Shao Dingguo, who runs an ecological farm and homestay in Taitung, launched an online campaign to establish a mountain museum due to his passion for hiking. He is calling on fellow hikers to donate unwanted climbing gear, books, or various outdoor-related items—preferably older ones—in hopes of creating a museum that documents the history of mountaineering in Taiwan.
Known as "Goat," Shao Dingguo has been climbing since high school and, with over 40 years of experience exploring Taiwan’s mountains, eventually relocated from Taipei to Taitung where he purchased a mountain to turn into an ecological farm. He has long lamented the lack of a mountain museum in Taiwan, prompting him to start this gear donation drive, aiming to establish the museum through the collective effort of fellow hikers.
Goat pointed out that Taiwan, with its many mountains and few plains, has the ideal environment for developing mountaineering. According to statistics, six million people in Taiwan have hiking experience, yet there is no dedicated museum to display climbing equipment, books, or photographs. He believes it would be a great pity, and that such a museum is necessary to document the history of mountaineering in Taiwan.
He said that hikers likely have unused climbing gear at home, and even outdoor gear businesses have many samples. If these items can be collected and the government provides an unused "white elephant" building, he plans to organize and display contributions by donors and mountaineering clubs, making it easier for the public to learn about the sport of mountaineering.