Classic Itineraries
Hiking Tourist Goes Missing in Jianshi; Search Efforts Yield No Results
Yangmei Hiking Group Member Lin Caixi went missing on September 17 in Xibao, Jianshi Township. Over the past two weeks, the county fire department has mobilized search and rescue efforts, with police, firefighters, and civilian rescue teams deploying over 500 personnel, yet there has been no good news. The family remains helpless, while emergency responders are exhausted by the seemingly endless mountain search. The fire department urges the public to carefully consider hiking plans to avoid wasting social resources. The fire department stated that 68-year-old Lin Caixi and a group of 42 people hiked in the God Tree area of Zone B in Xibao on September 17. Around 3 p.m. during the return trip, he was reported missing by fellow group members, prompting an immediate police search. Firefighters have since deployed personnel to search along the group’s hiking route, but as of now, Lin has not been found.
Hiker falls into valley; military conducts two rescue missions
A male member of a hiking team in Hualien recently fell into a valley. Today, the military deployed helicopters twice to transport ground search and rescue personnel into the mountains, but the hiker’s whereabouts remain unknown. The Ministry of National Defense said today that the hiker had accidentally fallen into a valley at the 35-kilometer mark of the Rueisuei Forest Road in Hualien on the afternoon of the 28th. The National Search and Rescue Center applied for military helicopter assistance that day, but due to poor weather conditions in the mountainous area, the mission aircraft could not enter the target zone, and the mission was canceled. This morning, the Ministry of National Defense received another request from the National Search and Rescue Center and dispatched an S-70C helicopter from the Taitung Chi-Hang Base of the Air Force. In total, the helicopter transported 11 ground search and rescue personnel for the rescue operation, but so far, there has been no result. The Ministry of National Defense stated that the military will continue to assist in the rescue mission for the hiker who fell into the valley, as per applications from the National Search and Rescue Center. 1020930
Conquer the Peaks – Mountain Trains Take You to 3000M
If you want to get closer to the Matterhorn, don’t worry about not being fit enough. Even someone as out of shape as me can easily access peaks over 3000 meters in Switzerland. In Taiwan, climbing a mountain over 3000 meters requires a lot of preparation and training, but in Switzerland, thanks to the well-developed railway and cable car systems, even average tourists can easily ascend to great heights. The best way to get close to the Matterhorn is by taking the Gornergrat mountain train. This alpine rack railway, completed in 1898, takes you from an altitude of 1650 meters to the Gornergrat viewing platform at 3089 meters in just 33 minutes. On the train, you can admire the Matterhorn from various angles. On a clear day, you’ll be awestruck by the sight of several 4000-meter-plus peaks surrounding the viewing platform.
A hiker in Meiling, Tainan, stepped on a ferret-badger, with some reporting their pant legs being bitten through
Meiling is a popular hiking spot in Tainan City, but the day before yesterday, an incident occurred where a hiker accidentally stepped on a ferret-badger, and someone’s pant leg was even bitten through. Fearing that the aggressive ferret-badger might be infected with rabies, the hikers quickly reported the incident to the Tainan City Animal Disease Control and Prevention Office. The Tainan City Government has since dispatched personnel to the site to post warning signs and is urging hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to pay attention to safety.
Hiker in distress rescued by military helicopter
The Ministry of National Defense said today that a hiker surnamed Xiao felt unwell while at the Sacred Guanyin Peak in Fengshan Village, Alishan, and was successfully rescued by an S-70C military helicopter. The injured hiker was then transported to a hospital. The ministry received a report from the National Search and Rescue Center today stating that a hiker surnamed Xiao felt unwell during a climb at Sacred Guanyin Peak in Fengshan Village, Alishan, and required rescue. The ministry instructed the Chiayi Air Base of the Air Force to dispatch an S-70C helicopter for the rescue mission. The helicopter completed the hoisting operation within half an hour, returned to Chiayi Air Base, and the injured hiker was transferred to Taichung Veterans General Hospital by ambulance from Chiayi County Fire Bureau. The patient evacuation mission was successfully completed. 1021020
Hiker falls off cliff, Air Force rescue team rushes to the scene
A hiker fell off a cliff on Kaolou Mountain in Nantou County today, prompting the Air Force Rescue Team to dispatch an S-70CX1 helicopter for the rescue mission. The hiker was airlifted off the mountain using a hoist. The Chiayi Air Base of the Air Force stated that at 12:59 p.m. today, they received a notification from the National Search and Rescue Center about a hiker surnamed Huang who had accidentally fallen off Kaolou Mountain while climbing and was in urgent need of rescue. After being ordered to respond, the Air Force Rescue Team dispatched an S-70CX1 helicopter with tail number K493 and aircraft number 7709, which took off from the Chiayi base at 1:09 p.m. Upon arriving at the target area, the team used a hoist to rescue the hiker surnamed Huang and brought him aboard the helicopter. The rescue team reported that the hiker, surnamed Huang, had two lacerations on his head and a scrape on his left calf. He was conscious and his vital signs were stable. The helicopter returned to Chiayi Base at 3:12 p.m., and the injured hiker was subsequently transferred by ambulance from the Chiayi County Fire Bureau to Taichung Veteran General Hospital’s Chiayi Branch for treatment. 1021018
Hiker falls off cliff, rescued and evacuated with military support
The Ministry of National Defense announced today that a male hiker surnamed Huang accidentally fell off a cliff while hiking at Kaluolou Mountain in Hualien County, sustaining a head laceration and requiring rescue. The military dispatched a helicopter to complete the evacuation mission. The Ministry of National Defense stated that it received a report from the National Search and Rescue Center at noon. A hiking team on Qilai Mountain was passing through a cliff area at Kaluolou Mountain in Hualien County when one of the hikers, surnamed Huang, fell off the cliff and suffered a head laceration, requiring rescue. They requested military helicopter support for evacuation. The Ministry of National Defense said that after receiving the report, it immediately ordered an S-70C helicopter from the Air Force’s Chiayi Base to carry out the evacuation mission. The helicopter took off from Chiayi Base at 1:00 p.m., completed the patient hoist operation and left the target area at 2:35 p.m., and returned to Chiayi Base at 3:00 p.m. The hiker, surnamed Huang, was then transported by ambulance from the Hualien County Fire Bureau to Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Chiayi Branch.
Man falls into valley while hiking at Kalou Cliff, rescued by helicopter
A hiker surnamed Huang was injured after falling into a valley around noon while hiking in Taroko National Park. The Hualien County Fire Bureau received the report and alerted the National Search and Rescue Center as well as the Nantou County Fire Bureau. By 2 p.m., the man was rescued by a HOVER helicopter via hoist operation. He was conscious upon rescue and was sent to a local hospital in Chiayi for treatment.
Frenchy Band braves typhoon to shoot dreamy album photos on a mountain
Frenchy Band is set to release their new album “Go With the Flow, I Don’t Mind” at the end of the month. During the recent Mid-Autumn holiday, they encountered Typhoon Usagi while shooting album photos. However, the powerful storm did not deter the band members’ determination to shoot. They still started their makeup and hairstyling at 1 a.m. as planned, and rushed to Xizhi’s New Mountain Dream Lake before dawn. The soft morning light combined with the fog created by the photographer made everyone feel as if they were in a dream, and the band members couldn't stop praising how beautiful it was! The typhoon swept through Taiwan, with the maximum instantaneous wind speed reaching up to 58 meters per second. The band members endured hours of cold wind and rain, with their clothes getting wet and dry over and over again, yet they didn’t complain at all. The photographer even prepared whiskey for them to sip and warm up. Lead singer Fran revealed that she usually drinks a little alcohol before performing to relax. In order to capture the beautiful lake view, the band members walked on the soft, marshy ground by Dream Lake. The crew jokingly asked if they felt like they had returned to the womb, to which the band playfully replied: “Not yet, because inside the womb it’s warm, but here it’s cold, and it doesn’t feel like being in amniotic fluid either—there’s no wind in there.”
12 Hikers Safe After Getting Lost in Beichatianshan
Twelve hikers got lost on Beichatianshan Mountain in Taoyuan’s Fuxing Township on Saturday evening. The Taoyuan County Fire Department’s emergency response center received the report and immediately dispatched personnel for a rescue operation. At around 8:40 p.m., they successfully located all 12 hikers—five women and seven men. Firefighters stated that the group had lost their way due to unfamiliarity with the local terrain, but fortunately, everyone was unharmed.
2013 Polar Star Ice Rock Aotai Hiking Event Now Open for Nationwide Registration
The 2013 Polar Star Cross-Region Event — the Polar Star Ice Rock Aotai Hiking Conference will be held on the evening of June 9 in Shaanxi, and registration is now fully open. The event is jointly organized by the professional outdoor club Xi’an Bingyan Exploration Travel and Shaanxi Polar Star Outdoor Sports Co., Ltd., and is title-sponsored by the well-known outdoor brand Polar Star (Shehe) ...
Kolumb (Gelunbu) Outdoor Team Successfully Defends Title in Dehong, Yunnan
At the cycling and outdoor challenge held in Dehong, Yunnan from April 29–30, the Kolumb (Gelunbu) Outdoor Team successfully defended its championship title with an overwhelming advantage. The team maintained its consistently strong performance in this event, hitting every target—congratulations on the successful defense of the title. 2013 China Dehong Cycling and Outdoor...
The 19th Asian Mountain Bike Championship Kicks Off in Qingbaijiang
Organized by the Asian Cycling Confederation, the Cycling and Fencing Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, and the Sichuan Provincial Sports Bureau, and hosted by the Chengdu Municipal Sports Bureau and the People's Government of Qingbaijiang District, Chengdu, the 2013 "TREK Cup" 19th Asian Mountain Bike Championship and 5th Asian Youth Mountain Bike Championship, along with the National Mountain...
Experts Explain Why Swimming Is Considered a High-Risk Activity
As the saying goes: "Fear the water more than the mountain." On May 1, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine released the "Announcement on the First Batch of High-Risk Sports Projects Directory," listing swimming, alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, snowboarding, scuba diving, and rock climbing as "high-risk" activities. Subsequently, the official website of the General Administration of Sport of China also published the "Notice on Doing a Good Job in Managing High-Risk Sports Projects." Unexpectedly, swimming, a beloved activity among residents in Guangzhou, ranked first on the "high-risk" list. With the arrival of summer and the peak swimming season, many people's concerns have been heightened.
63-Year-Old Man Bikes 3,000 Kilometers Across Four Southeast Asian Countries
Ji Xiucheng on His Cycling Journey Ji Xiucheng, 63 years old, 1.7 meters tall, has loved sports since he was young and has had the habit of cycling for morning exercise. He retired in 2005 and began cycling tours in 2007. He has cycled into Lhasa along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, as well as to Shandong, Xiamen, and Mohe. His longest cycling trip lasted over 60 days. Last June, carrying 5,000 yuan, he set off for an overseas cycling trip to Nepal.
To facilitate mountain rescue operations, satellite positioning devices are available for loan
Yilan County handled five mountain rescue missions this year, consuming significant manpower and funds. Yesterday, Yilan County Councilor Lee Chih-yung suggested that the fire department provide hikers with satellite positioning systems so rescuers can locate them quickly and reduce rescue expenses. The fire department plans to lend out satellite positioning devices to hikers starting in January next year. Lee Chih-yung pointed out that rescue efforts require substantial manpower, including police volunteers, firefighters, and youth mountain patrol members—just the daily consumption of boxed lunches reaches 200. If a helicopter has to be deployed for search, the cost of a single rescue operation can easily exceed one million New Taiwan dollars. Rather than spending huge sums to save people, it would be better to allocate a budget to purchase satellite positioning instruments. He said Yilan could take the lead nationwide, just as life jackets are provided for anglers at the beach. The positioning devices can quickly determine the location of missing hikers in case of an accident. In addition to saving rescue costs, they can also help seize the critical window for saving lives. With such equipment in place, the next step could be considering the formulation of local ordinances requiring hikers to carry relevant gear before setting out.
Monkeys snatch fruits and bite hiker
A man surnamed Xiao from Kaohsiung City went hiking on Shoushan Mountain yesterday morning. While resting at Xiaopingding, he took out some fruit to eat when a monkey suddenly rushed over to snatch it. During the scuffle, the monkey bit Xiao on his right forearm, causing heavy bleeding. Firefighters arrived at the scene upon report, dressed his wound, and then sent him to the affiliated hospital of Kaohsiung Medical University for treatment. The affiliated hospital of Kaohsiung Medical University stated that Xiao had a 3-centimeter bite wound on his right forearm. Doctors performed surgery to suture the wound and administered antibiotics. The patient is currently hospitalized for observation and treatment, and is expected to be discharged in about a week.
Climber Attacked and Bitten by Monkeys on Monkey Mountain, Sent to Hospital for Treatment
A man surnamed Xiao was hiking on Kaohsiung’s Shoushan (Monkey Mountain) today for exercise. It is suspected that monkeys mistook a plastic bag he was carrying for food and tried to snatch it. During the scuffle, Xiao was bitten and was sent to the hospital by police and firefighters upon receiving the report.
The Lulutu Hiking Event Draws Positive Response; to Be Held Again Next Spring
"We'll be back next year!" Yesterday morning, Want Want China Times Media Group and the Republic of China Hiking and Mountaineering Association jointly organized the "Walk to Boost Taiwan" Lulutu Hiking Event in Zhonghe, covering a distance of approximately 5 kilometers. The event attracted over 2,500 participants. Du Zhiming, manager of the newspaper's distribution department, noted that hiking has become a national pastime and plans to hold the event again next year. The Lulutu Mountain Trail is well-designed, offering a healthy path suitable for all age groups. In addition to enjoying the scenery of Zhonghe District, the shaded areas along the trail help invigorate hikers. By the time the event began, thousands had already gathered. Many came as families — with children and elderly members in tow — and there were also numerous three-generation families participating. The total number of participants exceeded 2,500, and many devotees even joined the walk voluntarily. The event kicked off with performances by hip-hop, locking, and popping dance students from Huaxia Institute of Technology.
Battling for the Cycling King of the Mountains, Fan Yongyi Has Trained All Year
Taiwan’s Cycling King of the Mountains Challenge kicks off today. Amateur cyclist Fan Yongyi said that to achieve good results in this race, he has been preparing for a full year. Taiwan’s Cycling King of the Mountains Challenge will inaugurate the 2013 Taiwan Cycling Festival. The event features numerous international elite riders, while local competitors include last year’s national champion Wang Yin-zhi and top Taiwanese cyclist Feng Jun-kai, who share the responsibility of keeping the title in Taiwan. Additionally, amateur cyclist Fan Yongyi, who won back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011, is sharp and ready to seize the title again. Fan Yongyi said he has been preparing since the beginning of the year, training step by step. In June, when he competed in Japan, his condition peaked. After a short period of rest, his form has recently reached optimal level again. A whole year of preparation is all for...