Classic Itineraries
Man falls into valley while hiking; rescued but found lifeless
The Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau received an alert from the Nantou County Fire Bureau early this morning that a male hiker surnamed Huang had accidentally fallen into a valley at [Sancha Peak], on the border between Kaohsiung and Nantou County. A helicopter rescue was requested, and the Air Rescue Squadron of the Air Force Rescue and Guard Command rescued the hiker by hoist around 7:30 a.m. today. He was then flown to Tainan Airport for medical treatment. However, the man was found to have no signs of life upon rescue. (Narrated by Wen Lan-kuei)
The student hiking trail is overgrown and awaiting renovation.
Step by step up the steep staircase, looking down from above, the beautiful harbor view unfolds in full splendor. Su’ao Township’s Nan’an Junior High School incorporates health promotion courses that take students hiking twice a week. But for over a decade now, this trail leading to the Su-Hua Highway has become overgrown with weeds and some of its railings are damaged. After the school voiced its concerns, the managing authorities have pledged to make improvements as soon as possible. Located next to Neipi Bay, Nan’an Junior High School is blessed with a prime location—facing the sea in front and backed by small hills. The school has developed distinctive courses. Unlike most schools that boost students' physical fitness through running, this institution assigns two teachers to use early self-study periods twice a week to lead students along the mountain trail behind the school. The winding path leads up to the Su-Hua Highway and ends at the Nanfang’ao Viewpoint. Principal Lin Hui-chu says that nowadays students exercise less and less, but bringing them on this trail has made many of them healthier.
Local Report — Heartbroken Widower Hangs Himself on Hiking Trail
New Taipei: Unable to bear the grief of losing his wife, a 73-year-old man surnamed Huang was found hanging himself on a hiking trail near Bao’an Street around 9 a.m. on the 3rd. Police and firefighters arrived to find him dead. Initial investigations ruled out homicide. The man’s son said that just over 100 days had passed since his mother’s death from illness, and that his father, overwhelmed with sorrow, took his own life — choosing the very trail where the couple used to exercise together. ★ Give Yourself Another Chance Suicide Prevention Hotline: 0800-788995 (24 hours) Lifeline: 1995 Teacher Zhang Hotline: 1980
Hikers Stranded by Typhoon Rescued via Helicopter Due to Altitude Sickness
A five-member hiking team stranded during Typhoon Krathon in the Nengkuan Antungjun Mountain area had one member develop altitude sickness yesterday while descending the Nengkuan Traverse Trail and was airlifted to hospital today by helicopter. A group of five hikers climbing Nengkuan Antungjun Mountain were active in the Nengkuan Antungjun and Nengkuan South Peak areas on August 29 when Typhoon Krathon warnings were issued. Due to the long distance, they couldn’t descend in time, so police advised the group to seek shelter nearby. After the typhoon moved away, the four men and one woman began descending along the Nengkuan Traverse Trail. Yesterday afternoon, near the 15K "Guangbei Biao" monument, a male team member surnamed Lin, around 30 years old, briefly lost contact. When found by forestry patrol officers, he appeared to be suffering from altitude sickness and was unable to walk. His teammates escorted him to Tianchi Mountain Lodge near the 13K mark to await rescue. The Nantou County Fire Bureau
50 Years in Taiwan: Swiss Monk Climbs Mountains to Celebrate
Father Augustine, a Swiss monk from the Catholic Bethlehem Mission, arrived in Taiwan on August 28 fifty years ago, crossing the ocean to make Taitung his home. Passionate about mountain climbing, he met fellow enthusiasts from across Taiwan. To celebrate his 50th anniversary in Taiwan, he and his hiking friends scaled Xiangyang Mountain, which stands 3,602 meters above sea level, and cut a cake together yesterday. The 78-year-old Father Augustine is currently the longest-serving foreign clergy member in Taiwan. For the past 50 years, he has worked in general affairs and administration for the Catholic Bethlehem Mission. A lover of mountaineering, he founded the Xiangyang Mountaineering Team, which is also the oldest hiking group in Taitung. This year marks both the 60th anniversary of the Bethlehem Mission’s presence in Taiwan and Father Augustine’s 50th year in the country. Hiking friends planned a two-day, one-night trek up Xiangyang Mountain, his favorite peak. The day before yesterday, hikers from all over Taiwan stayed overnight at the Xiangyang Mountain Hut. Yesterday at around 1 a.m., they set off fully equipped to reach the summit of Xiangyang Mountain. They formed a "50" shape with apples and one hiker even carried a cake up the mountain to celebrate Father Augustine’s 50 years in Taiwan amidst the highland scenery.
Area Scan – Snow Mountain Hiking Routes Partially Reopened
Miaoli: The Shei-Pa National Park has resumed access to the Snow Mountain Main-East Peak Route, Wuling Four Beauties Route, Zhijiayang Route, Daba North Ridge Route, as well as the Sacred Ridge O-shaped and Y-shaped hiking routes starting today. Other routes remain temporarily closed. Among these, the Daba Route (from Guanwu to Daba Jian Mountain) has suspended application procedures. Closed routes can only be entered after surveying and repairs are completed.
The Snow Mountain Hiking Trail is temporarily closed to visitors.
The Shei-Pa National Park Administration announced that to ensure the safety of hiking trails after the typhoon, all hiking activities in the ecological protection area remain suspended.
Hikers have been contacted: 2,977 have descended, 23 are staying overnight in the mountains
Regarding the situation of hikers during Typhoon Trami, the Ministry of the Interior stated that a total of 3,000 people had entered the mountains. After making contact, 2,977 have descended, while another 23 are staying overnight in the mountains and are currently safe.
Veteran mountain biker dies after 200-meter cliff fall
Yang Canpai, a 56-year-old mountain biker from Changhua County, was descending from Tianchi Mountain Lodge in Ren’ai Township toward the Tunnyuan Trailhead on the 18th when he accidentally fell off a cliff near the Yunhai Power Line Station. Tragically, he plunged 200 meters down the mountainside. When police and firefighters arrived for the search and rescue operation, they found no signs of life. His body has since been transported by rescuers to Tianchi Mountain Lodge, awaiting helicopter retrieval and descent on the 19th. The Nantou County Fire Bureau received a report at 12:33 p.m. yesterday about a mountain biker falling off a cliff near the Yunhai Power Line Station. The Ren’ai Fire Brigade immediately dispatched five firefighters to conduct a mountain search and also requested helicopter assistance. However, due to poor weather conditions in the mountainous area, the helicopter circled the region before returning without success. A group of 17 cyclists from the Changhua County United Mountain Biking Team were riding their bikes from Tianchi Mountain Lodge toward the Lushan Tunnyuan Trailhead in Ren’ai Township yesterday noon.
Male cyclist dies in mountain fall; body airlifted down
A man from Changhua County, Yang Cangpai, died yesterday after falling into a valley while cycling up the Nenggao Mountain Trail in Nantou County. His body was airlifted down this morning by helicopter, leaving his family in grief. A joint cycling team of 17 people from Changhua attempted to conquer the Nenggao Mountain Trail in Ren’ai Township, Nantou, yesterday. Around 12:30 p.m., teammate Yang Cangpai fell nearly 200 meters down a deep valley along a steep cliff section, about 9.8 kilometers from the Tungyuan Trailhead. Team members risked their lives to descend into the valley to rescue him, but Yang had already tragically passed away. The Ren’ai Branch of Nantou County Fire Bureau was alerted and dispatched personnel for assistance. The bureau also requested a helicopter from the Air Rescue Squadron to perform an aerial recovery, but the mission was aborted due to poor weather conditions. Ground rescue teams, including police and volunteer firefighters, arrived at the scene at 4:25 p.m. and managed to move the deceased’s body onto the road around 6 p.m. At approximately 7:30 p.m., the body was temporarily taken to Tianchi Mountain Lodge in preparation for an airlift down the mountain today.
Cycling team on mountain hike – 1 cyclist dies in Tainan valley fall
A group of 17 cyclists hiking in the mountains today had one teammate fall to their death in a valley along the Tunyuan Mountain Trail in Ren’ai Township, Nantou. Police and firefighters are on the scene handling the incident. Nantou County Fire Bureau’s Ren’ai Branch received an afternoon report that a male cyclist from Changhua County had fallen about 200 meters down a steep valley at the 9.8K mark on the path from the Tunyuan Trailhead toward Tianchi Mountain Lodge, taking his bike with him. Teammates risked their way down into the valley to carry out a rescue, but the man showed no signs of life. The Ren’ai Fire Brigade dispatched personnel for the rescue, and the Nantou County Fire Bureau requested a helicopter from the Air Rescue Squadron to perform a hoist mission, but it turned back due to poor weather. Ground-based police and firefighters arrived at the scene at 4:25 p.m., helping teammates carry the deceased man who fell into the valley up to the road for transport. Nantou County Police Bureau’s Ren’ai Precinct is investigating; the hiking group consisted of 17 members,
Tibet to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first human ascent of Mount Everest, and the Tibet Mountaineering Team plans to hold the 11th Mountaineering Conference this autumn to commemorate the occasion. The conference will begin on September 26, with main activities including climbing Qizhi Peak, Qizhi II Peak, and high-altitude trekking. [Nima Ciren, the overall commander of the conference and deputy director of the Tibet Autonomous Region Sports Bureau, told Xinhua News Agency that the three activities—climbing Qizhi Peak, Qizhi II Peak, and high-alt
Special Exhibition in Memory of Legendary Mountaineer Li Xiaoshi – Candlelight Tribute
Legendary mountaineer Li Xiaoshi tragically lost his life in May while attempting to climb Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak. Yesterday, the county government held the “Gentle Breeze, Lingering Moon – Shi in Our Hearts” memorial exhibition at Meiling Art Museum. Attendees, including Li Xiaoshi’s widow Lin Qingqing, eldest son Li Yao, and other family members, gathered around the installation artwork “The Moment We Were Among the Clouds” within the exhibition space, expressing their condolences and blessings for the legendary figure through candlelight. The memorial exhibition showcasing Li Xiaoshi’s calligraphy, paintings, and mountain photography will run from today until September 15. At the opening ceremony yesterday, Deputy Magistrate Lin Meizhu and Puzi City Mayor Wang Rujing presented honors — the Certificate of Honorary County Resident and the Certificate of Honorary City Resident — to recognize Li Xiaoshi’s contributions to art and culture as well as his achievements in the mountaineering community. Lin Qingqing expressed gratitude to family, friends, and the county government for organizing the memorial exhibition, and spoke emotionally about her husband’s passion for mountaineering and his many stories. Li Yao performed an original guitar song he wrote, titled “Hearing You’ve Gone Far,” as a tribute to his father.
The Li Xiaoshi Memorial Exhibition Honors Mountaineering Achievements
Mountain-climbing legend Li Xiaoshi tragically lost his life while attempting to summit Lhotse, the world’s fourth-highest peak. Today, Chiayi County Government held a memorial exhibition and awarded him an honorary county resident certificate in recognition of his cultural contributions and mountaineering achievements. The opening ceremony of the Li Xiaoshi Memorial Exhibition was held this morning at Meiling Art Museum. Deputy Magistrate Lin Meizhu, along with Li Xiaoshi’s wife Lin Qingqing, eldest son Li Yao, and other family members, jointly participated in the installation artwork “The Moment We Were in the Clouds” within the exhibition space, expressing remembrance and blessings through candlelight. Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hua-kuan, who had originally planned to present the honorary county resident certificate in person, was instead represented by Lin Meizhu as she accompanied President Ma Ying-jeou on an inspection trip to Alishan. The certificate was accepted by Li Xiaoshi’s widow, Lin Qingqing. Lin Meizhu said that although Li Xiaoshi was from Matsu, he had long resided in Chiayi County and was the son-in-law of Puzi. Throughout his life, he had a deep love for art and a passion for mountain climbing, embodying the down-to-earth, hardworking, striving, and forward-looking spirit of the people of Chiayi.
Mount Fuji sees record number of climbers in July this year
Although Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, where Japan’s Mount Fuji is located, implemented an entrance fee trial for the first time this year, the number of climbers from July 1 to 21 reached over 79,000—nearly 80,000—marking a 35% increase compared to the same period last year. This sets a new record since statistics began in 2005. Japan’s Ministry of the Environment attributes this surge to Mount Fuji’s successful inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June. The official climbing season on Mount Fuji runs from July 1 to August 31. The current record for the highest number of climbers was set in 2010, with approximately 320,000 visitors. This summer, that record could very well be broken.
Chasing Dreams: A Mountain-Climbing Heroine Encourages Foster Children
★ To help foster children break through their limits, Pingtung Family Service Center organized an 18-kid bike ride from Dapeng Bay to Hengchun during summer vacation. After the activity, they invited Jiang Xiu-zhen, the first Chinese woman to complete the Seven Summits on all seven continents, to share her life story and inspire the children to never give up on their dreams. The kids gained a lot from her talk. Jiang specially brought her Mount Everest climbing gear to get closer to the children, who were eager to try it out. Fifteen-year-old Wei put on a snowsuit that can withstand minus 20 degrees Celsius and called out in less than three minutes that it was too heavy and hot. Fourteen-year-old Cheng struggled to put on a pair of five-kilogram snow boots and took ten minutes to finally get them on. These experiences helped them better understand the difficulty of reaching the world’s highest peaks.
Mountain climber on Mont Blanc finds luxury jewelry
A French mountaineer found a jewelry box on Mont Blanc containing dozens of high-value pieces. Police said today that the items likely belonged to a victim of one of two Air India plane crashes that occurred decades ago. Police stated that the jewelry box was engraved with “Made in India.” The climber discovered the box while ascending a glacier on Mont Blanc (Mont Blanc) and handed it over to authorities on the 9th. Officials believe the box may have belonged to a passenger from an Air India flight that crashed in either 1950 or 1966. The climber chose to remain anonymous. The police said the metal box was slightly smaller than a shoebox and contained several small pouches holding unmounted gemstones, mostly emeralds and sapphires. Authorities noted that due to the glacier’s constant movement, wreckage that was previously buried has now come to the surface.
French mountaineer discovers a trove of Indian jewelry on Mont Blanc
A young French mountaineer discovered a treasure trove on Mont Blanc, including numerous pieces of jadeite, rubies, and sapphires. Preliminary investigations suggest that these likely belonged to passengers aboard an Indian passenger plane that crashed in the area 47 years ago. The gems, worth approximately NT$9.8 million, were buried in a metal box under the snow and ice, with some pieces still bearing Indian manufacturing marks. The 20-something French climber handed over the valuable jewels to local police, leaving officers astonished and praising his honesty. French authorities have contacted India in an attempt to locate the owners or heirs of the jewelry. According to French law, if the original owner of an item handed in to the police by a mountaineer cannot be found, the discoverer may claim it. However, police stated they
Local Highlights – New Taipei’s Hard Man Ridge Coming-of-Age Ceremony Invites Students to Conquer the Summit
New Taipei: The New Taipei City Government will host the New Taipei Mountain Tourism Festival “Hard Man Coming-of-Age Ceremony – Thousand-Person Mountain Climbing Event” from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the 28th at Guanyinshan Visitor Center, inviting a hundred students to climb Hard Man Ridge together with Sasa. On-site registration for the mountain climbing activity is open, and participants can receive one raffle ticket (limited to 2,000 people). For inquiries, call: 0800-033088.
Former special forces soldier loves hiking, reported missing twice and rescued
A retired soldier surnamed Hsieh from the special forces went hiking on the southern peak of Ganhsu Mountain and went missing. His worried family reported the case, and the Air Rescue Squadron dispatched a helicopter today to rescue him and bring him back safely.