the route to smangus village offers some spectacular mountain and valley views, and the occasional sakuras and bamboo groves. depending on traffic, you may find it a bit rushed to see the yaya qparung, the largest tree in the grove. based on your fitness and the weather, the mountain trek can take between 60-90mins one way, and due to traffic control, the transport has to leave the village before 2pm. if you plan to reach the sacred tree grove, you got to move fast. if its sakura season and you are just going to the sakura garden in the mountain, then it will need less time. you could also just hang out in the village - plenty of sakura around! the organiser set up a group chat the night before with very clear instructions for pick up and drop off, and the drivers’ contact details. our driver, mr cao, was very helpful in explaining what to expect, helping us manage time, and sharing knowledge about taipei. transport travel time was about 2-3hours each way.