Eighteen Peaks Mountain is a wooded ridge system wrapping the eastern and southern edge of Hsinchu. The paths are paved and stepped rather than wild, but they make a good urban hike, with enough shade and height to give you a break from the traffic below.
Early morning is the local time to come, when walkers use the trails before the day heats up. The views are sometimes partly blocked by trees, but the route is still one of the easiest ways to feel the city's geography.