Yushan is a symbol of Taiwan, attracting domestic and international hikers year-round. The quality of mountain tourism also reflects Taiwan’s international image. After a year of application, the Rotary Club has finally been approved by the Yushan National Park Headquarters to build the country’s first high-altitude eco-friendly toilet at the Datie Shan trailhead. The project is being coordinated by the Chiayi Gaofeng Rotary Club, with completion scheduled for April or May 2011.
Chiayi Gaofeng Rotary Club President Tsai Mei-chen stated that the Rotary International District 3470 began applying to the Yushan National Park Headquarters last year to construct an eco-friendly toilet at the Yushan trailhead. However,
Cai Meizhen said that this eco-friendly toilet is the first and only high-altitude eco-toilet in the country, with a budget of about 3 million yuan. The Rotary International provided over 30,000 US dollars in funding, while the remaining costs were raised by domestic Rotary clubs. The project was designed by architect Hou Qingfang, a member of the Gaofeng Rotary Club, and the site covers an area of approximately 175 square meters.
The Gaofeng Rotary Club stated that this eco-toilet will be constructed using environmentally friendly technology, employing wood chips and microorganisms to decompose waste instead of traditional sewage discharge methods. With this eco-toilet in place, Taiwan’s high-altitude areas can now rival those abroad—such as those in Canada’s national parks and Japan’s Mount Fuji—which also feature eco-toilets, leaving international hikers with a positive impression of environmental responsibility.