Classic Itineraries
Hiker with gastric bleeding stranded in high-altitude Nanheng mountain area; rescue efforts hindered by fog
A 14-member hiking team from Taoyuan was climbing the southern section of the Nanheng mountain area. One hiker suffered gastric bleeding and was stranded at an altitude of 3,200 meters, prompting a request for police and fire department assistance. Rescue personnel had planned to launch a rescue mission by air yesterday afternoon, but poor weather conditions forced them to turn back. This morning, firefighters from Kaohsiung City and Taitung County set out again to carry out the rescue. The Kaohsiung City Fire Bureau stated that they received a report relayed from the Taichung City Fire Bureau yesterday, indicating that a hiker with gastric bleeding was located at a campsite under Sancha Peak at the border between Taoyuan’s Taoyuan District and Taitung County, accompanied by two team members awaiting rescue. Yesterday (February 28), the first wave of the fire department’s search and rescue team prepared to head out for the mission and set up camp at the Sentao Police Station in the evening. In the afternoon, the helicopter was unable to take off due to heavy fog at the site. This morning (March 1), starting at 6:30 AM, six rescuers departed from the Sentao Police Station to carry out the rescue operation, working together with members of the Taitung Fire Bureau and the Mountain Rescue Association.
Giant electric mountain bike wins gold award
The electric mountain bike Full E+ by Giant Group (see photo) has been awarded the Taiwan Excellence Gold Award. This bicycle is equipped with the Giant SyncDrive Pro system, which effectively combines human pedaling power with electric assist to help riders go faster and farther. In addition, its streamlined design, which seamlessly integrates the battery into the frame, was highly favored by the judging panel. It is not yet available in Taiwan, and the price has not been finalized.
Nantou Announces Implementation of Mountain Hiking Self-Governance Ordinance, Supporting Measures Still Pending
Nantou County has officially enacted its Mountain Hiking Activity Management Self-Governance Ordinance, but further details such as the delineation of general and special mountain areas, hiking insurance coverage limits, and the number of insured individuals still need to be finalized before the ordinance can be effectively enforced.
The public joins forces to protect forests; university mountaineering clubs help catch illegal loggers
Over the past five years, the Forestry Bureau has worked with indigenous tribes to crack 37 illegal logging cases with good results. Today, it partners with four university mountaineering clubs, providing them with equipment subsidies and assistance in reporting illegal logger activities. The top reward is NT$3 million, and the public can also sign up. The Council of Agriculture’s Forestry Bureau today held its first press conference to recruit forest patrol volunteers and ally with mountaineering groups for the public to jointly protect forests. At the event, the Forestry Bureau unveiled for the first time high-risk areas for illegal logging in state-owned forests, located across seven counties and cities, including: Taiping Mountain area in Datong Township, and Nanao Mountain area in Nanao Township, both in Yilan County; mountain areas in Nanzhuang Township and Mabihuo Tribe area in Tai’an Township, Miaoli County; Shanlinxi Asaping Forest Road and Luku Mountain in Zhushan Township, Nantou County; Qianren Cave in Fengshan Village and Alishan area in Alishan Township, Chiayi County. As well as Qishan River in Qishan District, and mountain areas in Namaxia District, Kaohsiung City
Hiker goes missing; Shiding police and firefighters race against time to save life
A hiker surnamed Chen entered the mountain at around 3 p.m. on the 10th through the hiking trail entrance at the back of Moru Alley in Shiding District, New Taipei City. He had originally planned to come down the mountain by the evening of the 10th. However, due to the approaching darkness and unfamiliarity with the mountain paths, Chen became stranded in the mountains and had not returned even after the expected time. With the winter cold front affecting various parts of Taiwan, temperatures in the Shiding mountain area suddenly dropped to 8 degrees Celsius. Chen’s family in Keelung, worried about his safety, called the Shiding substation for help. After the police contacted firefighting and rescue personnel to enter the mountain for a search, they made contact with Chen at 12 a.m. on the 11th and safely escorted him down the mountain, where he returned home unharmed. Shiding substation received a report call from Chen’s family around 8:30 p.m. on the 10th, stating that Chen had entered the mountain at around 1 kilometer along Beixin 47 Road in Shiding District, at the back of Moru Alley, on the 10th, and was expected to come down the mountain by the afternoon of the 10th. However, he had not returned by the expected time. The caller was unsure of the hiker’s exact location in the mountains.
Learning to Brew Coffee in Hidden Alleys: Sherpa Rinji Loves Taiwan
In a small café tucked away in the alleys of Tainan’s West Central District, a middle-aged man quietly learns how to brew coffee. With a gentle and shy demeanor, no one would guess that he is a Sherpa who has guided climbers to the summit of Mount Everest three times. 43-year-old Rinji Sherpa hails from a remote mountainous region in Nepal. Since the age of 11, he has worked as a porter in the Himalayas at altitudes above 4,300 meters. Every day, barefoot and carrying over 20 kilograms of gear for mountaineers, he earned less than $3 a day to support his family.
Mountain climbing in freezing cold weather? Remember these key tips
As a cold wave hits, snow may fall in mountainous areas. The Forestry Bureau under the Council of Agriculture urges people not to climb mountains during snowy conditions, as Taiwanese are not familiar with snowy terrain and visibility is poor. If already on the mountain, wear non-slip hiking shoes, equip your vehicle with snow chains, and most importantly, dress warmly enough. Not only was there an extremely cold wave early last year, but recent cold fronts have also brought snow to the mountains. The Forestry Bureau emphasizes that during this season, it does not encourage the public to hike due to poor visibility from fog and snow, as well as slippery roads that hinder movement. The bureau has set up the Taiwan Mountain Recreation website, where visitors can check the weather forecasts for the day and the following days at various national forest recreation areas on its official site. It’s best to adjust hiking plans according to the climate and avoid taking risks. The Forestry Bureau also stated that information such as opening and closing hours, and precautionary closures of access roads will be published and updated on the Taiwan Mountain Recreation website.
Man lost in mountains for 3 hours, 20 police and firefighters launch rescue mission
A 60-year-old man surnamed Chen went hiking in Shiding District, New Taipei City, on the 10th. When he failed to return home by around 9 p.m., his wife reported him missing to the Zhongshan Police Precinct in Taipei City. After coordinating with authorities, they located him near a betel nut plantation. The Fourth Disaster Relief and Rescue Squad of the New Taipei City Fire Department dispatched 20 personnel to conduct the search and successfully rescued him down the mountain three hours later. Chen stated that he got lost because he was unfamiliar with the mountain trails.
Public-private collaboration: Taichung City Government invites private sector to adopt Daking Hiking Trail
Daking Hiking Trail is a popular hiking destination in central Taiwan. To enhance the hiking experience, facilities such as ancillary amenities, pavilions, rest platforms, public toilets, parking lots, and planted green spaces will be open for private adoption. The Tourism Bureau has scheduled an informational meeting on corporate adoption of the Daking Hiking Trail for the 9th at the Yangming Municipal Government Building, and all are welcome to attend. Chen Sheng-shan, Director of the Tourism Bureau, pointed out that the city government is actively promoting the Hundred-Mile Hiking Trail initiative. This year, funds have been secured to carry out major renovations on Daking Trails No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10, with completion expected by the end of this year. The project will incorporate two key thematic features—natural landscapes and ecological experiences—to create distinctive trail characteristics. Chen Sheng-shan said that the Daking Hiking Trail, built with distinctive acacia wood boardwalks, attracts approximately 2.2 million visitors annually and delivers outstanding tourism benefits. Corporate adoption helps enhance corporate image. Therefore, the city government is broadly inviting private sector participation to jointly improve the quality of the Daking Hiking Trail.
A hiker suffering from acute gastroenteritis is rescued by officers from the Fifth Brigade of the Seventh Precinct who trek up the mountain to help get him to medical care
A group of six hikers applied to climb Mt. Dabajian in Shei-Pa National Park from March 4 to 6. One of them, a hiker surnamed Zhang, began experiencing diarrhea on the first day of the climb on March 4. The condition worsened until he became physically exhausted and unable to continue the hike, forcing him to call for help. Officers from the Wufeng Small Patrol Team of the Fifth Brigade of the Seventh Precinct, stationed at the Guanwu Recreation Area, took advantage of a brief lull in the rain in the Guanwu Mountain area this morning. Together with personnel from the Guanwu Management Station of Shei-Pa National Park, they braved temperatures as low as 4°C, cleared fallen rocks blocking the path, and made their way deep into the Madala Creek Trailhead at the 19-kilometer mark on the Eastern Section of the Dalu Forest Road. Around noon, they successfully escorted the hiker, Mr. Zhang, who was suspected of having acute gastroenteritis, to the trailhead. He was then handed over to the Wufeng Fire Squad of Hsinchu County Fire Bureau, who transported him down the mountain for medical treatment. The Fifth Brigade of the Seventh Precinct stated that the 50-year-old man, surnamed Zhang, began...
Former national sanda champion, Taipei search and rescue member goes missing on mountain
Li Ying-hsun, the Taipei City firefighter who went missing on the mountain, is not only a member of the Taipei International Search and Rescue Team but also a former national sanda (full-contact martial arts) champion. He is physically fit and has extensive disaster rescue experience. Unexpectedly, he went missing in the mountains of Hualien and is still being searched for. Three firefighters from the Taipei City Fire Department—Li Ying-hsun, Tsai Chih-cheng, and Lin Keng-wei—planned to climb Nanyierzi Mountain in Hualien during the 228 Holiday. On the morning of February 28, they started trekking up the Shoufeng River and set up camp at an altitude of 580 meters that evening. The next day, they camped at an altitude of 1,050 meters. On the evening of March 1, Li went to look for a water source and went missing, with no contact afterward. The other two searched for him in the area for a day without success. Yesterday, they decided to descend the mountain and reported the case to the Xilin Police Station of Hualien’s Fenglin Precinct at 5 p.m., also notifying Li’s family. Li Ying-hsun, 30 years old, is a graduate of the 24th class of the Police Academy and joined the force in 2007. He was transferred from the Jiancheng Branch to the Shuangxi Branch late last year. Due to his excellent performance and strong physical ability, he was assigned to the task-force Taipei International Search and Rescue Team, participating in various rescue missions.
Taipei firefighters go hiking together, one goes missing while searching for water
Three firefighters from the Taipei City Fire Department took advantage of the 228 holiday to hike up South Erzi Mountain in Hualien. However, on just the second day of the trip, Li Ying-hsun (from the Shuangxi Branch) went missing after searching for a water source. The Hualien County Fire Department and the Taipei City Fire Department formed a search and rescue team, which today dispatched a total of four squads comprising 34 personnel via helicopter to conduct a ground search on the mountain. The three firefighters from the Taipei City Fire Department—Tsai Chih-cheng (Jingmei Branch), Lin Keng-wei (Wanhua Squadron), and Li Ying-hsun (Shuangxi Branch)—set off early on February 28th by ascending the Shoufeng River in Hualien. They set up camp that night at an altitude of 580 meters. On the second day, they camped at 1,050 meters. Around 4 p.m. that afternoon, Li went to look for a water source but failed to return or make contact. The other two searched the area for a whole day without success. At 5 p.m. on the 2nd, they reported the case to the Xilin Police Station of Hualien’s Fenglin Precinct and
Male college student injured while hiking, helicopter dispatched for rescue
A team of four university students was hiking along the Batongguan Historic Trail when a male student surnamed Li slipped and fell down a collapsed slope, injuring his waist and leaving him immobile. He urgently called for help via satellite phone. On the 2nd, an Air Police Brigade helicopter attempted a hoist rescue, but thick cloud cover prevented the operation. On the morning of the 3rd, the helicopter instead picked up nine rescuers in Yuli Township and began a trek up the mountain to reach the group. The hike is expected to take about one day, with hopes of reaching the injured hiker as soon as possible (see photo, photo courtesy of Yang Hansheng).
Hikers searching for water source go missing in mountainous region; rescue efforts launched in Hualien and Taitung
Three firefighters from the Taipei City Fire Department were climbing South Erzi Mountain in Hualien when one of them, surnamed Li, went missing after searching for a water source. The other two spent a day looking for him without success before reporting the case. The Hualien County Fire Bureau has formed a rescue team that set out early this morning to begin the search. The three firefighters—surnamed Tsai, Lin, and Li from the Taipei City Fire Department—had planned to climb South Erzi Mountain in Hualien during the 228 holiday. On the morning of February 28, they started their ascent via the Shoufeng River and set up camp at an altitude of 580 meters that evening. The next day, they pitched camp at 1,050 meters. On the evening of March 1, Li went to look for a water source and went missing, with no contact afterward. The other two searched the area for a day but failed to find him. They decided to descend yesterday and reported the incident to the Xilin Police Station of Hualien’s Fenglin Precinct at 5:00 p.m., also notifying Li’s family. The Hualien County Fire Bureau and the Taipei City Fire Department...
The 2014 Shehe Himalaya Spring/Summer Order Fair has successfully concluded.
From July 9 to 13, the 2014 Spring/Summer new product order fair of Shehe was successfully held at Jiangmen Yihao Hotel. Themed "Himalaya," the event showcased Shehe’s 2014 Spring/Summer collection featuring Himalayan ethnic cultural elements through venue displays, model runway shows, and product presentations.
Avalanche at ski resort in Japan leaves 8 people with no signs of life, 40 injured
An avalanche occurred this morning at a ski resort in the hot spring area of Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, leaving 7 male high school students and 1 male teacher with no signs of life, and 40 others injured, including 2 with serious injuries.
Mountain bikes have become much more enjoyable to ride.
The bicycle market experiences new trends every so often, and in recent years, mountain biking has taken the world by storm. What makes it so captivating is the ability to traverse forest trails—an intense experience that demands considerable physical effort, yet rewards riders with breathtaking scenery unmatched by other sports. At this year’s Taipei International Auto & Bike Show, major brands unveiled their flagship models, among which the highly talked-about Merida top-tier full-suspension electric-assist mountain bike, the eONE-SIXTY 900E, won the gold award at the IF Taipei Cycle Design Innovation Awards. Xu Shih-yen, Deputy General Manager of Merida’s domestic sales division, noted that electric-assist technology has matured significantly in recent years, even becoming available for mountain bikes. This greatly reduces the physical strain of riding, enabling more people to take up the sport. In the past, mountain bike chainrings typically came with
Hikers lost in mountains; Yilan police and firefighters launch search and rescue
The Yilan County Fire Bureau said that a member of the public went hiking and taking photos alone today on the Ayu Mountain Forest Trail in Yuanshan Township. He was expected to return before nightfall, but lost his way while descending. Relevant police and firefighting units have entered the mountain to expand the search and rescue operation. 1060323
The Datian Precision Hardman Mountain Bike Wins Taiwan Excellence Award
Datian Precision Co., Ltd. (stock code: 8924) has once again been honored with the 2017 Taiwan Excellence Award for its Hardman HT XC ELITE. The Datian bicycle brand VOLANDO, together with the Kaohsiung Linyuan High School Mountain Bike Team, organized a mountain bike training camp on March 18–19 to help more outdoor enthusiasts master the fundamental skills of mountain biking. Datian’s Chairman Li Kong-wen stated that the Hardman HT XC ELITE is designed for cross-country (XC) mountain bike racing. It is lightweight, shock-absorbing, and stable, offering riders excellent acceleration and a nimble yet steady handling experience on the track. For a long time, Taiwan’s bicycle industry has focused on exports, and mountain biking remains a niche sport in Taiwan. Through this event...
Search for missing hiker lasted half a month before being painfully called off
The search and rescue team of Taipei City Fire Department’s firefighter Li Ying-hsun went missing during a mountain climb. After more than half a month of searching — which resulted in one rescuer killed and several injured — the missing hiker was still not found. The Hualien County Fire Bureau stated that the search mission was painfully called off on the 21st. Currently, six rescuers remain in the mountains to handle aftermath tasks and will be evacuated by air force helicopter depending on weather conditions. Li Ying-hsun and two teammates went to climb Nanshan Erzi Mountain in Hualien during the 228 holiday. On the second day, he went off alone to look for water and went missing. The other two companions searched for a day without success and reported the case to a local police station on the evening of the 3rd of this month. The search and rescue brigade received the report and launched a mission involving Hualien County Fire Bureau, along with search and rescue teams from Taipei City, New Taipei City, and Hsinchu County fire departments, as well as air force helicopters, Taiwan’s Panshi Rescue Team, forestry patrol officers, and military special operations personnel. During the search period,