Shoushan (Kaohsiung)
Shoushan (Chinese: 壽山, also commonly known as Monkey Mountain) is a mountain located in Gushan District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to the north of the main entrance to Kaohsiung Harbor. It was named Ape Hill by the Dutch in the 17th century to describe many monkeys on this mountain. It is also called Chaishan (柴山) and actually includes the Snake Hill (蛇山 - a 17th-century term) in its northern part, and Long Life Hill (壽山 named by Japanese in 1911-1915 for the crown-prince Hirohito) in the southern part. In some old maps, the peak of the hill is called Saracen's Head. Now it is a nature park where biological diversity can be seen.
Notability
Shoushan is the one of the mountains where Kaohsiung residents can see natural biological specimens within an hour of drive. There is an extensive system of boardwalk hiking trails that circle the mountain. Hikers can enjoy tea at various tea stations sprinkled throughout the trails. Water is carried to the tea stations by hikers who bring it from a reverse osmosis station at the bottom. From the tea station at the top of the mountain, hikers can see views of the Taiwan Strait through the trees.
The mountain is a reserve for Formosan rock macaques. Thousands of these monkeys reside on the mountain pestering hikers who have food with them.
Transportation
The mountain is accessible within walking distance North of Sizihwan Station of the Kaohsiung MRT. There is an entrance just east of the Shou Shan Zoo, as well as one beside the College of Liberal Arts building in National Sun Yat-sen University.
There are three other access points to the mountain along Gushan Road. The southernmost is beside Yuan Heng Temple; a second is located behind the Kaohsiung Municipal Ku Shan Senior High School; and the northernmost is located beside the Long Quan Temple, near the intersection with Xinjiang Road.
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Coordinates: 22°39′N 120°16′E / 22.650°N 120.267°E