Shiding Thousand Island Lake View is a hilltop viewpoint in Yong'an Village, Shiding District, New Taipei City, overlooking the catchment basin of Feicui Reservoir — not an independent lake, but a landscape formed when dozens of low hills emerge above the reservoir's water surface, resembling China's Qiandao (Thousand Island) Lake, hence the name. The main viewing spots are high points along Bishan Road such as Cuilan Platform. Feicui Reservoir was completed in 1987 and is Taipei City's most important water source.
Feicui Reservoir broke ground in August 1979 and was completed in June 1987; it is Taipei City's most important water source, supplying up to 3.45 million cubic meters daily to an area of 334 square kilometers covering Taipei City and parts of New Taipei (Xindian, Zhonghe, Yonghe, Sanchong, Xizhi), serving roughly 6 million people. The main viewpoint for Shiding Thousand Island Lake View is Cuilan Platform along Bishan Road; the nearby Yong'an Scenic Trail runs about 1.1 kilometers along the hillside beside the Beishi River.
Highlights of Shiding Thousand Island Lake View
The best viewpoints are at several high points along Bishan Road, from which you can look down over the full reservoir basin. The reservoir water level directly affects the scenery: at high water levels, only the tops of the hills are exposed — more islands, but smaller; at low water levels, more of each hill is visible and the scene is comparatively plain. Feicui Reservoir is Taipei City's main water source; entry to the reservoir itself is prohibited, so viewing is only possible from elevated positions on the surrounding roads.
The best light for photography is in the early morning before the mist has lifted (around 6–8 a.m.), when water-surface fog adds depth to the layers of hills; evening light also creates a warm-color effect. Visibility is better after rain when the air is clear than on dry sunny days. Bishan Road is a winding mountain route with a narrow carriageway — watch for oncoming traffic and parking. Some of the viewpoint spots have roadside space to pull over, but capacity is limited.
How to make the most of your visit
Practical information
Getting there & timing
- No direct public transit; driving or riding a motorcycle is required. From Shiding Old Street, the drive along Bishan Road takes about 20–30 minutes.
- The viewpoints are along open roadside, accessible at any time, with no entry fee. Mountain roads may be restricted during typhoons — check New Taipei City road conditions.
Nearby connections
- After descending, you can visit Shiding Old Street; the waterside stilt-house settlement is an easy walk, and you can have a meal in the old street before returning to Taipei.
- Shiding to Pinglin is about a 20-minute drive, making a combined Shiding Old Street + Thousand Island Lake self-drive route a natural fit.
Sources: Taipei Water Department Feicui Reservoir data, Wikipedia entry for Feicui Reservoir. Photos pending replacement with Dio's own shots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shiding Thousand Island Lake View an actual lake?
No — it is the landscape seen when looking down from Bishan Road onto the Feicui Reservoir catchment basin, where dozens of hills emerge above the water.
When was Feicui Reservoir completed?
Feicui Reservoir was completed in June 1987 and is Taipei City's most important water source, supplying up to 3.45 million cubic meters daily.
Where is the best viewpoint for Shiding Thousand Island Lake View?
The main viewpoints are high points along Bishan Road, such as Cuilan Platform, which overlook the full reservoir basin.
Sources
- 主要水庫簡介-翡翠水庫 - 經濟部水利署 — 翡翠水庫完工年份、供水量、供水範圍等官方數據
- 石碇千島湖/翡翠水庫徒步區 - 新北市觀光旅遊網 — 官方觀光網站對千島湖觀景點與步道資訊