Entering the heart of geothermal: Walking diary of Xiaoyoukeng in Yangmingshan

#MarchGoodPlaces2025 #Yangmingshan As soon as I got off the car, I smelled a strong smell of sulfur. Not long after walking from the parking lot, I saw the smoking mountain wall. White smoke kept rising up, like a huge soup pot was cooking. The air is filled with smoke, and when the sun shines through the smoke, it sparkles, creating a mysterious and spectacular feeling. The geothermal phenomenon here is actually because Xiaoyoukeng is located in an area where volcanic activity has not completely stopped. The Datun volcanic group has erupted before. Although there are no violent eruptions now, there is still a lot of high-temperature gas and water vapor underground that come out of the cracks. These geothermal activities cause the ground to constantly emit jets and smoke, and also form a special sulfur terrain in this area, such as fumaroles, sulfur crystals, yellow rocks, etc., which feels like a natural laboratory. The trail in Xiaoyoukeng is not too long, but there are some explanatory signs along the way, explaining how geothermal energy is formed and the history of volcanic activity, which is quite interesting. Walking up to the viewing platform, you can clearly see the entire geothermal jet area and the mountain scenery in the distance, with a great view. We looked around and took photos, and everyone said that it felt like being on an alien planet. However, the wind is very strong here, and the temperature in the mountains is much lower than in the city. It is recommended to wear thicker clothes or a hat to protect against the wind.