Guanyinshan is on the west bank of the Danshui River, with the main mountain chain between Wugu and Bali Districts in New Taipei City.
It is a young extinct cone-shaped volcano, part of the Datun mountain group. The main peak is 616 meters in height and, viewed from Danshui and Guandu areas, the whole range looks like Guanyin Buddha lying on her back, hence the name.
Guanyinshan is the home of many species of raptors and is also visited by many migratory birds of prey, making it a favorite place of bird-watching.
The hilly area on the gentle slopes of the mountain and the plain on the southern bank of Danshui River have long been inhabited by humans; archeological evidences show that humans have been living here for as long as 6,000 years.