Classic Itineraries
TNT Express
Given the continued expansion of trade between Europe and Asia, global express giant TNT Post, in line with the increased capacity of its North Asia air transport network, has launched the “Go Europe, Go Imports” points rewards campaign starting October 1. Customers who continue to use TNT import services or any European flight routes before the end of the year can participate in the points accumulation program. Points can be redeemed for a variety of premium gifts, including the European CUBE mountain bike. The more points you accumulate, the higher the value of gifts you can redeem. Corporate customers are welcome to join the campaign. Li [Last Name], General Manager of TNT Taiwan Branch, stated that TNT regularly holds gift-giving campaigns for customers each year. This year, the points-based “Mail and Earn Rewards” campaign has significantly increased its offerings of high-end gifts as a token of appreciation, including the European CUBE mountain bike, HTC Smart smartphone, Sony Cyber-shot digital camera DSC-W320, iPod shuffle, and more.
All areas scanned – Snow Mountain National Park posts opening updates
Miaoli: The opening status of various recreational areas and hiking trails within Snow Mountain National Park on the 22nd is as follows: The Wuling, Guanwu, and Xuexian recreational areas are all open. Due to the impact of the typhoon, the Dalu Forest Road, the access road to Guanwu, has scattered falling rocks and fallen trees along the way. The Simalian Forest Road, the access road to Xuexian, has a large amount of collapsed Phyllostachys edulis bamboo and piles of branches and leaves. Hiking trails have resumed activities for entry and trekking on the Snow Mountain Main-East Peak Trail, Zhijaiyang Trail, Wuling Four Beauties Trail, Sacred Ridge Trail, Big-Small Sword Trail, Daba Trail, and Snow Mountain West Ridge Trail. On the Snow Mountain Trail, from Snow Mountain East Peak to the 369 Mountain Hut, there are multiple fallen trees along the trail—please exercise caution when passing through. For the latest updates on opening and control measures, please visit the management office’s website at http://www.spnp.gov.tw/.
Bees swarm on Dakeng Trail, stinging 9 tourists
A group of hornets attacked hikers in the Dakeng Scenic Area of Taichung City yesterday evening. Near the 800-meter mark of the No. 4 hiking trail, a swarm of hornets suddenly appeared, causing around 20 to 30 hikers to flee in panic. In total, three children and six adults were stung, with the most severely injured having about seven or eight stings. Fortunately, all victims were out of life-threatening danger after being rushed to hospital. To prevent further attacks, the No. 4 trail has been temporarily closed. A 37-year-old hiker surnamed Lin described how the incident unfolded. Around 4 p.m. yesterday, he was hiking alone on the No. 4 trail in Dakeng. As it was a holiday, there were many other hikers on the trail. When he reached a point about 800 meters from the trailhead, he suddenly saw a hiker ahead shaking their head continuously and flailing their arms wildly. Before he could figure out what was happening, the person turned and ran back, shouting that there were hornets.
Four Hikers Rescued After Getting Lost in Nanzhuang Mountain Area
Huang Deshun, an officer from Lujia Police Station under the Toufen Police Precinct of Miaoli County Police Bureau, received an emergency call from the command center late on the eighth. He swiftly rushed to Hakani Mountain in Nanzhuang Township to rescue four lost hikers. Police sought assistance from the Nanzhuang Fire Department, which mobilized volunteer firefighters, youth mountain patrol members, and local rangers to join the rescue mission. After searching in the dark for hours, they found and rescued the four lost hikers—surnamed Liao and others—at the makeshift water collection area in Luchang Tribe in the early hours of the ninth.
High Demand on Mainland Drives Diverse Outdoor Gear Innovations
(Continued from Page B14) An auto-propeller makes diving effortless for kids Diving requires considerable physical strength. To help children dive with ease, a Shanghai-based foreign trade company showcased a youth diving propeller. Staff explained that this device was previously exported only to Europe and America but made its first mainland debut this year—and unexpectedly became a huge hit. The propeller is suitable for youths aged 8 to 15. Users grip the handles and press the button to move forward, releasing it to stop. A single charge powers the device for 1.5 hours and allows diving up to 5 meters underwater. A magical color-changing backpack made from plastic bottles
Hu Talk Bikes Up Shoushan Mountain & Candidates Woo Voters
Nationalist Party and Democratic Progressive Party mayoral candidates for Greater Taichung, Hu Zhiqiang and Su Jia-chyuan, were out all day meeting with local residents. Hu Zhiqiang said that bicycle paths in both Taichung County and City will be fully connected by the end of the year, and plans are underway to create the world’s first nighttime cycling path. Su Jia-chyuan bonded with hikers, stating that Dakeng is the city’s most beautiful backyard garden, and promised to build facilities such as observation decks or pavilions. Yesterday at a “Meet the Residents” forum in Daya Township, Hu Zhiqiang said there would absolutely be no marginalization issues following the merger of Taichung County and City—claims to the contrary were being spread by ill-intentioned individuals. The bicycle path from Tan-Ya-Shen in Taichung County to Xitun District in Taichung City will be connected by year’s end, with future extensions planned to Nantun District, enabling resource sharing between the two areas. Hu Zhiqiang pointed out that the bridge connecting Taichung City and Dali City has flooded every time it rained heavily for the past 30 years. The day before yesterday, the city government awarded a contract worth NT$20 million to begin construction of a new bridge; the original contractor’s schedule projected completion by April next year, but he has demanded that the project be finished by the end of this year. In the future, the Taichung MRT will definitely extend to Qingquan Airbase, and traffic congestion at the Daya Interchange on the freeway will also be addressed.
Japan's Mountain Tragedy Claims Two More Lives
The mountain accident that occurred on July 25 in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, triggered a series of tragic events. A female hiker who fell into a ravine died despite being rescued, and the rescue helicopter sent to save her crashed, killing all five crew members on board. On August 1, it was reported that two Japanese TV reporters who went to the accident site for an interview also lost their lives. Japanese TV reporter Kita Yuro and cameraman Kawakami Jun went missing after heading to the helicopter crash site in Otaki Valley, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, on July 31. Rescue workers found their bodies this morning near a stream about two to three kilometers downstream from the crash site. Both had no vital signs and were pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. The mountain guide who accompanied them said that at around 6:30 a.m. on July 31, he took the two journalists up the mountain to film. As they were approaching the crash site, the guide felt their clothing was too light for the terrain and decided to turn back. The three returned to the trailhead around 10:00 a.m.
Love Taiwan on foot until you can't walk anymore
Villagers from Nansing in Guiren Township, Tainan County, formed a hiking club and named it "Can't Walk Anymore." Over the past eight years, the villagers have joined La New Corporation in showing their love for Taiwan on foot, completing 33 ten-kilometer long-distance hiking events — four of which took them as far as Japan — becoming die-hard fans of La New’s efforts to promote fitness for all. Zhu ?Han, the village chief of Nansing who also serves as the club’s acting leader, said the name “Can’t Walk Anymore” carries deep meaning: as long as La New continues to organize such events, they will keep walking until they truly can’t walk anymore. The La New Huanhu Lake Loop Hike at Baoshan Reservoir No. 2 in Hsinchu took place yesterday, with Hsinchu County Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun, La New Director Liu Pao-yu, and Baoshan Township Chief Fan Yu-yan jointly kicking off the event. Tens of thousands of participants hiked along the reservoir’s loop road. Due to the scorching heat, many suffered from heatstroke and collapsed, but members of the “Can’t Walk Anymore” hiking club strolled along leisurely, showing no signs of fatigue.
Just Missed the Summit of Yuzhu Peak: Young Survivors of Typhoon Morakot Overcome the Trauma
Although the expedition to Yuzhu Peak (6,178m), led by Professor Hsieh Chih-mou of National Taiwan Sport University and sponsored by Junyue Enterprise, ultimately fell short of reaching the summit, it was indeed a rare and invaluable experience for the young survivors from the disaster-stricken areas. The climbing journey not only helped the team members develop independence but also fostered leadership skills, said Hsieh. On May 1, Hsieh selected five members from the disaster zones affected by Typhoon Morakot to begin self-training. Every day, they had to carry backpacks and hike for eight hours, run for 30 minutes, and cover five kilometers. They set off on June 26 and arrived at the 5,600-meter base camp on July 2. Unfortunately, they encountered a snowstorm that prevented them from reaching the summit. The entire team safely returned to Taiwan on July 10. Hsieh said that the primary goal of this 15-day adventurous learning program on Yuzhu Peak was to help the children from the disaster areas
Giant Cup Huang Hexun Wins 3 Golds, Advocating for Women’s Events
Veteran female cyclist Huang Hexun, with 15 years of racing experience, shone in yesterday’s mountain bike race. Starting from Jianjing and taking turns leading her teammates in a paceline, she powered all the way to the top of Tiezhen Mountain to claim the gold medal in the 30-and-under age group. Coupled with her wins in the road circuit race and cross-country race the previous day, she alone secured three gold medals, setting a new record. Xiao Meiyu took home two golds. Yesterday’s Giant Cup cycling race began with the morning mountain stage, starting at Dajia Stadium and led off the line by the Electric-Temple Trio Gods, then winding through downtown Dajia before ascending Tiezhen Mountain. The mountain race once again saw dominance by Taiwan’s Forward Racing Team, with Feng Junkai and Xiao Meiyu taking the overall men’s and women’s titles respectively. Feng Junkai, who won the road race the day before yesterday and added the mountain race gold medal yesterday, said: “I stuck close to Liu Shuming over the final kilometer and then made my move on the big turn just before the finish.” Last year, Feng had a crash in the cross-country race. This year, to ensure he can compete smoothly in the second half of the season,
Repairs to Guanyin Waterfall Road Face a Shortfall of NT$200 Million
The Guanyin Waterfall in Zhushan Township was once a popular dating spot for young couples. After enduring the 921 Earthquake, property disputes, and the devastation of Typhoon Morakot, the main waterfall—still resembling the image of the Goddess of Mercy—remains intact. However, the access roads have been severely damaged, making it difficult for hikers and local residents to enter and exit the area. They are hoping the county government will take notice. The county government stated that it has assisted the township office in applying to the central government for NT$200 million in restoration funding. Located in Wenfeng Village, Zhushan Township, on the upper reaches of the Puzi River, the Guanyin Waterfall, when water levels are high, cascades down from the mountaintop, with its curtain of water droplets resembling the silhouette of the Goddess of Mercy. Thanks to its serene environment, it once attracted numerous hikers and mountain climbers, and was a top choice for social gatherings and dates among locals born in the 1940s and 1950s in the Yunlin-Chiayi region, also driving the development of the Xixinliao settlement. On weekends during the 1970s and 1980s, tour buses and visitors from all over nearly crowded the area to capacity.
Hiker dies of suspected heat exhaustion; another drowns in Dapao Creek
With the entire country experiencing persistent high temperatures, heat-related incidents continue to rise. Hu Laijun, a man from Taoyuan County, went hiking on Xizhou Mountain in Daxi early on the 11th and is suspected to have died from heat exhaustion on his way back. Zhuang, an elderly man from Changhua, was riding a scooter to Lukang when he reportedly became dizzy from the heat, crashed into a utility pole, and after getting up, fell into a large drainage ditch and drowned. In Sanxia District, New Taipei City, another man, He Jiahong, reportedly fell into a two-meter drop in Dapao Creek and drowned. The Daxi branch of the Taoyuan County Fire Department stated that around 8 a.m. yesterday, the 119 emergency service reported a hiker who had collapsed and lost consciousness on the Xizhou Mountain trail. When paramedics arrived, 54-year-old Hu Laijun was already unconscious. As he still had a pulse and was breathing, they performed CPR. However, by the time he was being transported down the mountain, he had no vital signs. Despite being rushed to Longtan Tri-Service General Hospital for emergency treatment, he could not be saved. His wife, unable to hide her grief and anger, said that although other hikers had passed by, no one offered help. The companions who had set out with him also scattered without a second thought, which was disheartening.
Missing hiker found in fog-shrouded mountain area
A 15-member hiking group from the Taiwan Eco-Hiking Education Association reported that member Huang Junlin went missing in the fog-covered Wulan Mountain area on the northeastern ridge of Nanhu Mountain on the seventh. The Yilan County Fire Bureau and Air Rescue Squadron were alerted and dispatched personnel for a search and rescue operation. Huang, who had been missing for four days, was finally found near 7 p.m. on the tenth. The fire bureau first transported him to the Siji Police Station before evacuating him from the mountain area overnight for medical attention.
A city-wide scan — combined land and air search and rescue for hikers
Nantou: The Cloud Leopard Mountaineering Team summited Yushan, where a 50-year-old team member surnamed Zhang reportedly fell ill due to taking multiple medications. Fire department personnel deployed ground forces and coordinated with an air rescue helicopter, achieving the mission through combined land and air efforts.
Savoring Life – The Opportunity to Reach the Summit
Taiwan’s highest peak, Yushan (Jade Mountain), is renowned far and wide and is a must-climb for many hiking enthusiasts. Since its trails need to accommodate a large number of tourists, they have been upgraded to a “five-star hiking trail.”
20 elderly, weak, women, and patients summited Hehuanshan
What’s so hard about over 3,000 meters? A group of hiking enthusiasts from Beigang decided to climb Hehuanshan, expecting an easy victory. But the team included seniors, those in their seventies, people with tendonitis, varicose veins... the old, the weak, women, and those with health issues all joined in. Fourteen of them were first-timers to Taiwan’s “hundred peaks,” with no prior physical training. Relying on mutual encouragement and support, they all successfully reached the summit, surprising many. Retired principal Wu Changfa gathered like-minded retired and semi-retired friends to form the “Haha Smile Club,” meeting regularly to read books, tell stories, and share life’s ups and downs. Recently, someone proposed going hiking—specifically, tackling one of Taiwan’s hundred peaks, Hehuanshan—and the idea got widespread approval. Out of the twenty members, fourteen had never climbed a major mountain before, yet none were intimidated by the 3,422-meter peak, nor did they think pre-hike physical training or full gear preparation was necessary.
Zhongpu Precinct Police Officers Climb Yushan to Campaign Against Vote-Buying
Led by Tu Zhibiao, the head of the investigation team at Zhongpu Precinct, a group of nine police officers from both the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the precinct—climbed up from Tatachia on May 31st and successfully reached the summit of Yushan in the early morning of June 1st. With local grassroots elections approaching, besides carrying the precinct flag up the mountain, the team also brought an anti-vote-buying banner to Puyun Lodge to promote awareness. However, due to a mix-up, they accidentally brought along an anti-vote-buying banner from the legislative by-election held in February this year. Both local and international hikers took it in stride, exclaiming, “What a unique form of promotion!” This Yushan summit climb was initiated in April by Huang Hanwen, an investigator from the Development Division of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. The team included Tu Zhibiao, Chen Qianming (director of the precinct’s duty center), officers Dong Junmin, He Gongru, Huang Huangkun, Chen Kunxian, and Wang Qizhang and Liu Mingzhou from the traffic safety group—totaling nine members. From the initiation of the plan to the actual climb took less than two months. Given their busy daily schedules, the officers had to motivate one another. In addition to regular physical training, they would also go to nearby low-altitude mountains on weekends to build endurance.
The Final Coming-of-Age Ceremony: 200 Youths Step into Adulthood
I Reached the Summit! The nine-year-old coming-of-age ceremony may become history after the county-city merger. On the 22nd, it attracted 200 students to sign up, taking on an entry-level mountain hike — climbing steep slopes of up to 60 degrees to reach the summit of Qishan’s Qwei Mountain as a rite of passage into adulthood, then proceeding to Qishan Confucius Temple where they received traditional adult headwear to mark their coming of age. Yesterday at 6 a.m., 200 young warriors from universities and high schools in the Kaohsiung area formed 20 teams, all full of energy as they gathered at the square in front of the county government building for a swearing-in ceremony. After receiving their flags from Magistrate of Civil Affairs Chiu Chih-wei, they set off for Qishan Sugar Refinery. After the County-City Merger, It May Become History
Chen Xiuzhen: Planning to Form an All-Female Mountaineering Team
On a major traverse of Taiwan’s coastal ranges and the Alishan Mountain Range, Chen Xiuzhen, the only female among six adventurers, held her own with the men. Not only did she complete the challenge of scaling Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks, but she has also conquered all five major mountain ranges. She said she plans to establish a women-only mountaineering team in the future to appreciate Taiwan’s beautiful mountains from a female perspective. Now 45 and single, Chen Xiuzhen said that despite having 12 years of mountaineering experience, this traverse felt particularly challenging. Whether it was climbing steep slopes or traversing ridges, it was a major test of both physical strength and endurance. Reflecting on her mountaineering experiences, she recalled encountering Taiwan black bears several times. Once, on the eastern section of the Batongguan Historic Trail, a black bear quietly walked past just five meters away, leaving a deep impression on her. “I also want to form an all-female mountaineering team!” Chen Xiuzhen said. Women tend to move more slowly and have different observation angles and views of the scenery compared to men.
Exploring Two Major Mountain Ranges: Cliffs, Venomous Insects, and Brambles — Six Braves Complete a 72-Day Trek
Six brave members of the Republic of China Mountain Rescue Association spent seventy-two days enduring dense forest thickets, brambles, and venomous insect attacks to successfully complete the exploration of Taiwan’s most challenging mid-to-low-altitude mountain ranges — the Coastal Range and the Alishan Mountain Range. On foot, they mapped out emergency shelters, communication points, and rescue sites along the route, and shot an on-site mountaineering safety education video. On the sixteenth day, they arrived at their final destination, Qishan, where they were met with enthusiastic cheers.