In Tainan City, the coming-of-age ceremony includes not only the traditional “Sixteen-Year-Old Rite” but has in recent years added a hike up Dadong Mountain, the city’s highest peak at 1,241 meters. The rugged and steep mountain path left 235 enthusiastic teenagers panting and complaining of fatigue along the way. By the time they reached the summit, their whole bodies ached — truly, the taste of adulthood is something they’ll never forget!
Dadong Mountain may be only 1,241 meters high, but the trail beyond the second rest pavilion is entirely uphill. The 235 teenagers started off at a leisurely pace on the gentle slope, but by the first pavilion, they were already drenched in sweat. When they reached the second pavilion, many had pale faces and legs that felt like iron — some even cried out that they couldn’t go on. Encouraged by their teammates, they endured the pain and pressed forward. The entire 8-kilometer hike took two and a half hours, but in the end, all the participating teens successfully made it to the saddle.
Dadong Mountain is located in the Guanziling mountain area and has long been a popular hiking destination in Tainan. The challenge of climbing Dadong Mountain as part of the coming-of-age ceremony is no easy feat — over 90% of the participants were hiking the mountain for the first time. Many had thought they could stroll through the journey with ease, but they soon found that climbing up was hard, and descending was even tougher. Several hikers descended with trembling legs, leaving them with a deep impression of their “Sixteen-Year-Old Rite.”
Cai [Name Redacted] from Yinghai High School, speaking on behalf of all the youths, said that being able to climb Dadong Mountain alongside many young people, both familiar and unfamiliar, all working toward the same goal, was the greatest coming-of-age gift.
Tainan Mayor Lai Qingde, who led the teenagers from the trailhead, hiked up the mountain sweating the whole way. At the saddle, he presented certificates and took photos with the teens. He offered strong encouragement to those taking part in the Dadong Mountain coming-of-age hike. Though the process was tough, resting and regaining strength at the summit brought a completely different feeling. When facing future challenges, he urged them to summon the same courage they showed while climbing to overcome obstacles.