Segment times are from my own track — my pace, not advice; guidebook times are transcribed verbatim from Sunriver Culture's step-time charts (Gaoshan Baiyue topographic maps), a public yardstick. Every station's position and name was checked by hand and aligned with Sunriver's naming, so names and elevations match what hikers actually call them. Route is for reference only.This route wasn't planned — it's a GPS-recorded log of my own hike in July 2026: Zhijiayang Dashan, two days, one Baiyue peak, 16.4km actual distance, 1894m total elevation gain. Zhijiayang is a favorite for a single push, with steep climbing the whole way in the later part of the trail — the descent is very hard on the knees. A few things to note:
- Most of the trail is pine needles, fallen arrow bamboo leaves, and dirt — light traction spikes help with stability.
- Piaodan Pond next to Piaodan Hut, when I visited in mid-July, was just a shallow puddle you can't rely on at all — if the water tank at Piaodan Hut is dry, your only option is to carry water up from Sijielan Creek at Waypoint 9.
- The round trip from Piaodan Hut to the Zhijiayang Dashan triangulation point is about half an hour each way, so you don't need to bring a light summit pack — you can leave your gear at the hut.
- From Xima Farm, after crossing the Sijielan Creek suspension bridge, the trail winds downhill to the trailhead. The early section runs along an exposed farm road, with quite a few junctions, so watch the signs carefully; some gates can be opened yourself but be sure to close them again.
- After the 3.1K Campsite, you climb 1700 meters in the next 5 kilometers — it feels steeper than Baxian Mountain (6km, 1700m gain), the toughest of the Guguan Eight, in central Taiwan. It's a good idea to sort out your gear and supplies here before setting off.
- In the later part of the climb, the trail narrows through arrow bamboo; recent typhoons and earthquakes have washed out the path and made the drop-offs bigger over the years. Don't take long breaks — it costs a lot to get your body moving again.
- The door of Piaodan Hut faces east, looking out over a meadow with completely unobstructed views of the mountains and sea of clouds — don't miss the chance to enjoy the night view and sunrise.
- On Day 02, both the Zhijiayang Dashan Triangulation Point and the Zhijiayang Dashan Summit are near the hut. The triangulation point is less than 30 minutes one way with great views; the high point continues about 370 meters further, with more tree cover and views not as good as the triangulation point, but the path is clear and still worth the walk.
- The descent is steep with several roped sections; if it drizzled the night before, the rocks and roots will be slippery. Don't skimp on trekking poles or grabbing onto branches and plants for support, and stay focused through this terrain.
- General pace planning should budget around 12 hours for the whole route; leaving room for 2–3 hours of rest, I'd recommend setting out at 2:00 am so you don't end up finishing in the dark.
- There's one GPS glitch in the recording — the instant recording resumed after a pause, the position jumped 43 meters and the elevation dropped 72 meters. I never walked through that spot, so it's been removed.
- This GPX keeps the original timestamps — that's the record of my own pace, not a suggested pace; hikers should judge by their own condition and the weather. Every track point has a timestamp.
The switch point between full pack and light pack is at Piaodan Hut. Actual conditions on the ground take priority over this record.
