Frequent mountaineering accidents are alarming. To enhance safety awareness, the Yushan National Park Headquarters commissioned renowned director Yang Xiangwen to produce the microfilm "Jade Mountain Journey." The film follows mountain guide “Lahao” leading fellow hikers on a humble climb up Yushan (Jade Mountain); this cinematic tribute to Yushan’s beauty won the Best Film Award at this year’s American Premier Film Festival.
At yesterday’s premiere of "Jade Mountain Journey," Yushan National Park Director Tseng Weihong stated that the film aims to convey values that make mountaineering safer and more joyful. Former Director Yeu Deng-liang commended the director and “Best Actor” Gu Mingguang for their precise portrayals.
Yushan National Park spans the counties and cities of Nantou, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Hualien, encompassing 30 of Taiwan’s Hundred Peaks. The park’s various mountain trails are classified by difficulty, risk level, and hiker fitness, allowing visitors to choose routes that match their abilities.
"Jade Mountain Journey," directed by Yang Xiangwen, took eight months to shoot and runs approximately 20 minutes in length. It is available in multiple languages and employs a moving, realistic microfilm style. Professional mountain guides explain mountaineering safety and environmental education, helping viewers develop better awareness.
Gu Mingguang, who plays the role of “Lahao” in "Jade Mountain Journey," is himself a professional mountain guide and a Bunun tribesman intimately familiar with the Yushan massif. He believes everyone entering the mountains should do so with humility and respect. Faced with nature’s unpredictability, “only by descending safely can you have the chance to climb another peak.”