Classic Itineraries
Outopia invites you to join the hiking fun on Sunday, November 19
Long-term advocate of Leave No Trace principles, Outopia holds suburban hiking events every third week of November each year to promote proper mountaineering concepts and preserve the beauty of mountains and forests. This year marks its 10th anniversary, with the special theme of “National Mountain Day.” A total of 24 routes across Taiwan, including outlying islands, have been selected, and on November 19, hikers are invited to enjoy the joy of climbing. In addition to experiencing second-generation carbon footprint apparel at special prices, Outopia’s single-piece GORE-TEX® jacket priced at NT$10,000 is available for under NT$9,000, along with an 15% discount on DEUTER backpacks (25 liters and above).
Chaotic handling of Double Ninth Festival event; Ko Wen-je: Lying is the bigger issue
Last month, the Taipei City Government organized a hiking event for the Double Ninth Festival, but severely underestimated attendance, leading to a bloody accident. City councilor Ko Chia-yu revealed that the city government failed to submit a safety maintenance plan as required by the “Guidelines for Safety Management of Large-Scale Gatherings.” Afterwards, various departments passed the buck, with allegations of lying and document forgery, yet the review report mentioned none of this. Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je responded that while officials making mistakes is one thing, lying is a more serious issue. The case will continue to be investigated, and those responsible will be held accountable within a month. The city government had expected 7,000 participants for the hiking event, but over 20,000 showed up, resulting in chaos. Ko Chia-yu questioned that according to the city government’s “Guidelines for Safety Management of Large-Scale Gatherings,” events with over 1,000 participants lasting more than two hours should have a pre-planned safety maintenance scheme. However, the city government assessed that it wasn’t necessary, established standard procedures (SOPs) but didn’t follow them—essentially taking shortcuts that led to disaster.
Movie » Lost in the Mountains? Female Hiker Gets Trapped, Cries for Help on Cliff
A female hiker surnamed Lin from Tainan took advantage of a weekend holiday to climb Wugewei Mountain—one of the famous Seven Peaks of Guguan in central Taiwan—with three friends. However, she got separated from the group and became trapped on a cliff. Unable to find a way out, Lin panicked and cried for help. After an eight-hour search, rescue teams finally located her and safely escorted her down the mountain. What was supposed to be a joyful hiking trip turned into a terrifying ordeal. Around 2 p.m., the woman walked westward on her own after covering 1.3 kilometers. Her friends immediately told her she was going the wrong way, but she responded that she would find her own way back. After over an hour, she ended up trapped on a cliff face, unable to find the path back. After calling for police assistance, she was fortunately found by rescuers around 8:30 p.m. and was safely brought down the mountain by midnight, ending her eight-hour mountain nightmare.
The tribal environment has been damaged, and hikers are urged to show respect
The issue of illegal structures on Pengji Mountain has plagued the landowner for over 30 years. Although this is now the fifth round of demolitions, residents remain skeptical. Even though some say the illegal tent-building has decreased, it has only shifted and intensified in other ways. The problem isn’t unsolvable — they just don’t want to sue. What they hope for is genuine respect from hikers, so that coexistence with the landowners and nature can be achieved. Landowner Chen Mingqin said that after multiple demolition efforts, the overall incidence of illegal tent-building has declined, but their camp bases have moved northward and even expanded in size. The tents are getting bigger and bigger, and sometimes hikers even level out mountain paths. These actions simply show no respect for the landowners or for nature. He mentioned that some visitors have expressed willingness to rent land from the owners to set up camps, but most landowners are reluctant. The reason is simple — it’s not about renting the land or not, but about protecting the natural environment. Many hikers not only leave trash behind, but also defecate in the wild, polluting water sources. These are all things they wish to avoid.
A botched account: Taipei city spends NT$1.07 million on Double Ninth Festival hike, then another NT$6 million in aftermath after bloodshed
Over the weekend, a chaotic Double Ninth Festival hiking event organized by the Taipei City Government turned violent, leaving 23 people injured. The Social Welfare Bureau, which organized the event, admitted the need to distribute gifts to an additional 12,000 participants. The event cost over NT$1 million to hold but will require another NT$6 million in follow-up costs to distribute the extra gifts. City councilors demanded that the municipal government hold those responsible accountable. Taipei City hosted a Double Ninth Festival hiking event on the 28th, with Mayor Ko Wen-je personally participating. However, due to an unexpectedly high turnout of nearly 100,000 people—seven to ten times more than anticipated—23 elderly participants were injured in a scramble for lottery tickets, resulting in bloodshed. Mayor Ko publicly apologized multiple times, calling the event a "failure" and "counterproductive," and promised to distribute additional gifts. According to Apple Daily, Hsu Li-min, head of Taipei’s Social Welfare Bureau, reported at the Civil Affairs Committee yesterday that a review meeting was held on Monday (the 30th). He conducted a self-assessment of the event's shortcomings, including inaccurate crowd estimates.
Tens of thousands hike without submitting safety plan
”The city government held a Double Ninth Festival hiking event last week, expecting around 7,000 participants, but the crowd surged to over 20,000, leading to a bloody accident. Councilor Ko Chih-yu revealed that according to the city’s “Major Crowd Event Safety Management Guidelines,” events with more than 1,000 participants lasting over two hours should have a pre-planned safety maintenance scheme. The city government assessed it unnecessary — she slammed the practice of setting SOPs and then not following them. What’s the point? Agencies pass the buck On October 31, Ko pointed out at the council’s Public Security and Health Committee that the Taipei City Government has established “Major Crowd Event Safety Management Guidelines,” which require traffic control, evacuation, and other safety plans for events with over 1,000 people lasting more than two hours. The city assessed the October 28 hiking event would have 7,000 participants and take 4.5 hours in total, yet no plan was submitted as required. Whose decision was that?
Breathtaking 360-degree views to feast your eyes on: 3 must-do hiking & camping routes for autumn foliage
As the weather cools and autumn sets in, the season for enjoying vibrant maple leaves is just around the corner. DailyView’s online popularity meter has ranked the top 100 most talked-about maple leaf viewing spots based on discussions over the past six months, highlighting popular destinations in Taiwan where you can admire stunning sunrises and hidden gems of brilliant red foliage. Before the foliage craze peaks, secure your spot now!
The public toilets on the Ciyun Temple Hiking Trail emit a foul odor, and the pavilions are damaged.
The Ciyun Temple Hiking Trail in Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, is a popular destination for hiking and outdoor activities among many locals. The trail features two public toilets and three pavilions, all of which are dilapidated, with exposed reinforcement bars and numerous broken stone steps. On the morning of the 30th, Councilor Lin Xiu-hui conducted an on-site inspection with representatives from the New Taipei City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau, Environmental Protection Bureau, and Zhonghe District Office, hoping for prompt repairs to ensure visitor safety. Zhonghe District has vast mountainous areas with numerous temples. Just on Yuantong Road alone, there are temples such as Yuantong Temple, Jade Emperor Palace, and Ciyun Temple. The hiking trails are interconnected and extend as far as Hongludi. During holidays, the area is bustling with visitors, making it one of Zhonghe District’s popular tourist spots. Many hikers have reported that the two public toilets and three pavilions along the Ciyun Temple Hiking Trail are in disrepair. The toilets suffer from water and electricity shortages, emit foul smells, and have tilting foundations.
Climb the ancient trails in crisp autumn weather — behold the breathtaking world of silvery white miscanthus flowers!
Embrace the joy of autumn hiking in cool, refreshing weather — silver-white miscanthus adds a touch of romance to the season. As the weather gradually turns cooler, signaling Taiwan’s transition into autumn, the miscanthus grass on the hillsides begins to stir, eager to paint the land in new hues. The once lush green mountains slowly transform into undulating waves of silvery white. To let the public witness this magnificent spectacle, the New Taipei City Government held the “New Taipei Flower Viewing & Agritourism Fun — Miscanthus Flower Event” on the 29th at Caoling Historic Trail, inviting people to admire the silvery waves on the slopes. With guided tours led by ecological conservation volunteers from the Agriculture Bureau, participants can enjoy an intellectual and emotional mini journey of autumn flower viewing!
Hualien » Attacked by Hornets: Two Hikers Rescued by Helicopter
On the Qingshui Mountain Trail in Taroko National Park, Hualien, a hornet attack was reported yesterday. A 53-year-old woman surnamed Ye and a 47-year-old man surnamed Lin were allegedly swarmed by disturbed hornets. Both sustained multiple stings and collapsed on the forest trail, with hornets still circling overhead. After receiving a report from other hikers, police and firefighters rushed up the mountain overnight to provide emergency aid. Fortunately, both victims were stable, and they were airlifted down the mountain by helicopter this morning. The Hualien County Fire Bureau received a report at around 5 p.m. yesterday from a hiker surnamed Lin, who said that among a group of 12 hikers trekking along the Qingshui Mountain Trail toward Qingshui Mountain, one person was suddenly attacked by a nest of hornets. One hiker was stung and fell unconscious, while hornets hovered above the victim. The other hikers dared not approach and urgently called for help. After receiving the report, police and firefighters, together with
Hualien Qingshui Mountain Trail: Hikers Attacked by Hornets
This afternoon around 5 PM, an incident was reported on the Qingshui Mountain Trail in Taroko National Park where hikers were attacked and trapped by hornets. According to the person who made the report, near the entrance of the Qingshui Mountain hiking trail (near the signpost pointing to 019), they spotted a hiker lying on the forest path, with a swarm of hornets circling above him. Police and firefighters have now formed a rescue team to head up the mountain, and it is estimated that it will take 6 to 7 hours before they can reach the injured person. Taroko National Park Deputy Director Chang Deng-wen stated that the Qingshui Mountain Trail must be accessed via the Dekalan Trail. Hikers must climb to the highest point, connect to the Dali-Daxue Trail, and then walk to the end of the Datong Tribe area before reaching the actual trailhead. The reporting hiker, surnamed Lin, was passing by when he saw the man lying on the ground. His group did not dare to approach and immediately reported the situation. He noted that after receiving the report, police and firefighters, together with rangers from Taroko National Park and the 9th Battalion of the 7th Precinct, have formed a rescue team to go up the mountain. However, due to the rugged terrain and poor visibility after nightfall, it may take 6 to 7 hours to reach the hiker.
Movie》City Government Hiking Event Goes Awry as Ko Wen-je Faces Backlash for "Terrible" Organization
Taipei City held a hiking event this morning (28th), but the large number of participants caused chaos at the scene, with several elderly people falling and getting injured. Angry citizens condemned the event's organization as "terribly bad." Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je later apologized to the public, admitting that the turnout exceeded expectations and calling it a failed event. To appease the crowd, he announced remedial measures, stating that all participants who left their contact information could receive a gift, and assured that personal data would not be leaked. Taipei City’s Department of Urban Development, in an effort to promote hiking and outdoor activities, jointly organized the 2017 “Active Mountains & Forests – Senior Citizens’ Hiking Event” with the Social Welfare Bureau, inviting Mayor Ko Wen-je and the public to hike and enjoy the view on Double Ninth Festival. However, due to complicated routes, the event spiraled out of control even before it began, with over ten elderly participants suffering falls and injuries.
Is Ko Wen-je in hot water for scrapping the Senior Citizens’ Festival subsidy? Multiple elderly people injured and bleeding as Double Ninth event goes awry
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je faced backlash after canceling the Senior Citizens’ Festival subsidy following his inauguration. This morning, the Taipei City Social Welfare Bureau held the 2017 “Happy Mountains, Active Seniors” Hiking Event, attracting a large crowd. Not only did it cause severe congestion on the Brown Line of the Taipei Metro, but reportedly due to overly complicated routing, the scene quickly spiraled out of control—with over ten elderly participants falling and getting injured, sparking outrage among attendees who shouted at Ko Wen-je (aka Ko P) to step down and take responsibility. The hiking event kicked off at 9 a.m. Prior to the start, organizers distributed raffle tickets for participants to join a lucky draw and receive snacks. However, once people arrived on-site, the reportedly confusing layout led to complete chaos even before the event began, with crowds scrambling over raffle tickets and several elderly individuals falling and bleeding. An anonymous attendee said that midway through the hiking route, they were told the path ahead had narrowed—allowing only two people to pass at a time—resulting in a bottleneck on the mountain with no way up, while those behind were told to turn back. He expressed strong dissatisfaction with how disorganized the city government’s Double Ninth event was. Voices of anger filled the scene, with demands for Ko Wen-je to resign and be held accountable.
Taipei’s Double Ninth Festival event draws massive turnout; commemorative gifts to be redistributed next month
Taipei City Government held a mountain hiking and walking event this morning to celebrate the Double Ninth Festival, with Mayor Ko Wen-je personally participating. However, the number of participants turned out to be 7 to 10 times higher than originally expected. Some elderly attendees were injured in a scramble to grab lottery tickets, prompting Mayor Ko to apologize and promise to distribute gifts to every senior participant. The Social Affairs Bureau and the Public Works Bureau, which organized the event and planned the route, have just issued a press release stating that they have conducted a thorough review of the mishap. The supplementary commemorative gifts will be available for collection in person at the Taipei City Hall starting November 6, or can be mailed to participants. The event was mainly divided in terms of responsibilities: the Department of Urban Development was in charge of planning the hiking route, event flow, and hardware such as promotional items, while the Social Affairs Bureau handled the software aspects including performance troupes and game stalls at the fair. The city government stated that the event was initially estimated to attract around 7,000 participants, but early in the morning, many members of the public began arriving one after another at the starting point of the event, the plaza beneath the Jiannan MRT Station.
National Games》Zhou Peini Crowned Queen of Mountain Bike Cross-Country Race, Jiang Shengshan Claims Men’s Title
The 26th day of the Yilan National Games featured the mountain bike cross-country race, which moved to the Wubiao Pit Scenic Area, once renowned as one of the "Eight Scenic Spots of LanYang" known as "Five Delights of Forest and Spring." The area's stunning landscapes and pleasant environment provided an ideal setting for athletes to perform at their best, attracting numerous spectators who cheered on the riders' impressive displays. In the women’s category, Taichung’s Zhou Peini, dubbed the "Queen of Downhill," secured the gold medal with a time of 1 hour, 39 minutes, 29.93 seconds, overpowering her competitors. Local athlete He Yici claimed the silver with a time of 1 hour, 43 minutes, 28.93 seconds, while Pingtung’s Tsai Yayu took the bronze in 1 hour, 47 minutes, 00.64 seconds. He Yici, currently a senior in university, was the home team’s top hope for gold. She ranked third in the 2016 National Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championships. Despite having suffered fractures at two locations on her right collarbone,
Hiker missing for 12 days on Nenggao Mountain rescued, survived on one beef jerky per day
Huang Zhiyuan, a 45-year-old Formosa Plastics employee from Changhua County, was descending the Nenggao Mountain Trail in Ren’ai Township, Nantou County on October 14 when he encountered a landslide near the Yunhai Power Line Station. While attempting to turn back for help, he got trapped and went missing. He tried to signal his location by burning leaves, but the effort was ineffective. He survived on one piece of beef jerky and one nut per day. Thanks to a joint rescue operation by the Nantou County Fire Bureau and civilian search teams, Huang was found at noon on the 25th after being missing for 12 days. The two teammates who stayed on the mountain throughout the search without descending, as well as Huang’s wife who joined the search for the first time, all burst into tears upon finding him. Though weak when discovered, he was conscious and able to walk down the mountain with the assistance of rescuers. Huang, who had no tent but did have a sleeping bag, told rescuers that after getting trapped, he first...
Enjoy autumn hiking and discover new shops at Shizitou Mountain for herbal treasures
Enjoy autumn hiking and discover new shops at Shizitou Mountain for herbal treasures. Many may not know that Shizitou Mountain, located at the border of Xindian and Sanxia districts, is not only one of Taiwan’s Minor Hundred Peaks, but also home to the endemic Xindian Swertia, a rare native plant nestled at the mountain’s base. Its petals feature concave nectar grooves that gather floral fluids to form deep purple nectar guides—an unusual and striking sight. On the 22nd, the New Taipei City Agriculture Bureau hosted an “Autumn Floral Farm Tour in New Taipei” guided ecological tour of the Xindian Swertia at Shizitou Mountain. Led by volunteer guides, participants explored the mountain’s rich natural ecology and cultural history, enjoying a beautiful and healthy weekend. When autumn arrives, people often think of maple leaves and silver grass, but many beautiful flowers also bloom at this time. The flowering season of the Xindian Swertia is from October to November each year. Due to its small flower size and limited numbers, it takes careful searching to catch a glimpse.
Hiking Couple Lost on New Year’s Day, Rescued by Police Using GPS
A mother and son surnamed Liang got lost while hiking on New Year’s Day. Officer Lin Jin-lu from Dadong Police Station of Heping Police Precinct confirmed their location via mobile phone and, together with staff from the Anmashan Work Station of the Forestry Bureau, conducted a rescue operation that successfully escorted the pair down the mountain safely. The mother and son entered the hiking trail at 26.5K on Xueshan Road, Hengling Mountain, in the morning of January 1st. They had planned to hike the Yuanzi Ridge route that day. Around 1 p.m., while trekking near the triangulation station on Hengling Mountain, they became disoriented due to unfamiliarity with the path and foggy conditions that reduced visibility, prompting them to call for help. Officer Jiang Ming-zhong immediately coordinated with personnel from the Forestry Bureau’s Anmashan Work Station. The two used GPS coordinates to locate and rescue the pair. At around 4 p.m., they found the mother and son at the junction of the 15th and 34th forest compartments of Baxian Mountain. Both were unharmed. After a brief rest, they were safely guided and escorted down the mountain.
Engineer Passionate About Sports Dies on Hiking Trail on New Year’s Day
A 53-year-old mechanical engineer surnamed Lin in Taichung City was hiking on the Daking No. 10 Trail on New Year’s Day when he suddenly collapsed about 800 meters from the trailhead. He was discovered by passing hikers, who promptly called the police. When firefighters and paramedics arrived, Lin showed no signs of life. Despite being rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, he was pronounced dead. Police informed his family at the hospital that the deceased had been passionate about sports and had no history of cardiovascular disease, expressing sorrow over his sudden and unexpected death. Police stated that Lin had gone to the Daking No. 10 Trail alone that day, driving from his residence in Dali District. Several hikers found a man lying unconscious on the trail about 800 meters from the entrance. They shouted for Lin and called the police. When firefighters and paramedics arrived, they first administered CPR, which proved ineffective, then delivered three electric shocks. Throughout the process, Lin...
Frequent Accidents: Nepal Bans These Two Types of Climbers from Everest Challenges
Nepal’s government has announced new safety measures that will prohibit solo climbers and individuals with disabilities from ascending mountains within the country. Starting January 1, all foreign climbers in Nepal must be accompanied by a guide. Additionally, blind individuals and those with double amputations will be completely barred from climbing. These are the latest revisions to the country’s mountaineering regulations. Due to the rising number of climber fatalities, the Nepalese government has ordered a ban on solo climbers, blind individuals, and those with double amputations of the hands or legs from climbing Mount Everest. The new directive has been criticized as discriminatory against people with disabilities, prompting the Nepalese government to later clarify that the ban only applies to those without medical clearance. To reach the summit of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, over 290 people have lost their lives to date. Maheshwor Neupane, Secretary of Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, stated...