Classic Itineraries
Li Xiaoshi is carrying Mazu up the perilous 8,163-meter peak
Li Xiaoshi, the legendary mountaineer from Matsu who two years ago became the first person to carry a deity statue up Mount Everest while transporting the Mazu statue, has finally saved up 1.8 million New Taiwan dollars. He is now heading to Nepal to climb Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak. He said he hopes to show Mazu the sights that no one in Taiwan has ever seen before. Li Xiaoshi will take a China Eastern Airlines flight this afternoon to Nepal, then transfer to a vehicle to reach the base of Manaslu. The climb begins at around 500 meters above sea level and aims for the summit at 8,163 meters. The ascent is expected to take 81 days, and he will have to overcome harsh conditions such as strong winds and ice-covered rocks to reach the top. The climbing team includes him, visual artist Lin Weiweng, and mountaineer Chen Keming, who will document the journey in a documentary. Speaking about this expedition, Li Xiaoshi emphasized that Mazu will be with him every step of the way. Before departure, he also returned to his hometown to pray and seek Mazu’s blessing.
City News - The Youth Corps Will Hold a Hiking Event Tomorrow
Taichung: The Taichung City Committee of the Youth Corps will simultaneously organize hiking activities on the 26th at Toukeshan, Tiezhan Mountain, Shaolai Mountain, Juxing Mountain, Sanding Mountain, Anying Mountain, and Azhaowu Mountain. The main event will take place at Nanguanyin Mountain in the suburbs, and citizens are welcome to join.
Cold snap hits Tour de Taiwan as Marcus dons yellow jersey
The highly competitive Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Team demonstrated strong breakaway capabilities despite the cold front and headwinds. Notably, Austrian domestique Marcus leveraged his two attacks at climb points to build a lead, winning the third stage of the Tour de Taiwan in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 6 seconds. He also snatched the honorific yellow jersey from his teammate Medeiros by a 12-second margin. The stage started from Taoyuan County Government, passing through Zhuwei, Yong’an, Xinyi, Qingpu, Neili, Zhongli, Longtan, Daxi, and finishing at the Cihu Visitor Center — a total distance of 114.60 km. Due to the cold wave, riders faced tough headwinds along coastal sections. The strong Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Team launched their breakaway as soon as they entered the urban area, with average speeds surging instantly. Climb specialist Marcus was the first to cross the line at the particularly challenging 401-meter high climb point, and then led the pack before the second-to-last climb before the finish. These two climb points alone allowed Marcus to pull away from the rest and secure the stage win. Australia’s Pro Racing Pokolbin finished 21 seconds behind in second place, while Hong Kong’s Champion System’s Owain Brown, who secured 13 points across three sprint points, came in third, 44 seconds off the pace.
Recovering from a serious illness, Feng Junkai fights his way through
Earlier this year, a severe cold nearly prevented Taiwan’s Action Cycling Team rider Feng Junkai from competing. But the 23-year-old, once given the green light yesterday, immediately broke away to successfully secure the first mountain point with 6 points. Although he still trails Meredith’s 9 points overall, with Meredith wearing the yellow jersey, Feng Junkai will don the polka-dot jersey today as a replacement. Talking about his illness experience, Feng Junkai shook his head and said, “It was terrifying. Not only did I perform poorly at the Asian Championships in February, but I was also hospitalized for a week due to pneumonia. It wasn’t until 10 days ago that my condition improved, and even the doctors weren’t sure if I was fully recovered.” As the home team rider, Feng Junkai didn’t want to miss the chance to perform in front of the local crowd. Unfortunately, his stamina and muscular endurance haven’t fully returned to peak condition. Yesterday, he crossed the finish line with the main group in 2 hours, 52 minutes and 07 seconds. Right now, I’ve only recovered
Merida Big Nine Team Edition vies for the crown of 29er mountain bikes
For over 30 years since the global launch of mountain bikes, the 26-inch wheel size has been the standard. However, with the growing trend of 29er (29-inch larger wheel size) bikes in European and American markets, Merida has specially introduced what it claims to be the world’s fastest 29-inch super bike — the Big Nine Carbon Team. The goal is to become the first to reclaim the world championship title using a 29er mountain bike. Merida stated that the 29-inch super bike offers better obstacle clearance compared to traditional 26-inch models, along with superior climbing grip and comfort, gradually winning favor in the market. But Merida particularly emphasized that this newly launched carbon fiber 29-inch Big Nine Carbon Team is not just about a larger wheel size — it incorporates many professional design details.
A pair of elementary school brothers conquer 26 of Taiwan's Hundred Peaks
A pair of elementary school brothers in Taichung City—Chen Xuantong and Chen Xinxing—went hiking with their parents on Hehuan East Peak five years ago and have been hooked on mountaineering ever since. They regularly ask their parents to take them hiking, always choosing mountains over 3,000 meters high. To date, they’ve completed 26 of Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks, earning the title of the youngest peak-conquering duo, even impressing seasoned hikers. Five years ago, first-grader Chen Xuantong from Weige Elementary School and his kindergarten senior brother, Chen Xinxing, climbed Hehuan East Peak with their parents. After about four hours, they reached the summit. Xuantong was captivated by the vast mountain scenery and fell in love with hiking. His sporty brother Xinxing tagged along with him, and the two became the best of partners. Their father is a busy doctor, so the brothers usually hike with their mother, Chen Shurong, who laughs and says, “I’m dragging my old bones up the mountains with them.”
Elderly Father Goes Missing While Hiking, Reunited Only in Death
∷ Lin Xihai, an elderly man, went hiking with friends at Fufu Mountain in Xuewunao, Fuxing Township, late last month, but unexpectedly went missing. The Daxi police and firefighters searched the mountain for five consecutive days but found nothing. Near noon on the fourth day, the victim’s body was discovered in the riverbed 1,100 meters below Xuewunao, leaving the family devastated by the tragic news. On the afternoon of February 28, the Yonghua Police Station of the Daxi Precinct received a report from Lin Kexiong, stating that his father, Lin Xihai (80 years old, from Tainan City), along with five friends, had planned to hike Fufu Mountain in Xuewunao, Fuxing Township. He had returned to the car to fetch warm clothing for his father but, in the blink of an eye, could no longer find him, prompting him to ask the police for help in locating his father. ↑Including Chief You Huajin and volunteer mountain police, along with 13 members of the fire brigade, they immediately entered the mountain area to search. However, at the time, heavy fog had set in the mountains, temperatures dropped sharply,
Scanning the city—Hiker goes missing, police and firefighters launch mountain rescue
Nantou: Hiker Zhang Boyi went missing while climbing Baigushan Mountain in Faxiang Village, Ren'ai Township. He disappeared on the way to Siyan Pond. The Ren'ai Fire Brigade dispatched two police and firefighters, two forest patrol officers from the Forestry Bureau, and two mountain police to conduct a search and rescue mission on the mountain. As of last night, the missing hiker’s whereabouts remained unconfirmed.
OutDoor Taiwan promotes the "100 Peaks Grand Slam"
Recently, OutDoor Taiwan held its 2011 spring collection launch event, showcasing this year’s latest outdoor spring fashion and gear. Chairman Cheng Kun also announced the launch of the "100 Peaks Grand Slam" initiative on the occasion of the centennial of the Republic of China. Through outdoor hiking activities that encourage public participation, the initiative invites everyone to personally experience the beauty of Taiwan’s major and minor peaks. By engaging in outdoor fitness activities together, it aims to challenge a Guinness World Record and celebrate the 100th birthday of the Republic of China. The ongoing "Climb 100 Peaks to Celebrate 100 Years" campaign has divided Taiwan’s 100 Peaks into 26 routes based on geographic location and ideal climbing seasons, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to rediscover the wonder, peril, majesty, and beauty of these peaks. From 2005 to 2009, OutDoor Taiwan invested over NT$35 million in manpower and resources to complete the world’s most glorious and perilous Seven Summits climbing project in Taiwan’s history.
Taiwanese mountaineers prepare for a decade to conquer the world's 14 peaks
Following their 2009 sponsorship of a Taiwanese climbing team that successfully scaled the Seven Summits and gained international acclaim, Cheng Kun, chairman of outdoor recreation equipment manufacturer OutDoor, announced on the 22nd that he will continue to rally and sponsor top polar adventurers in Taiwan to conquer the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 meters. Currently, only 21 climbers worldwide have completed this formidable challenge. To ensure Taiwan is not left out, OutDoor plans to invest over 100 million NTD in the next decade to support Taiwanese mountaineers in continuing to set world records. OutDoor invested 35 million NTD in funding and manpower from 2005 to 2009 to assist Lin Xiu-zhen and others in achieving the feat of climbing the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. With the support of the Sports Affairs Council, Cheng Kun has launched another greater exploration plan, aiming to rally Taiwanese polar experts over the next ten years to take on the world's 14 peaks exceeding 8,000 meters in height, enabling the Taiwanese mountaineering team to make history at the world’s highest summits.
NTU Foreign Languages Department Female Student Dies After Falling into Valley While Hiking
Six students from the National Taiwan University Mountaineering Club began their trek on February 7 via the Luyeh Yanping Forest Trail in Taitung County. By the morning of the 18th, they had reached the Shishan Forest Trail in Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, and were expected to complete their hiking trip that day. However, female student Huang Qinwen accidentally fell 500 meters down a valley. The National Airborne Service Corps was dispatched via helicopter for the rescue, but unfortunately, Huang sustained severe injuries, including multiple fractures, and passed away before reaching the hospital. Lt. Col. Dong Jiancheng, head of the Airborne Service Corps, explained that at around noon on the 18th, the six NTU mountaineering club members were hiking near the Shishan Forest Trail in Taoyuan District when 24-year-old Huang Qinwen fell into the valley by accident. Upon receiving a report from Wang, an instructor at the university, the Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau immediately requested an airborne rescue from the Airborne Service Corps. At 12:45 p.m., the Airborne Corps helicopter, carrying members of the Special Search Team Southern Branch including squad leader Su Shuncong and team member Zhang Wenzong, took off from Tainan Airport.
Scanning the city — Hikers lost in Beichatianshan, Fuxing Township
Taoyuan: The Daxi Police Precinct received a report on the evening of the 7th that two hikers had gone missing. Fearing potential danger after nightfall, police, firefighters, and volunteer mountain police spent over three hours hiking before finally locating the pair and escorting them down the mountain. The Beichatianshan area in Fuxing Township frequently sees hikers getting lost, making it one of the most “alluring yet tricky” hiking trails. Police remind hikers not to be overly confident — it’s best to go with a guide.
Self-fulfillment – Odysun’s Everest Expedition Encourages Youth to Chase Their Dreams
Organized jointly by Odysun Co., Ltd., the Chinese Taipei Mountaineering Association, and the Chinese Taipei Hiking and Mountaineering Association, the "Odysun Lets You See the Height of the World" Global 14 Peaks Over 8,000 Meters Expedition Plan, after confirming its shortlist on January 15th, held a series of joint training courses last weekend at the National Park Mountaineering School at the Lushui Management Station in Taroko National Park, building up more energy for future climbs.
Conquer Mountains and Seas to Build a Professional Brand
In 1986, Cheng Kun, then 26 years old, founded Oujin Enterprise with several million in capital to establish ATUNAS, vowing to become Taiwan’s leading outdoor leisure brand. Today, he has not only achieved that goal but also invested NT$30 million between 2006 and 2009 to organize an expedition team that successfully summited the highest peaks on all seven continents, setting multiple world records and writing a historic chapter for ATUNAS. Only by shaping a professional brand image can a company find sustainable development goals—a realization that took root in Cheng Kun’s mind early on. Even though his father’s Shinwang Industry had already built a solid foundation, Cheng Kun insisted on forging his own path in his own way. Starting from the ground up—forging his own path
Climbing Yushan Just Got Easier: Taiwan’s First Eco-Friendly Toilet to Be Built
Yushan is a symbol of Taiwan, attracting domestic and international hikers year-round. The quality of mountain tourism also reflects Taiwan’s international image. After a year of application, the Rotary Club has finally been approved by the Yushan National Park Headquarters to build the country’s first high-altitude eco-friendly toilet at the Datie Shan trailhead. The project is being coordinated by the Chiayi Gaofeng Rotary Club, with completion scheduled for April or May 2011. Chiayi Gaofeng Rotary Club President Tsai Mei-chen stated that the Rotary International District 3470 began applying to the Yushan National Park Headquarters last year to construct an eco-friendly toilet at the Yushan trailhead. However, the park authority conducted rigorous reviews on high-altitude soil and water conservation as well as environmental impact assessments, leading to multiple revisions of the design plans. The project was finally approved this year, with construction set to begin by the end of this year or early next year, and completion expected in April or May.
Wild boar hunting turns fatal; clouded leopard search ends in valley fall – 1 dead, 2 injured
In Taitung, two separate accidents occurred late last night and noon yesterday, resulting in one death and two injuries. Three Bunun hunters were shot while hunting wild boars—one died and another was injured. Separately, three people from Hualien searching for clouded leopards had one fall into a valley with broken limbs; rescue workers will attempt to retrieve him today. Three Bunun hunters surnamed Kuo, Chiu, and Yu from Guanping Township, Taitung County, received reports that wild boars in the Qilin Mountain area of Heping Village, Chenggong Town, were damaging crops. Late last night, Kuo Chin-hui (40) and Chiu Cheng-chung (45) each took a homemade hunting rifle into the mountains to hunt wild boars, while Yu stayed in the vehicle. Chiu and Kuo walked in single file, with Kuo carrying his rifle on his shoulder and holding the muzzle with his left hand. After walking less than ten meters, the gun snagged on a vine, causing the trigger to fire. Kuo Chin-hui’s left...
The Travel Goods Expo showcases elegance and highlights smart tourism
The China International Travel Goods Expo (hereinafter referred to as the Travel Goods Expo) is a large-scale international exhibition of travel goods jointly organized by the National Tourism Administration and the People's Government of Zhejiang Province. It serves as a major platform to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry and promote the development of the tourism economy. This internationally influential Chinese travel goods exhibition is one of the key exhibitions nurtured by the state.
China Music Valley? 2013 Beijing Midi Music Festival Transportation Guide
There are four ways to get to the Midi Music Festival site: First, take a dedicated Midi shuttle bus directly to the main entrance of the festival. Second, take Bus 852 from Dongzhimen to Pinggu urban area, then transfer to a shuttle bus to reach the main entrance. Third, drive via the Beijing-Pinggu Expressway, park at the festival’s P3 parking lot, and then transfer to a shuttle bus to reach ...
Another arson attack at Xiangshan; suspect is a backpacker
The Xiangshan arsonist, who had been quiet for a while, has struck again. The city’s famous hiking and night-viewing destination, Xiangshan Scenic Area, has seen multiple arson incidents this year. The perpetrator chose to set fires in the mountain’s pavilions between Friday evenings and the early hours of the morning. Police reviewed surveillance footage and identified a man aged around 30 to 40 as a prime suspect, believing he may be the same Xiangshan arsonist who has been active for years. “According to the Taipei City Fire Department, there were a total of 33 arson cases in the city last year, ranking as the third most common cause of fires. So far this year, there have already been five arson incidents at Xiangshan alone, occurring in March, May, and June, with the fires typically breaking out between midnight and 6 a.m.” As one of the Four Beasts Mountains, Xiangshan has long been a popular spot for locals to hike and relax, offering panoramic views of Taipei. However, since January 2008, the mountain has been hit by a series of arson attacks.
12 junior high students kick drugs and smoking habits through adventure together
To help twelve junior high school students battling drug and smoking addictions, the Ministry of Education took them on a climb through the Central Mountain Range for a 21-day high-altitude wilderness adventure therapy program. They returned yesterday completely transformed from their formerly unruly behavior. Minister of Education Wu Ching-chi gave each of them a compass, hoping it would help them find direction in life. These twelve students were all from junior high schools in New Taipei City, all struggling with drug and smoking addictions, and some had even previously committed offenses such as sexually assaulting female classmates. The Ministry of Education decided to try an internationally established method known as adventure therapy. Starting June 8, professional mountain climbing coaches and counseling experts led this group of students on a 21-day trek through the Central Mountain Range, passing through eight peaks listed among Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks, including Yushan, Shiangyangshan, Nanshuangtoushan, Lulushan, Tapingshan, Dafenjianshan, and Nandashuik’oushan. The official in charge of planning this activity, Wu Yuchou, outdoor education supervisor of the New Taipei City Student Off-Campus Activities Council, said...