Classic Itineraries
Elderly man gets lost while hiking; police conduct foot search and rescue
An 80-year-old man surnamed Tu from Yonghe District went out for a walk recently but accidentally got lost on the hiking trail behind Leshan Temple in Zhonghe District. Upon receiving the report, the Zhonghe First Police Precinct and Yonghe Police Precinct used the mobile phone tower location to confirm that he was still within Zhonghe District. Fortunately, Tu’s daughter managed to contact him by phone. Police deduced he was on a trail behind a public temple and successfully located him, escorting him down the mountain. Tu’s daughter said in a panic that her father has dementia, it was getting dark, and he couldn’t explain where he was or find his way home. Officers Lin Junxian and Zhu Jiali from the Jing’an Police Station of the Zhonghe First Police Precinct searched alleys and lanes near No. 100 Banan Road in Zhonghe District, but still couldn’t find the elderly man.
26 hikers go missing on Longwang Mountain in Zhejiang, China
On the afternoon of the 24th, it was reported that 26 hikers had gone missing on Longwang Mountain in the northern part of Zhejiang, losing contact with the outside world. Their whereabouts remain unknown, and they are still awaiting rescue by police and firefighters. On the afternoon of the 24th, more than 20 hikers went missing on Longwang Mountain in Anji County, northern Zhejiang. According to preliminary information obtained by the fire department from the event organizer, a total of 26 people were stranded on the mountain and temporarily out of contact, with some of the hikers coming from Hangzhou. As of 8:30 p.m. on the 24th, there was still no update on the missing hikers, whose whereabouts remained unknown, and firefighting teams were continuing the search and rescue efforts.
27.5 Hours: Gore-Tex® Gear in the French Leg of the Oxfam Trailwalker
You can’t outrun your slowest teammate. — Oxfam Trailwalker
The Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge will kick off in Yunnan, with a legendary couple teaming up to compete
On June 14, the press conference for China’s highest-altitude multi-discipline mountain outdoor race — the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge — was held in Kunming, Yunnan. The event will take place from July 6 to 7, 2013, in the Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area of Kunming, at elevations ranging from 1,935 meters to 4,223 meters. Over a hundred outdoor sports enthusiasts from 25 teams across the country are set to ...
27.5 Hours: Gore-Tex® Gear "Lives Through" the French Stage of the Oxfam Trailwalker
You can’t outrun your slowest teammate. ― Oxfam Trailwalker
Location Scan – First-time Hikers Rescued by Helicopter Due to Altitude Sickness
Taichung: Two women from Taipei, surnamed Li and Lin, who were hiking for the first time, attempted to reach the Taoshan Mountain Hut at an altitude of 3,325 meters in Heping District. Unexpectedly, both developed symptoms of altitude sickness the previous night. Ms. Li called the fire department for help overnight, and a Sea Gull helicopter successfully airlifted them yesterday. They were sent to hospital and are now in good condition.
Damaging the ecosystem: Hikers keep removing and retying banners
The Hengchun Traverse has been a hidden gem route developed by eco-tourism guides over the past two years, gaining popularity due to its rich biodiversity. However, once hikers learned about this trail, they invited friends to join them for outings. Not only did they trample the grass bare, but they also tied banners along the way—putting up 300 to 400 banners over just 7 to 8 kilometers. Volunteers would remove the banners, only for hikers to tie them back up, which is incredibly frustrating. The Hengchun Traverse is a north-south route that goes from Chiniuling through Dashanmu Mountain to Dajianshan in Kenting. It was originally a mountain path used by local Hengchun residents, but fell into disuse after the advent of convenient road transport. Li Dongfang, head of the Oriental Footprints Interpretation Team, rediscovered this trail two years ago and began offering guided tours. The area is rich in pristine ecology and has become quite popular. Li Dongfang said that to prevent too many visitors from damaging the original ecological environment, they only lead one group every one or two months. Because grass and trees grow back quickly, they have to clear the trails before each tour. Later, after several hikers came to experience the trail, they started inviting friends, even chartering tour buses to share this newly discovered hidden scenic spot.
The Path of Treason of a Japanophile Literati
"The people of Manchuria do not look up to me personally, but to the Emperor of the Great Qing. If this title is abolished, we will surely lose their support." "'Then please ask Emperor Xuantong to set off as soon as possible. He must arrive in Manchuria by the 16th no matter what. We can discuss the details once we reach Shenyang. Yoshida will arrange the departure.' He congratulated me on my safe journey as respectfully as when he arrived, bowed, and then took his leave." "Puyi said: After that, I held an imperial conference at Jingyuan. During this meeting, Chen Baochen and Zheng Xiaoxu engaged in a fierce debate. Chen said: 'The overall situation is still unsettled. Rash actions will do more harm than good. Luo Zhenyu’s move to welcome Your Majesty is overly hasty. Isn’t the idea of setting off now also rash?' Zheng said: 'That was then, this is now. If we miss this opportunity, we will lose the enthusiasm of our foreign allies and the support of our own people. Failing to adapt to the times is not prudence.'"
Police Chief Hikes and Rescues Lost Siblings on Mountain
Chen Wen-chih, the police chief of Beitou Precinct under the Taipei City Police Department, who is usually passionate about sports, took the opportunity to hike and inspect Zhongzheng Mountain — a popular hiking spot in his jurisdiction — yesterday. By coincidence, he encountered a pair of lost siblings who were struggling to get down the mountain. With dusk approaching and no cell phone signal in the mountains, they were unable to contact their parents, from whom they had become separated. Concerned for the children's safety, Chen personally escorted them down the mountain. Along the way, he chatted and talked with them to ease their anxiety. After safely reaching the bottom, he used his own phone to call their parents so they could reunite. This brought a safe and peaceful ending to what could have been a frightening mountain adventure for the siblings.
Non-cooperation movement: Pastor leads students to climb Lake Cimin
Lake Cimin, closed to hikers for four months, reopened to climbers yesterday. However, local Bunun people, dissatisfied that the new measures were introduced without their consultation, launched a non-cooperation movement. Yesterday, Reverend Kavas of the Lide tribe led nearly 20 students to hike without registering or paying fees, highlighting that Lake Cimin is part of the traditional territory of the Bunun people. Lake Cimin has seen frequent hiking-related chaos due to the increasing number of visitors. During peak season, hundreds of hikers have entered the area simultaneously, causing serious damage to the alpine environment. The Taitung Forest District Office of the Forestry Bureau began closing the area last December to renovate hiking trails and mountain huts. It reopened yesterday with new measures including a visitor quota system and mountain hut fees—hikers must now reserve a hut before entering. Yesterday, Kavas, along with about 30 others including Professor Liu Jiongxi of Taitung University, volunteers from the Legal Aid Foundation, and university fellowship students, went into the mountains to assert indigenous sovereignty.
A child’s prank sparked a forest fire, killing 5 hikers
According to the Beijing Times, on March 22, a forest fire broke out on Dahei Mountain in Jinzhou New District, Dalian, resulting in the deaths of 5 hikers. The fire was caused by primary and middle school students playing with fire. The individuals involved were all under 14 years old and had specifically bought lighters and brought alcohol. Among the deceased was a couple—the husband had managed to escape the encircling flames but returned to rescue his wife and was engulfed by the fire.
Paying to Protect the Ecology – Hikers Welcome the Move
“We’re all for user-pays,” said Lin Fa-gui, former chairman of the Taitung County Mountaineering Association, regarding the upcoming fee implementation for the Jiaming Lake National Trail starting April 1. He noted that in recent years, Jiaming Lake has been overcrowded, impacting the local flora and fauna, and that it’s necessary to enforce a visitor cap to prevent the “Sapphire” from losing its sparkle. A Jiaming Lake, resembling a sapphire, is nestled on the mountainside of Sancha Mountain at an elevation of 3,260 meters. Thanks to its stunning scenery, it has become a popular hiking destination over the past seven or eight years. With over 20 years of mountaineering experience and having hiked the Jiaming Lake Trail nearly 10 times, Lin said that on holidays, the area is almost “overrun with people,” and the local ecology can no longer handle the load. He added that the Taitung Forest District Office’s implementation of a visitor cap and accommodation fees is something the Taitung Mountaineering Association supports. However, the lottery system and waiting list for beds may cause some inconvenience, but it’s a necessary step for forest conservation. He also emphasized that Jiaming Lake features dramatic elevation changes, rising sharply from near sea level to altitudes between 2,000–3,000 meters, which can make it easy to misjudge one’s physical condition. Therefore, hikers should be well-prepared to avoid altitude sickness, and he recommends planning at least a 3-day, 2-night trip rather than rushing up and down.
Outopia Celebrates 40 Years of Adventure – Up the Mountains and Down to the Sea
Outopia was founded in 1975 and has been deeply involved in the water sports and outdoor leisure market for 40 years, offering a full range of outdoor gear. Recently (on the 27th), it held a press conference in Changhua to kick off its 40th anniversary celebration “Up the Mountains and Down to the Sea.” In addition to launching the book *Leap 40: Dreams Take Flight – Outopia’s Journey*, which documents the brand’s step-by-step story of establishing itself across Taiwan over the past 40 years, the company will also host a series of outdoor activities and introduce lightweight, functional outdoor products that embody the spirit of exploration and adventure.
Feng Junkai is badly hurt — his hopes for the King of the Mountains title are fading fast.
After a wild and stormy Stage 2 in Taoyuan City, yesterday’s Stage 3 in Changhua County saw bright sunshine — a complete contrast in weather that left riders from all nations amazed. However, Chinese Taipei’s Feng Junkai, who crashed due to a tire puncture in the previous stage, was clearly affected by his injuries. Despite strong support from his teammates at the two mountain points in this stage, his poor condition prevented him from scoring any points, leaving him almost out of reach of a fourth consecutive King of the Mountains title.
Feng Junkai suffers a flat tire; four-time consecutive King of the Mountains title in jeopardy
The Chinese team aimed for both the stage win and the Asian Blue Jersey at the Taoyuan stage, the second leg of the Tour de Taiwan, but were ruthlessly thwarted by severe weather. Although Wu Bohong secured the only sprint point of the stage, he exhausted his energy on the mountainous sections, while Feng Junkai crashed due to a rear tire puncture in the hills, missing out on the mountain points and putting his bid for a fourth consecutive King of the Mountains title in danger. The second stage of the Tour de Taiwan looped through various districts of Taoyuan City, which was officially upgraded at the end of last year. Torrential rain and coastal crosswinds became the biggest nightmares for the riders, with frequent reports of accidents and crashes along the route. Even Ben O’Connor of the Avanti Racing Team from New Zealand, who crossed the finish line first with a time of 2 hours, 50 minutes and 32 seconds, only managed to win after his teammates helped him recover from a crash. In addition, a total of 8 riders did not finish the stage, making the competition extremely fierce. Wu Bohong, who failed to win the first stage, showed strong determination yesterday. Watching his teammate Feng Junkai…
Major wildfire on Dahuishan Mountain in Dalian kills 5 hikers
A wildfire broke out at 13:48 today in the Dahuishan scenic area of Jinzhou New District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province, resulting in the deaths of five hikers. Police said the flames spread rapidly due to strong winds, and local tourists were evacuated urgently. However, the fire occurred during a period of 6 to 7 grade gales, which further fueled the mountain blaze.
Feng Chun-kai aims for a fourth consecutive King of the Mountains title
The International Tour de Taiwan cycling race kicks off tomorrow with five exciting stages over five days, featuring 188 riders from 23 teams across 32 countries. As Taiwan’s top cyclist, Feng Chun-kai is not only gunning for a fourth straight King of the Mountains title this year but has also set himself the goal of finishing in the top three in at least one stage to keep himself motivated. The Tour de Taiwan is seeking to upgrade its status from a 2.1-level to a 2.HC-level event under the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) this year. The race will take place over five stages: Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Changhua County, the KOM Mountain Stage, and the Taiwan Tourism Cup. Among these, the KOM Mountain Stage — which runs from Sun Moon Lake to Tatachia in Yushan National Park and ends in Alishan — is the most challenging. Feng, who rides for the WorldTour team Merida-Bianchi, said he has carefully studied the route of each stage in preparation for this year’s Tour de Taiwan, paying special attention to the toughest section, Tatachia.
Everest Avalanche Caught on Camera: Climbers’ Harrowing Ordeal Fully Documented
On April 25, Nepal was struck by its most powerful earthquake in 80 years, measuring 7.9 in magnitude and only 11 kilometers deep, with the epicenter located 82 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu. According to local Nepalese press reports, since the initial quake, at least five avalanches have occurred on Mount Everest. Experts warn that strong aftershocks could strike at any time, making avalanches a ticking time bomb that has left climbers at Everest’s base camp in sheer terror. The terrifying moment of the avalanche was captured on camera by the climbers themselves. From footage shot by a German climber, it is clear that the quake-triggered avalanche terrified those camping on Everest. Massive snowdrifts and rocks came crashing down from above, prompting hikers to flee in panic, desperately seeking shelter and drenched in sweat. Some were left gasping for breath, while others, after the avalanche subsided, were so shaken their legs gave out and they could barely stand. The video also shows tents buried under thick layers of snow as the entire campsite was swiftly engulfed. While filming, climbers can be heard urging their companions, “Stay together, don’t get separated!” Fortunately, those who took refuge in tents survived the disaster.
Eleven Taiwanese mountaineers in Nepal are safe, returning to Taiwan on May 3
The 11 Taiwanese travelers who went to Nepal for mountain climbing have all reported their safety to their families. According to Yongsheng Travel Agency, which handled their flight bookings, after descending from the mountains, the group will first take a local domestic flight to Kathmandu. They are expected to fly back to Taiwan via a transfer in Hong Kong on Cathay Dragon Airlines on May 3, with 8 returning to Kaohsiung and 3 to Taipei. Yongsheng Travel Agency Vice President Chien Ching-pin said that these 11 individuals are all friends who know each other well and formed a group that departed for Nepal on April 13 to challenge the high peaks. Eight of them left from Kaohsiung, and three from Taipei, transiting through Hong Kong before arriving in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Chien Ching-pin stated that among the 11, there are 4 men and 7 women, with about half being retirees in their 40s and 50s. Most of them have already been to Nepal for mountaineering and independent travel three times before. After the earthquake, there were no vehicles available in the mountainous areas, so the 11 had to make their way on foot.
Avalanche on Mount Everest buries climbers in their tents
Nepal was hit by its strongest earthquake in 80 years yesterday (25th), with a magnitude of 7.9 and a depth of 11 kilometers. The epicenter was located 82 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu. The death toll has now reached nearly 2,000. The quake triggered an avalanche on Mount Everest, with 17 climbers' bodies recovered on the same day and 61 others injured. Nepalese officials estimate that there were at least 1,000 climbers on Everest at the time of the avalanche, including around 400 foreigners.