Born in 1973 (the 62nd year of the Republic of China), Zhang Yuanbin took up photography because of his passion for hiking. During his time at Chung Yuan Christian University, he joined the mountaineering club and earned a high-altitude guide certification. He often led club members on climbs to famous peaks, and has now conquered over 70 of Taiwan's "Hundred Mountains."
During university summer breaks, Zhang Yuanbin would often stay in the mountains for a full month. “Every time I came back to Taipei from the mountains, my parents would see my bearded face and think I was some wild man who had come down from the hills!” Zhang Yuanbin laughed heartily.
In his twenties, Zhang Yuanbin’s goal in hiking was conquest. So he constantly challenged himself to climb the Hundred Mountains, even during heavy snowfall, and once encountered an avalanche straight out of a movie. Looking back now, “climbing in the snow was truly dangerous. I realize how immature I was — no one can conquer nature.”
Working as a high-altitude guide taught Zhang Yuanbin leadership, but “being the one to decide the life or death of a whole team” also made him deeply understand that life holds many important lessons — including endurance, humility, and learning to coexist peacefully with nature.
Once Zhang Yuanbin realized the truth that nature cannot be conquered by humans, his life and thinking became simpler. Nowadays, though busy with work and unable to go hiking often, being able to climb with friends every year has become his most cherished luxury.
When Zhang Yuanbin came to realize the truth that nature cannot be conquered by humans, his life and thoughts grew simpler and simpler. Now, busy with his career and unable to find time for mountain climbing, being able to hike with close friends once a year has become his most luxurious wish.