Applying for a Permit to Snow Mountain (Xueshan) and all of Shei-Pa National Park

Please note that the application process for high mountain permits in Taiwan changes frequently. If you find that our information below is inaccurate, or you have advice to make it easier, please let us know so we can update this page. Email: https://www.taiwan-adventures.com/contact-us-2/

Applying for permits to any of Taiwan’s high mountain hikes can be confusing. While we would love to take you on a customized, private hike to Snow Mountain, we understand that not everyone can afford to do that, or just might want to do it on their own.

You can email us about a private hike HERE or follow us on FACEBOOK or MEETUP.COM for information on our economical, public, group hikes and to see the upcoming schedule (usually posted 2-3 months in advance).

Below is a detailed explanation about how to apply for your own self guided hike to Snow Mountain or any of the other high mountain hikes in Shei-Pa National Park such as The Sixiu and Dabajianshan.

When and How to Apply

You can start you application process 30 days before the start of your hike. Technically, you can apply in as little as 7 days before you want to hike, but if you want to hike on a weekend or in the summer, you’ll need to apply 30 days in advance, as soon as the system opens at 7:00am.

Go here, and get busy:
https://npm.cpami.gov.tw/en/apply_1_2.aspx?unit=e6dd4652-2d37-4346-8f5d-6e538353e0c2

Police Permits:

If your permit gets approved, Shei-Pa National Park will send you an email a few days later with the confirmation. Next, you’ll have to apply for a police permit at least 7 days before your hike, or on your way to the trailhead at the local police stations.

On the “Online Application” page click on the link for “Modify or Cancel Application”. Then, at the bottom of the first page of your application, there’s a tab that says “Submit to Mountain Entering Permit” (or something like that). Click that tab and you should get an email in a few seconds (all in Mandarin) confirming that it’s been sent. If approved, several days later, you’ll get an email with two attachments. Make two copies of each of these and two copies of your permit from the park, and take them with you on the hike.

If you don’t get the email, it hasn’t been submitted, and you’ll need to do one of three things:

1. Apply manually (You need a good understanding of Mandarin for this):  https://nv2.npa.gov.tw/NM103-604Client/
2. Apply at the mountain division of the police department in Taipei, here: 25.045594, 121.521860
3. Apply at the local police station in Wuling Farms, here: Here: 24.361900, 121.310788 Or the one on the Daba side, here: 24.506391, 121.113783

Winter Rules:

“Winter Rules” start at the first snowfall which is usually in the middle of December. It lasts until the snow is all melted or April 1st, whichever comes first. (Don’t ask us how that makes sense)

During winter rules, your leader must have a Taiwanese issued Snow Certificate. Your group size must be between 3 to 6 people, and everyone must have a helmet, crampons, and hiking poles. All Taiwan Adventures’ guides are certified winter guides, so if you’d like to go in the winter, it’s best to have us take you. Email us at: https://www.taiwan-adventures.com/contact-us-2/

Getting There (For Snow Mountain and The Sixiu, at Wuling Farms):

While it’s much easier to visit the area with your own transportation, there are public buses. Please note that this information changes frequently, so if you use public transportation and find a mistake or better way to do it, please let us know so we can update this information.

From Taipei:
There’s an E-Go bus that goes from Taipei Main Station to Wuling Farm.
It leaves from the Main Train Station East Gate #3 at 7:20am and arrives in Wuling Farms at 11:20am.
Return: Wuling Farms 2:00pm→East Gate #3 of Taipei Railway Station 6:30pm.
Ride time: about 4 hours
You’ll want to make reservations for this bus.
From Yilan:
The Kuo-Kuang Bus Station is approximately 150 meters to the southeast of the Yilan Train Station, on the right side from Rear Exit of Yilan Train Station.
Bus number 1715 from Yilan to Lishan (Get off at Wuling Farms) leaves at 7:30am and 12:40pm
It leaves Wuling for Yilan at 9:10am and 2:10pm
Ride time: About 2 hours and 45 minutes

Once the bus drops you off, you’ll have to find your way to the trailhead which is about a 15 minute drive away (Don’t walk it). Wuling does have a few tourist buses running around, but they are infrequent.