Although he is the General Manager of Taishin Financial Holdings, among his close fellow hikers, Lin Kexiao is simply seen as a humble and easygoing climbing “enthusiast,” but the moment the conversation turns to hiking and indigenous culture, his deep passion and “reverence” and “humility” immediately shine through. Years ago, after an unexpected encounter with the culture of the Atayal tribe, his interest in exploring ancient indigenous sites deepened — but this also led to a tragic cliff-falling accident.
Though his expertise lies in the field of finance, Lin Kexiao has never stopped pursuing his love for mountaineering. He once told fellow hikers that he was determined to fulfill a common dream shared by all climbers during his lifetime: “conquering Taiwan’s 100 Peaks.” Just four years ago, after accidentally coming across the heritage culture of the Atayal tribe, he became deeply immersed in the thrill of “exploring and studying cultural ruins,” and since then, he has set aside time every year to venture into the mountainous regions of Nan’ao in search of indigenous heritage sites.
Not only that, he also transformed his interest in exploring indigenous heritage culture into writing. While many expected that someone with his professional background would write a book on finance or an autobiography, last year he authored a travel memoir titled Finding the Path: Moonlight, Sayun, and the Klesan.
The book recounts how, during a hiking trip, he unexpectedly stepped into a dreamlike world — a time portal that transported him 70 years back to an Atayal indigenous village. There, he completed the journey home for a young Atayal girl named Sayun, who had tragically fallen into a river. Now, Lin Kexiao’s family and friends sincerely hope that he, too, can find his own way home.
For many years, whenever Lin Kexiao went hiking in Yilan, he would team up with the same group of Atayal indigenous people. Lai Yueh-chen, also a member of the group, said that within the team, some were responsible for supplying gear, others for scouting and carrying loads, and together they would guide him to explore ancient indigenous ruins and lost cultures. Because of his deep enthusiasm for indigenous culture, many locals became close friends with him. When walking into the mountains with him, no one would ever guess he was the head of a financial holding company.
When news of Lin Kexiao’s fall broke, many local Atayal friends volunteered to join the mountain rescue mission. Perhaps it was their natural instinct — they simply said, “Brother Kexiao, don’t worry. We indigenous people are tough. We’ll carry you out of these mountains on our backs if we have to. We won’t leave you there with the ancestral spirits!”