Natural is best: The City’s Rebuilt Trails Promote Mountain-Friendly Green Travel

Text / Compiled and reported by Liao Qiyu, MOOK Travel Life Network Editorial Department

As concepts of ecological conservation and sustainable development become increasingly mature, more and more people enjoy spending their holidays in the mountains to experience the comfort and leisure of green travel. To promote the ideas of mountain hiking and sustainable ecology, the Taipei City Department of Public Works’ Earth Engineering Office continues to develop “natural trails” and organizes trail activities to advocate the “natural is best” concept. This allows everyone to more easily experience the beauty of nature and participate in the preservation of mountain environments.

Adhering to the “natural is best” philosophy, the Earth Engineering Office aims for “zero increase in impermeable surfaces and zero loss of natural surfaces.” It transformed the concrete surface of the old disused police shooting range on the “Cui Shan Trail” into grassland, converted the old asphalt concrete surface of the “Heng Ling Trail” into a stone and wood chip path, and changed the former concrete surface of the “Zhongpu Shan Trail” into a natural dirt path—creating “natural trails” that further advance environmental conservation.

To enhance public understanding of natural trails, the Earth Engineering Office specially organized a natural trail experience event at the Xian Ji Yan Coast Guard Branch Trail in early October this year. The public was invited to participate, with professional lecturers providing explanations and hands-on trail work. With every drop of sweat poured into the trail, we grow to cherish the natural environment and natural trails even more, jointly protecting our home and ensuring the sustainable development of the ecological environment.