The popular Daking No. 10 Trail among hikers in central Taiwan features gentle slopes and rich biodiversity, making it a favorite; however, due to aging and collapsed sections in parts of the trail, the Taichung City Government’s Tourism and Travel Bureau has allocated an additional budget of NT$10 million to prioritize its improvement. If approved by the city council, the project is expected to be contracted in June and completed by the end of this year.
The Tourism and Travel Bureau stated that there are 12 trails in the Daking area, spanning a total of 15.6 kilometers, attracting 2.2 million visitors annually. The trails, characterized by wooden boardwalks made of Acacia wood, are distinctive and appealing to foreign hikers. The Daking hiking trails are mainly divided into two systems: the Toukoshan Mountain Range and the Xiping Mountain Range. The former includes Trails 1 to 5 and 5-1, which feature steeper terrain and are suitable for experienced hikers; the latter includes Trails 6 to 10 and 9-1, which are family-friendly and designed for leisure activities.
Chen Sheng-shan, Director of the Tourism and Travel Bureau, said that Daking No. 10 Trail is a leisure-grade path and is highly popular among the 12 hiking trails. However, due to long-term use, some sections have aged and collapsed, prompting many hikers to call for prompt improvements. The bureau has allocated an additional NT$10 million budget for repair works and will also integrate the logo and standardized facilities of the Hundred-Mile Hiking Trail into the trail system.
Members of the public have complained that Trail 5 lacks public restrooms. Suggestions were made to the city government to build toilets on the mountain, but authorities explained that septic trucks cannot access the area. There have even been embarrassing incidents where prominent local politicians and representatives were seen relieving themselves in the wild. Some citizens expressed willingness to donate funds to acquire land for building restrooms. The Tourism and Travel Bureau believes the city government will comprehensively evaluate these suggestions and strive to meet visitors’ needs as much as possible.
Chen Sheng-shan pointed out that to enhance the overall infrastructure of the Daking trails, the Tourism and Travel Bureau will also incorporate the characteristics of the Hundred-Mile Hiking Trail project and allocate budgets year by year to carry out systematic renovations.
(China Times)