail in golden flower seas—a seasonal must-see for photographers. Near the summit, low shrubs also host protected species like "Taiwan wild lily" and "Taiwan pleione." Visitors can photograph but not pick—please protect this precious low-mountain ecology.
If you're coming from Hanyuan B&B When planning a Qiwei Mountain trip, combine with nearby attractions:
Want to see all top Qishan & Meinong attractions? See Hanyuan B&B Nearby Attractions Overview— covering all 12 nearby attractions with maps, helping you plan the richest Hakka mountain-town trip.
Qiwei Mountain is at an elevation of 380 meters—an entry-level suburban mountain. East Peak is gentler, with a slope of about 30 degrees; takes about 40 minutes. West Peak is steeper and more challenging, taking about 60 minutes. We recommend beginners go up East Peak and down West Peak to experience both terrains.
Qiwei Mountain has three main sacred sites: "Qiwei Fude Shrine" on the mountainside, dedicated to the Earth God—the mountain deity worship center for early residents; "Qiwei Tiantai Mountain" near the summit, dedicated to Guanyin, with thriving incense; and "Lingjiu Wufan Holy Land" on West Peak, a practice center blending Tibetan Buddhism and Chan Buddhism, with a solemn atmosphere.
Yes, Qiwei Mountain is Taiwan's Small-100 Peak # 65 , elevation 380 meters. The summit has a numbered cast-iron plate—a classic route for hikers collecting Small-100 Peak completion certificates. Bring a notebook to collect commemorative stamps.
From Meinong Hanyuan B&B, you can take Provincial Highway 28 towards Qishan, and turn into Qiweishan Industrial Road in Qishan. The drive to the East Peak Trailhead takes about 20 minutes; you can also set your Google Maps navigation to "Qiweishan East Peak Trailhead" or "Qiweishan West Peak Trailhead".