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Located at the boundary of Renwu and Dasi districts, Guan Yin Mountain, originally named "Cui Ping Yan," stands at a height of only 177m. It is one of the ten famous mountains in Kaohsiung, listed as number 075 in the "Minor Hundred Mountains" list. The mountain is named after its main peak, which resembles Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) seated majestically, with surrounding peaks forming a reverent posture. Guan Yin Mountain is an ideal destination for fitness, spring outings, religious pilgrimages, and attracts throngs of visitors on holidays. The Guan Yin Mountain area is expansive, featuring soft, fine-grained siltstone rich in iron, well-suited for barefoot walking and nicknamed "Barefoot Park." Among its notable features are the famed "Eight Scenes of Guan Yin Mountain," each with distinct charm: Emerald Screen Sunset, Golden Bell Spirit Platform, Stone Drum Shaking the Mountain, Ancient Tree Fairy Traces, Stone Pen Unfurling, Guanyin Ascends to Heaven, Lotus Pond Night Moon, and Heavenly Hole Morning Radiance. Guan Yin Mountain's hiking trails are numerous. For first-time visitors, choosing a popular route is recommended. Park at the Guan Yin Mountain No. 7 public parking lot and begin your ascent to the main peak from the "Feng Yi Gong" trailhead behind the parking lot. Although steep stone steps require effort, the climbing experience is accompanied by gradually unfolding scenic vistas. Take a breather to enjoy panoramic views. Reaching the summit, you’ll encounter the War Era Tunnel - "Heavenly Hole," one of the Eight Scenes. Nearby Guanyin Pavilion is often a rest spot where hikers pause for tea. The viewing platform adjacent to the "triangulation point" offers photo opportunities, with the Northern and Central peaks of Guan Yin Mountain visible. This is the fastest climbing route from the parking lot. Descending to "Environmental Park," you’ll find this flat, expansive area with restrooms and gradual access to food vendors. Sample natural youtiao (a traditional dessert) for a refreshing respite. Nearby, the weekend market at Da Jue Temple invites souvenir shopping. This shortest hiking route spans 2.5 kilometers, taking about an hour at a leisurely pace. Guan Yin Lake, situated on the southern side of Guan Yin Mountain, originally named Zongduo Pond, boasts serene, clear waters and a thriving ecosystem attracting migratory birds. Spanning 30 hectares, the large lake is divided into inner and outer lakes, serving as irrigation, water storage, and flood control reservoirs. Its tranquil scenery makes it a must-visit after hiking the Guan Yin Mountain trails. The Eight Scenes of Guan Yin Mountain: 1. Emerald Screen Sunset A massive rock at the mountain’s base is enclosed by hills on three sides. Legend says Emperor Kangxi named it "Emerald Screen Rock" for its lush surroundings. One of the Eight Scenic Views of ancient Fengshan, the "Emerald Screen Sunset" highlights the mountain’s steep rock face reflecting golden twilight. This site was included again after 1959 as one of eight scenes. 2. Golden Bell Spirit Platform At the start of Xuefu Road, this stone platform originally housed a small pavilion with an old couplet narrating the legend of Cui Ping Yan temple creation. Now half the site has been lost to road expansion. 3. Stone Drum Shaking the Mountain Located outside Da Jue Temple, three pavilions once stood here. Natural spring water flowed strongly in the 1940s. The Stone Drum was known for echoing with temple bells during ancient times, but was demolished in the 1990s during temple renovations. An artificial waterfall now substitutes the old spring. 4. Ancient Tree Fairy Traces A banyan tree once grew on the Stone Drum, sheltering dozens under its canopy until disease took it in the 1980s. The current tree was replanted in the 1980s. 5. Stone Pen Unfurling This solitary rock resembling a bamboo pen rises from a gully near spring geyser. Standing 30m tall with a banyan at its tip, it appears to write poetry under the moonlight, with the pen tip dipped in ink. The "emerald screen" mountain range stretches out eastward across mountains. 6. Guanyin Ascends to Heaven The main peak (Zhouzi Kentail) of Guan Yin Mountain resembles Guanyin seated in meditation. The summit offers views from Anping to Fengbei Headlands. The site has been altered thrice - Japanese artillery emplacements in colonial times, water reservoirs during the 1980s, and wooden viewing platforms added in the 1990s now block its original appearance. 7. Lotus Pond Night Moon The northern and southern reservoirs of Guan Yin Temple, originally vast irrigation ponds, have now shrunk. These two reservoirs near Guan Yin Mountain gave rise to the scenic name. 8. Heavenly Hole Morning Radiance A 100-meter tactical tunnel was carved by Japanese forces at the end of World War II. This underground passageway leads from west to east descending, where 14 levels of mountain ridges are framed by morning sunrises.