Classic Itineraries
Seasonal Health Alert – Beware of Scrub Typhus During Tomb Sweeping & Snake Bites While Hiking
With Tomb Sweeping Day approaching, many people are taking advantage of the weekend to visit graves. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare advises that after the Waking of Insects in March, snakes become more active. When heading into mountainous areas, it’s best to wear long-sleeved clothing, long pants, and boots for protection, and to carry a stick to scare away snakes by rustling the grass to avoid unfortunate snake bites. According to CDC data from Taiwan’s venomous snake bite survey, the proportion of bites by venomous snakes is as follows: hundred-pace viper (31.7%), many-banded krait (23.3%), Taiwan habu (13.2%), Chinese cobra (5.5%), hundred-pace pit viper (1.4%), and chain viper (0.5%). CDC section chief Zheng Yafen stated that there are approximately 1,100 cases of venomous snake bites in Taiwan each year, with July and August being the peak months, accounting for about 40% of the total.
Nantou Couple Gets Lost Hiking; Wife Rescued, Husband Still Missing
A couple from Nantou County called for help after getting lost on Shouguan Mountain. Rescue teams today found Ms. Lai, but Mr. Lin went missing after searching for a way out alone overnight and had not been found by evening. The husband, surnamed Lin, and wife, surnamed Lai, who live in Caotun Township, went hiking in the Shouguan Mountain area at the border of Puli Township and Ren'ai Township, at an altitude of over 1,000 meters. However, they got lost on their way back. Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Lin called the Nantou County Government Fire Bureau for help. The Zhongxinbei and Puli fire stations dispatched more than 10 people to search the mountain. Firefighters entered the mountains overnight to rescue them and set up camp to rest around 1 a.m. today. Hearing the call of a Formosan serow in the darkness, they suspected there might be people nearby. The rescue team set out again at 6 a.m. this morning, searching in a specific direction, and found Ms. Lai at 8:30 a.m. on the southern side of Shouguan Mountain. She was brought down the mountain successfully in the afternoon, but Mr. Lin remains unaccounted for.
Simple gear hiking: Couple lost in the dark calls for help
The Miaoli County Fire Department reported today that a couple from Taichung City went hiking in Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County. Due to inadequate preparation and underestimating weather changes, they got lost in the Jiali Mountain area. The Nanzhuang Fire Brigade was alerted and went up the mountain overnight, escorting the pair back to the trailhead after 16 hours. The Miaoli County Fire Department stated that the couple — a 36-year-old man surnamed Ye and his girlfriend surnamed Kuo, both from Dajia District, Taichung City — had planned to hike the O-shaped route up Jiali Mountain via the Luchang Tribe in Nanzhuang Township on the 15th. They set off from the Jiali Mountain trailhead at 11:00 a.m. but were unable to descend by 7:00 p.m. As the pair had only brought basic gear and faced poor lighting and unclear trails, they grew concerned as darkness fell and called 119 for help via mobile phone. Upon receiving the report, the Nanzhuang Fire Brigade considered the unstable mountain weather, the couple’s lack of rain gear and warm clothing, and the risk of hypothermia.
Mountain poachers disguised as hikers caught red-handed with strong camphorwood smell in their car
The Fifth Brigade of the Seventh Precinct of the National Police Agency announced today that three mountain poachers driving a private car were arrested for stealing camphorwood in the mountainous area of Nanzhuang Township. They had thought they could avoid detection by pretending to be hikers, but the overwhelmingly strong smell of camphorwood gave them away, leading to their immediate arrest with the stolen goods. Deputy Brigade Commander Lu Shizhe of the Fifth Brigade stated that on the 15th, together with personnel from the Hsinchu Forest Management Office, they lay in ambush in the mountain forest trails of Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, despite the rain. They spotted a private car coming down from the mountain, and when officers approached to question the occupants, the three men claimed they were just "taking a walk" in the mountains. Although the car’s exterior seemed normal, alert officers detected a strong camphorwood odor inside and immediately asked the driver and passengers to step out for inspection. Sure enough, four cut camphorwood pieces were found in the back seat and trunk of the car. At this point, the suspect surnamed Liu, who had a prior record for theft and drug offenses, finally admitted that due to a need for money to support his drug habit, he had recruited his elder brother and another man surnamed Chen to steal camphorwood from the mountains. He thought that driving a private car during rainy weather would help them evade police detection, but they were still caught.
A man who loved hiking in life chopped off his left hand to end his life
The New Taipei City police and firefighters received a report the day before yesterday that a 62-year-old man surnamed Ye from Shulin District had left a note revealing suicidal thoughts before going missing. After two days of searching the mountains, they found Ye’s body lying on the hillside of Dadong Mountain in the Shulin area of New Taipei and Guishan area of Taoyuan around 10 a.m. today. Ye had a knife wound on his left wrist that went down to the bone, with almost only skin connecting the severed limb. There was a large pool of blood on the ground, and he had been without breath or pulse for some time. Family members said that the man surnamed Ye had suffered from depression for years and had sought medical treatment, but recently he often complained about being unable to sleep. The day before yesterday afternoon, they found a suicide note he had left, and his usual mode of transport, a motorcycle, was also missing. They reported the case in anxiety, only to find his cold body. The police and firefighters said they didn’t know “where Ye got the strength from” to chop his left wrist down to just skin being connected, showing a firm will to die, but the exact cause of death still awaits an autopsy for clarification.
Additional Signposts Installed to Prevent Hikers from Getting Lost in the Three Gorges Mountains
As spring arrives, hikers are flocking to the mountains of the Three Gorges area. According to statistics from the Fifth Brigade of New Taipei City’s Fire Department, popular but dangerous spots prone to getting lost or mountain accidents include Red River Valley, Xiongkong Mountain leading to Zhukeng Mountain, Jiajiuling, and Badao’er Mountain. In the past, many people would simply look up some information online before setting off, treating hiking as a leisurely walk — only to end up lost or worse, wasting precious firefighting resources.
Tour de Taiwan Taoyuan Stage: Schulting Wins Stage & King of the Mountains Jersey
Dutch cyclist Peter Schulting claimed the stage win in today’s Tour de Taiwan Taoyuan City leg with a time of 2 hours, 44 minutes and 43 seconds, and also secured the polka dot jersey as the King of the Mountains with 35 points. The third day of the 2016 International Tour de Taiwan highway cycling race took place in Taoyuan City today. The Chinese Taipei team, led by veterans Wu Bohong and Liu Shuming, along with rising stars Lu Shaoxuan, Huang Wenzhong, and Zeng Yihao, faced off against nearly 100 elite riders from 20 teams across 30 countries. Dutch rider Peter Schulting of Parkhotel Valkenburg Continental Team finished the stage in 2 hours, 44 minutes and 43 seconds to take the stage win, and also earned the polka dot jersey for the King of the Mountains with 35 points.
Ironman Dreams – Challenging Limits with Safety First
Not long ago, several university students in physical education attempted to summit Yushan (Jade Mountain) in snowy conditions. Despite adverse weather, they pushed to reach the peak, but unfortunately, a student surnamed Wu lost his footing and fell off a cliff, resulting in his death. Although the student had received training for snow mountain climbing and the exact cause of the fall remains unclear, such a tragic incident is viewed by mountaineering experts as taking an excessive risk and underestimating the power of nature. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, who previously completed the highly challenging feat of cycling from Taipei to Kaohsiung in one day, took on another extreme test last week — what many consider the ultimate cycling challenge in Taiwan: the One-Day Twin Capes ride. He cycled from Fugui Cape Lighthouse at the northern tip to Eluanbi Lighthouse at the southern end in approximately 27 hours, covering over 500 kilometers of continuous pedaling. While Mayor Ko’s spirit of self-challenge is admirable, many sports and medical experts deem the act inadvisable, as it clearly exceeds the limits of what an average person can endure, and they caution against casual imitation.
Couple rescued after falling off hiking trail slope
A Taipei-based couple surnamed Tseng fell off the slope of the Dadongshan Trail in Chiayi County last night. Due to the darkness, they were unsure of their exact location. After using a whistle to signal for help, they were finally rescued and sent to the hospital late last night. Fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries. Chiayi County Fire Bureau stated today that at 6:28 p.m. yesterday, a report came in about two people having fallen off the slope near the Meteor Rock cliff on the Dadongshan Trail. Rescue teams from the Third Brigade — including the Fenchihu, Fanlu, Zhongpu, and Sanhe rescue squads — were immediately dispatched. Since the trapped individuals initially did not know where they had fallen, but were carrying whistles, rescuers used the sound to locate them. Search efforts began near Longyun Villa, the starting point of the hikers, and rescuers identified the direction of the whistle sounds. Using vehicle headlights to pinpoint their location, the team then hiked in with equipment to conduct the rescue.
A math teacher from Nanzih No. 1 High School goes missing while hiking alone; students launch urgent search
Zhuang Zhiyang, a math teacher at Nanzih No. 1 High School, went hiking alone in Nantou before the 228 holiday break and has been missing ever since. Because the teacher was an avid hiker and familiar with the mountains in the Nantou area, his family wasn’t initially worried. But when he failed to return home by the 29th and there was no word from him, they grew anxious and called the police. Students have also launched an online search campaign, hoping Teacher Zhuang will return safely. Zhuang Zhiyang, 39, is an alumnus of Tainan First Senior High School. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to the Department of Mathematics at National Taiwan Normal University. To his students, he was an impressive teacher—on one midterm exam, he reportedly gave a math test that over half of the top-tier science class failed, earning him the nickname “The Math Killer.” However, due to his lively teaching style, he was deeply loved by his students, often mingling easily with them like an older brother. Students revealed that the teacher’s passion for hiking was well known—if the topic came up in class, he could talk about it for almost the entire lesson. Because of this, students are also very concerned, asking, “Where could someone who loves climbing so much have gone?” Police also discovered that for some reason, Teacher Zhuang left his phone in the car, making it impossible for authorities to use phone tracking to determine his exact location, which has added difficulty to the search. Tainan First Senior High School Principal Chang Tien-tang rushed to the Nantou Hsinyi Branch and Shueili Police Station yesterday to learn more details. He said Teacher Zhuang was supposed to return to school on the 1st to teach, but his absence was unexplained, and that’s when the school found out he had gone hiking and hadn’t come back. Teacher Zhuang’s parents and wife have already gone to Nantou, hoping that by reviewing surveillance footage with police, they can reconstruct the possible routes Zhuang Zhiyang may have taken and find him as soon as possible. Luo Zicai, chief of the Hsinyi Precinct of Nantou County Police Bureau, said that Teacher Zhuang arrived alone in Nantou on the 27th of last month, parked his car near the Shueili Railway Station, and then rode a motorcycle to Hsinyi. Around 3 p.m. on the 28th, he visited Liuyajia Plum Garden and bought some agricultural products, after which he completely disappeared. Liu Qingxiang, the person in charge of Liuyajia Plum Garden, confirmed that on the 28th, he rode a motorcycle to the shop, bought eight bottles [of products], and also mentioned that he had gone to Fengguidou Mountain in the morning and asked how to get to the “Liuyajia Secret Spot.” Because it was getting dark, he did not go up the mountain again and left on his motorcycle. Police found that the local specialties he bought at Liuyajia and his phone were both left in the car. Currently, authorities are relying on the license plate MYU-811 of the motorcycle to mobilize over 100 mountain rescue volunteers to search for the vehicle. Once it is found, firefighters will be called in for a professional rescue operation.
A math teacher from Nanzhong High School went missing while hiking; his motorcycle was found in Dili Village mountain area
(Updated 12:54, the missing math teacher’s motorcycle has been found) Zhuang Zhiyang, a math teacher at Nanzhong High School, went hiking alone in Nantou before the 228 holiday but went missing and failed to return. His family reported him missing the day before yesterday. After days of searching by police and firefighters in Nantou County as well as mountain rescue volunteers, the teacher’s motorcycle was located in the mountainous area of Dili Village just after 11 a.m. Police, firefighters, and all search personnel are currently mobilizing manpower and organizing task groups, hoping to find him as soon as possible. Police stated that Teacher Zhuang is passionate about hiking and is familiar with the mountains in the Nantou area. On the 27th of last month, he said he was going to Xinyi in Nantou, but he did not return and had no contact, prompting worried family members to call the police. Students also launched an online search effort. Police reviewed relevant information and found that after arriving in Nantou County on the 27th, he parked his car near the Shuili Railway Station and switched to a motorcycle to go to Xinyi. At around 3 p.m. on the 28th, he visited Liujia Plum Garden
Nanyi High School teacher goes missing in Nantou; search in Xinyi Township yields no results
A 39-year-old male teacher surnamed Zhuang from National Tainan First Senior High School went hiking in Nantou County during the 228 holiday break. After locating Zhuang’s motorcycle, police and firefighters mobilized 86 personnel today to search Dili Village in Xinyi Township but found no trace of him. Zhuang, who works at National Tainan First Senior High School, took advantage of the 228 holiday to go hiking in the mountainous areas around Shuili Township and Xinyi Township in Nantou County. He was originally scheduled to return home on the evening of February 29, but his family grew anxious after not seeing him return by March 1 and reported him missing to the Nantou police and fire department. Zhuang drove to Shuili Railway Station and then switched to a motorcycle to venture deep into the mountainous areas of Shuili and Xinyi townships. Late on the night of March 1, police discovered Zhuang’s car, with his mobile phone left inside. Since Zhuang did not inform his family of the exact hiking location, Nantou police and firefighters divided into multiple teams to search the mountainous regions of Shuili and Xinyi townships. However, the combined area of the two townships is about 5.6 times that of Taipei City, making the rescue operation challenging.
Ozark’s Enjoyable Outdoor Themed Lecture Visits Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
On June 20, 2013, a themed lecture on enjoyable outdoor activities was held in the auditorium of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. Attendees included the President and Secretary-General of the China Textile Association, Li Shuqiang, Deputy General Manager of Ozark Outdoor Equipment, and Zheng Rong, President of the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, as well as lecturer Zhou Shaoyun. The lecture comprehensively elaborated on the outdoor spirit of enjoying sports and ...
Area Scan – 7 Hikers Get Lost, Rescued Safely
Miaoli: On the 10th, seven hikers from Tainan City planned to complete an O-shaped trek of Jiashan Mountain and Hakani Mountain in Nanzhuang Township, Miaoli County, within a single day. In the evening, near Rescue Pile No. 10 along the railway line, they got lost due to unfamiliarity with the terrain and immediately called 119 for help. The Nanzhuang Fire Brigade dispatched seven police, volunteer firefighters, and conscripts equipped for the mission to conduct a mountain rescue. Late that night, the seven individuals were safely escorted back to the trailhead, with only one elderly hiker showing slight signs of exhaustion.
Climbing the Four Beauties of Wuling – A Hiker Goes Missing on Peach Mountain
A 61-year-old man surnamed Hsieh and four hiking companions went to hike the Four Beauties of Wuling in Heping District yesterday. Unexpectedly, Mr. Hsieh went missing this evening on Peach Mountain. The Second Brigade of the Taichung City Fire Department dispatched four members to conduct a mountain rescue. Due to heavy rain on the mountain, it is expected to take over six hours to reach the Peach Mountain hut. Five hikers from Taoyuan and New Taipei applied for entry into the mountain area under the name of a hiking group through the Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters, planning a three-day itinerary for the Four Beauties of Wuling, including Pintian Mountain, Chiyu Mountain, Peach Mountain, and Kalayeh Mountain. Yesterday morning, they entered via the Chiyu Mountain trailhead near the Peach Mountain Waterfall and arrived at the Xinda Hut. This morning, they proceeded from Xinda Hut to Peach Mountain Hut for a short rest. Later, they split into two groups to attempt the summit of Kalayeh Mountain, planning to descend tomorrow. Due to intermittent rain on the mountain today, shortly after setting off, Mr. Hsieh told the first group that the weather was poor and he wanted to return to Peach Mountain Hut to rest. When the second group set off from the hut, they encountered Mr. Hsieh at the 0.7 km mark. However, when they returned to Peach Mountain Hut in the evening, they could not find Mr. Hsieh or his light gear—only his heavy equipment remained inside the hut. Concerned for his safety, the team immediately reported the situation to the fire department.
Climbers vanish on Wu Ling Four Beauties hike, only backpacks found; firefighters launch search
A 61-year-old man surnamed Hsieh and four friends hiked the Wu Ling Four Beauties at Wuling Farm yesterday and attempted to climb Mount Kalayeh this morning. Hsieh turned back midway to the mountain hut for unknown reasons, but when his friends returned to the hut in the evening, they found only his backpacks and no trace of him. The Taichung City Fire Bureau has dispatched personnel for a search and rescue operation. The Taichung City Government Fire Bureau stated that the hiking group, composed of Hsieh and his four friends, had applied for a three-day mountaineering trip with the Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters. The group split into two teams—three and two members respectively—to tackle Mount Kalayeh. Hsieh and the first team set off from Taoshan Mountain Hut at 10:30 a.m., followed by the second team 30 minutes later. Members of the second team said that when they reached the 0.7 km mark, they encountered Hsieh returning and saying that the mountain weather was poor, the views might not be worthwhile, and he was feeling physically exhausted, so he wanted to go back to Taoshan Mountain Hut. The others continued their climb.
Mainlanders View Taiwan – Conquer Taiwan’s Peaks and Learn Humility
Last November, I joined the Taiwan Wilderness Hiking Association online, planning my first destination to be the main and east peaks of Snow Mountain. At the time, I had no real idea about the actual state of hiking in Taiwan, and I only had an amateur, worn-out backpack. I remember that, driven by a bit of passion and impulsiveness, I met the leader for this Snow Mountain hike — a veteran with over 30 years of experience. The leader gave me a sidelong glance and asked, “Other than carrying your schoolbag, do you have any experience with loaded hikes?” I stammered, “Yes… well, no…” After all, you can’t hide your true abilities with lies. Successfully summited fifteen mountains The leader took out a map and started talking as if no one else was around: what the Hundred Peaks are, how to climb these major mountains, what to do in case of emergencies during a hike… I listened, breaking into a cold sweat. Over two hours...
Taiwanese Perspectives on Mainland China – Night Hike up Mount Hua: Young Adventurers Invite the Moon to a Sword Duel
Back when I was an exchange student in Xi’an, I always dreamed of visiting the local landmark, Mount Hua. To reach Mount Hua, you can take a cable car or hike up on foot, but taking the cable car only takes about ten minutes before you can see the spot where the “Huatuo Duel” (as described in Jin Yong’s novels) took place. On my first trip to Mount Hua with my family, considering my grandmother’s poor health, we opted for the cable car. As we ascended, I marveled at the barren, steep cliffs around us and wondered how the local government managed to build the cable car system there. On my second trip, however, a group of enthusiastic classmates and I were determined to hike all the way from the base to the West Peak, which stands at an elevation of 2,082 meters—the lowest of Mount Hua’s five major peaks. After dinner at a restaurant at the mountain’s base that evening, we packed our gear and set off, bringing headlamps, red scarves for easy identification, and thick down jackets needed for the summit.
Hikers' litter spoils wildlife: Yellow-throated martens grow lazy in foraging, feast on campsite scraps
During a 3-day, 2-night ecological experience on the Walami Trail in Zhuoxi Township, Hualien, during the Qingming holiday, a scout troop unexpectedly spotted three yellow-throated martens gnawing on leftover food left behind by tourists. The martens showed no fear even when humans approached. Wang Guohui, a director of the Taipei City Scouts Association who was photographing the scene, expressed concern that wildlife consuming human food might lose their instinct for survival in the wild. Wang Guohui noted that this trip primarily focused on natural and cultural exploration as well as Leave No Trace ethics training. Unexpectedly, they discovered yellow-throated martens unafraid of people. Even staff from the Forestry Bureau were amazed when they saw the photos, commenting that yellow-throated martens are generally very timid animals—yet these were approaching at such close range. Wang Guohui said that on the morning of the second day after arriving at the mountain hut, he noticed someone had improperly dumped kitchen waste outside, attracting the martens to scavenge. He began documenting the martens from a distance of three meters, gradually crawling closer.
Yellow-throated martens spotted up close on the Walami Trail—hikers experience mixed emotions
A group of boy scouts from northern Taiwan took advantage of the Qingming holiday to embark on a three-day, two-night eco-experience along the Walami Trail in Daren Township, Hualien. The next morning, they were surprised to find three yellow-throated martens feasting on leftover food that hikers had failed to take with them. The martens showed no fear even as humans approached. Though seeing such adorable wild animals up close was thrilling, the experience left the group with mixed feelings—they worried that the wildlife’s habit of eating human food might cause them to lose their survival instincts in the wild. Wang Guohui, a director of the Taipei City Boy Scouts Association who captured the photos, said he was very excited to have photographed the martens at such close range. However, seeing humans carelessly discard food waste, which then attracted the martens, made him concerned that these protected animals were becoming unafraid of people. He fears this could eventually lead to them losing their hunting abilities. Wang hopes hikers will take their trash with them and support the "Leave No Trace" philosophy in the mountains.