A turning point has emerged in the controversy surrounding the "2016 Seven Star Mountain King" Trail Run. Today, the Yangmingshan National Park Authority announced that, to ensure visitor safety, certain trails within Yangmingshan National Park will be temporarily closed for maintenance, leading the organizers to postpone the event in the afternoon.
The "2016 Seven Star Mountain King" Cross-Country Trail Run, organized by Wei Yue Sports Marketing, was still being promoted by the organizers on Facebook as going ahead as planned, despite the Yangmingshan National Park Administration emphasizing that it had not granted approval.
However, today the Qingtiangang Management Station of the Yangmingshan National Park Administration issued a notice stating that, to protect visitor safety, multiple trails including the Seven Star Mountain Trail (near the entrance from Lengshuikeng to Seven Star Mountain), the Zhugao Mountain Branch Trail (entire route), and the Dingshan Shitiling Trail (near the Fengguikou trailhead) will be temporarily closed for repairs from April 29 to 30. Visitors are advised to avoid these routes.
This afternoon, the organizers of the Trail Run posted a statement on the official event Facebook page (Charming Trail), announcing, "As several of the closed trails are part of the Seven Star Mountain King race route, and to ensure the safety of participants, we hereby announce the postponement of the 2016 Seven Star Mountain King event scheduled for April 30."
The organizers explained, "Since all trails in Yangmingshan are open areas, entering them after a government closure notice would constitute an illegal act." 1050429
(Central News Agency)