Over 70% of Taiwan’s land area consists of mountains and forests, and these rich and unique natural resources are our greatest pride. To encourage the public to explore the beautiful island one step at a time through hiking, while also promoting physical, mental, and spiritual balance and health, the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration has specially planned and launched a series of activities for the “2019 National Hiking Day.” Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung announced that opinions on mountain management will be collected via the National Development Council’s online public policy participation platform, and called on everyone to hike and trek together. The event also includes online activities such as choosing hiking routes and uploading photos from hiking trips, as well as offering exquisite gifts worth millions to encourage people to earn health and good fortune through hiking.
Gao Chun-hsiung, Director-General of the Sports Administration, stated that the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, known as Double Ninth Festival, has the tradition of hill climbing, and September 9th in the Gregorian calendar is “National Sports Day.” Therefore, the Sports Administration has organized the “National Hiking Day” series of events for over a month starting from September 9th, collaborating with local groups to connect hiking clubs across Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities. This initiative encourages everyone to enjoy the mountains and challenge themselves. It is hoped that through nationwide participation, sports will become part of everyday life, and hiking and trekking will become a national pastime in Taiwan
The "National Mountain Day" series of events is the largest mountain climbing event series in Taiwan. The Sports Administration has collaborated with local mountain climbing clubs across 22 counties and cities to organize over 200 hiking activities, offering a rich and varied selection of routes that you won’t be able to exhaust. There will also be local hiking companions to join you as you explore mountains and seas, experiencing the joy of mountaineering.
This year’s main National Mountain Day event is scheduled to take place on October 6, with the Chinese Taipei Mountaineering Association and the Chinese Taipei Hiking & Mountaineering Association simultaneously organizing a thousand-person mountain hiking activity at Taipei Zhishan Junior High School and Taichung Metropolitan Park.
To encourage people from all walks of life to explore nature and attract more participants to mountain hiking and walking, the Sports Administration has specially invited Taiwan’s largest hiking website, “Hiking Notebook,” to host an online mountain climbing campaign this year. The public is invited to take part in five highlight-themed hiking activities: “Reach New Heights – Challenge 100 Taiwan Small Hundred Mountains,” “Leave No Trace – Clean 100 Trails Across Taiwan,” “Hike with the Mountains – Upload Your Framed Photos,” “Gem Quest – Join the Treasure Hunt in the Mountains,” and “Mountain Vitality Recharge Stations.”