From Taipei Main Station there is an old branch line leading out to Pingxi, an old mining area. The line has mostly been preserved for the use of tourists (it was packed the day I went, which was a Friday). The line is exceptionally scenic and there are 6 or 7 stops where it is worth getting off to explore and hike. I had time to go to two of the stops: Pingxi, which is famous for its hills with sheer rock faces, and Sandiaoling, a waterfall area. Pingxi is a hilly area, and the hills are mostly straightforward to walk up, with trails clearly marked. However the hill tops are all bare, sheer rock, so to enable people to reach the top, steps have been carved into the rock faces, initially fairly gentle, but then
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