15+ Things You Need to Know before You Hit the Trails in Taiwan
70% of Taiwan is covered by mountains and complex terrains, which
shapes special hiking culture. I like doing solo hikes, but I still
join hiking associations for group hikes. The main reason is the
safety, and the second one is I get to see the most beautiful views
in Taiwan when hiking with groups. Without those groups, I
don't think I could get to those remote places and learn new things about hiking and trails. Therefore, I highly
recommend visitors from other countries to hike with local hiking groups or
associations, because this will save you time to do research about
the trails and, most importantly, you feel safe when hiking with the
experienced locals.
Disclaimer: Please note some of the following are based on my
personal observations, and I will try to provide the latest and
correct information as possible as I can. Please feel free to let
me know if I make any mistake and thank you for reading. Please
also note that your safety is your own responsibility.
1. Important!!! The Emergency Call on the Trail is 112 and 119 in Taiwan
112 and 119 also provide English service if you don't speak Chinese. Try 112 first because seasoned hikers say dialing 112 is easier to get through when the phone signal is weak.
2. Difficulty Levels Might Be Different from Your Home Countries
At first glance, you might think the hiking distance in Taiwan is
very short. You even will find trips less than 10 km (6.2 miles).
However, the jungle terrains make the short hikes more time
consuming, and you may need to take extra efforts to traverse in the
woods. Having a short distance doesn't mean those hikes will be
easier.
Before we discuss the difficulty levels, there are several criteria
about difficulty rating of trails in Taiwan. There are at least 3
kinds of trails defined by the altitudes and accessibility:
The 100 Peaks in Taiwan 百岳
The 100 Peaks in Taiwan, Three-thousander trails, or Top 100, or
Baiyue 百岳 in Chinese, refer to the peak elevations greater 3,000
meters / 9,842 feet above sea level. Most of those locate within the
National Parks in Taiwan and hikers need to apply for permits for
hiking or camping.
Mid-elevation Mountain Trails, or 中級山
Mid-elevation Mountain Trails or 中級山, refer to those elevations
between 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters (between 3,281 and 9,842 feet).
Some define them between 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters (between
4,921 and 9,842 feet). Some of those are very remote, and hikers
need to drive or hire a private transportation to get to the
trails. Sometimes hikers have to stay the closest hotel, B&B, or
camps near those trails to save time.
Mid-elevation Mountain Trails can be very challenging, and some even more difficult than the 100 Peaks. For those who
want to avoid altitude sickness but still want to experience the
unique beauty in the wilderness in Taiwan, I highly recommend
Mid-elevation Mountain Trails. Some trails locate in national nature
preserved areas, so you need to apply for permits in advance, but
it's easier than applying to the 100 peaks, especially during Covid-19 pandemic. The views you can see on
those trails aren't any less amazing than those on the 100 Peaks.
One thing to bear in mind is those trails aren't for everyone.
Hiking on those trails requires a better physical condition, and
most of the hiking guides will ask hikers' previous hiking
experience before joining the group hikes. The guides also have the
right to turn you down if they don't think this trail is for you.
Suburb Mountain Trails 郊山
Suburb Mountain Trails or 郊山, roughly below 1,000 meters (3,281
feet) in height. Most of them are close to Taipei City or other big
cities and can be reached and finish the hike within one day.
This name is translated literally from Chinese. Those trails are not
necessary located in the suburban or near the cities. Some of
those trails can still be very challenging. For example, you might need to
hike through creeks, climb up and down steep slopes or narrow
ridges. Usually, the difficulty levels of those trails are also
categorized in 3 levels: easy, moderate, challenging. Those trails
can be finished within one day and most of them can be access by
public transport.
In Taiwan, hiking over 12 km (7.5 miles) can be deemed as a
long-distance hike because of the complex terrains covered by thick mud or intertwined tree roots. In
Europe or in the U.S. or other countries, hiking 20+ km or even 20+
miles in one day seems to be normal, but the jungles in Taiwan
increase the hiking difficulty, and can make the hike a daunting task.
Local government and some hiking organizations will establish new
trail categories to encourage the public to go hiking. Some of those
trails can be connected into a long-distance hike. If you take a
wrong turn, you might end up in a different trail and exit in a
totally different place. Therefore, please prepare maps or GPX tracks on
your navigation device when you go hiking in Taiwan. The jungle-like
terrains usually make things more complicated.
High Altitudes ≠ Difficulty
Another thing about the trails in Taiwan is the difficulty level is not
necessarily associated with the elevations. Many Mid-elevation Mountain
Trails are more difficult than the 100 Peaks because of the total
descending and ascending and the terrains. Many trails on the 100
Peaks are easier to detect than those on the Mid-elevation ones. Some
Suburb Mountain Trails can also make you curse yourself for hiking
there, too. I once hiked a Mid-elevation Mountain Trail,
Mt. Baxian Main Peak Trail 八仙山主峰, with more than 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) in total descending and
ascending. I still don't know how I made it.
The best example might be Mt. Yu, 3,952 meters / 12,966 feet, the highest
mountain in Taiwan. There are still some dangerous sections on the
trail, but overall, it's not as difficult as you thought. However,
the most difficult part about hiking in Mt. Yu is to win the lottery
draw to get a sleeping space at Baiyun Lodge. There are even at
least 3 levels of difficulty for the 100 Peaks labeled by the
National Parks, starting from A, which is the easiest one.
Xiao Baiyue or Junior 100 Peaks 小百岳
To promote hiking, government surveyed and selected 100 Suburb
Mountains (some are overlapped with Mid-elevation Mountains) in 2013 to
establish a list called Xiao Baiyue, meaning junior or small 100
Peaks. Those are much easier to hike, and some have great views on
the summits. Xiao Baiyue trails are very popular here.
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3. Hiking the 100 Peaks Can Be Dangerous Because of Altitude Sickness
For local hikers, applying for the permits to hike the 100 Peaks
sometimes depends on luck to get a space at the cabins or camping
ground. But for international visitors, the process is different
from the locals and almost certain you will get a space because they will preserve some beds for intentional visitors.
Not all 100 Peaks are difficult to hike.
Mt. Hehuan 合歡山
is very easy to access, and five of Mt. Hehuan summits are listed in
the 100 Peaks. But even it's not difficult to hike Mt. Hehuan, you
still have to worry about the altitude sickness.
Here's a great
post
about the altitude sickness. The altitude sickness can happen when
hikers climb to elevation over 2,500 meters (8,202 feet) too fast,
and it can cause deaths. The only way to relieve the sickness is to
move to lower elevation as soon as possible.
That's why every guide in the group will ask hikers to report any
illness to them, no matter how minor you think it is, because those
symptoms can get worse that things might be out of control. Hikers
in Taiwan usually will visit the doctors a few days before the hike
to get some medicine like Diamox for precaution. I took Diamox
before my 100 Peak hikes, but I experience side effects like figure
tingling. I'm not professional medical personnel. Please check with
your doctor.
4. The Translations on The Trails Can be Confusing and Funny
As a local, our translation system confuses me, too. So, I can
totally understand how frustrated the international visitors feel
and wonder how they can survive when they are here. According to the
website of our Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, you might get up to 4 different English pronunciations when
you type one Chinese phrase.
For example, the translations on Mt.
Xue, 雪山. I've seen both Mt. Xue and Syue Mountain on the trail,
not to mention Mt. Snow, which is literally translated from Chinese.
When you hike the highest peak in Taipei City, you will see the post
on the peak says Mt. Cishing, instead of Mt. Qixing. As the popular
hike to Mt. Teapot, you will also see Cha Hu Shan, or Cha
Hu Mountain, and the official Chinese name is 無耳茶壺山.
So, which one is the standard or correct translation? I still have
no idea. I'll try to keep the translations on the website consistent
and put Chinese names for reference in case you need to ask the local people for
directions. Or, just hike with the local people.
5. Triangulation Stones 三角點 Are A Big Thing in Taiwan
There are many
Triangulation Stones
on the peaks of mountains, and they are usually (but not always)
the indicators of whether you will see the views. There are three
main classes of those stones in Taiwan: Class 1 Triangulation Stones
usually mean you can see the vest views on the summits, but
sometimes those Triangulation Stones are placed in the woods and
there is no view to see. There are five Class 1 Triangulation Stones
in Taipei City and New Taipei City, but you can only get a great
view from three of them. The highest peak in Taipei City, Mt.
Qixing, 1,120 meters / 3,675 feet, also has a Class 1 Triangulation
Stone. Not every peak will have those stones because some of them have been missing for a while. Triangulation Stones
are for geodetic surveying.
There are several taboos when you see those stones. The biggest one
is, do not stand on them or use your feet to touch them. You
probably will get scolded by older hikers.
Some hikers say touching those stones will make your hike easier. Of
course, this is not true. Those are encouragements to help you keep
going and show respect the mountains. There are some hand-made signs
near those stones so hikers will take those signs and take photos to
prove they've been there. Sometimes you can see hikers queueing up
to take photos with those stones.
6. Plastic Ribbons and Plates on The Trails
When you hike on Suburban Mountain Trails (not those maintained by
governments with stone or wooden steps), the most common terrains are tangled
tree roots or dirt trails covered by grasses or bamboo woods. Many
hiking associations will tie bright-colored plastic ribbons or tags on the
trees for fellow hikers to see where the trails go. A group of
volunteers organized by Lantian Group 藍天隊 even devote their time
and money to clean the trails from time to time in north Taiwan and
put plates for directions on the trail. Their devotion has helped
hikers a lot and let us enjoy the trails. The current leader of
Lantian Group is
Mr. Jiang Qixiang.
7. Your Physical Fitness and Fear of Height Matter
Some local hiking associations will screen hikers' physical
conditions or their hiking experience for certain trails. However,
there is also a gap between self-assessment and the reality. Every
outdoor activity is different. Being good at running marathons
doesn't mean you will be fine with a long hike. I've met some new
hikers (me included) who have exercise habits thought they could
take on the more difficult hikes, but it turns out the trail is too
much for them. We all misjudge sometimes, which is fine. If you
think the trail is too much for you, please don't feel embarrassed
to let the guides know. Ask for help whenever you need, you and
fellow hikers will thank you later.
Another thing is the fear of height, or acrophobia. Sometimes, we
have to hike through the thin barren ridges or climb the steep slopes
with the ropes. If there are trees along those ridges or slopes,
things will not be too bad because you have something to grab. The worse
situation is there is nothing on the rocks to block your imagination for fear of losing your footing and fall to your death.
Usually, the hiking groups or associations will give you the warning in
advance. However, misjudgment happens. That happened to me when I was hiking on Bitou Cape Trail, and
it didn't go well. I knew some parts of the trail might trigger the
fear of height, but I didn't expect the slopes were so steep and
there were almost no edges to put my feet. I still made it back, but
it was really scary. Luckily, I saw one of the most fantastic views
I've ever seen and that gave me some comfort. If you are not sure,
you can always check with the guides to make sure this trail is for
you.
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8. The Ideal Clothing and Footwear Here Might Be Beyond Your Imagination
It's very hot and humid in Taiwan, especially in summer. It is
understandable that you want to wear tank tops and shorts on the trails. But please still wear long-sleeve hiking shirts and breathable hiking pants for the
following reasons. And NO JEANS please. If you don't wear properly
for the hike, some guides may have to turn you down the sake of you
and other people's safety. Even if you hike alone, proper clothing
will help you enjoy your hike much better.
A) Protect Yourself from Sharp Bamboo Grass, Plants with Thorns and Poisons
Many volunteers devote their weekends to clean up the trails in
Taiwan. Without their efforts, it is difficult to hike through some
trails with the grass as tall as an adult. If a trail hasn't been
tended for 3 months, it will grow very fast, and can cut you or lash
you on your face, arms or legs, which feels like paper cuts.
Bamboo grass is one of the most common plants on the trails, and
those are more notorious than grass. Wearing long sleeves and pants
can reduce the damages or pain when you try to navigate through
those tall grasses.
Being whipped on the trails may not be as painful as being stung by
poison plants. If your accidentally touch them with your bare skin,
those will not kill you but definitely will make your hike less
enjoyable. This is a good reason to cover yourself up to get some
protection.
B) Sun Burn Can Be Serious
You will see how hikers cover up or holding umbrellas on the trails
in Taiwan, especially female hikers. Aside from the obsession of
pale complexion, covering up can also protect yourself from sun
burn. From time to time, we hike on the exposed ridges without any
shade. If you hike on those trails in summer, it will make you feel
like you are the human BBQ or dim sum, which is another good reason
to wear long sleeves and pants. Hats are a must, too.
C) Most of the Time, Rainboots Are Your Best Friends
For hikers from different countries, it must surprise them a lot
when they see local hikers wearing rainboots on the trails. Many
even wear them to the 100 Peaks or in hot summer, including myself.
Why are Taiwanese hikers so obsessed with rainboots?
Even without muddy trails, it's still very slippery on the trails.
The humid weather is perfect for moss to thrive, and those tiny
plants cover up the surface of the trails or rocks, which makes them
very slippery. Although hiking with rainboots doesn't totally reduce
the slippery on those trails, it indeed increases the friction
compared to hiking boots. And please don't step on the green rocks
because they are covered by moss. Those are very slippery and may
cause a great harm.
I watch many YouTube videos about hikes on Pacific Crest Trail or
Appalachian Trail, and the hikers seldom wear hiking boots on those
long trails. They wear light weight trail running shoes. In
Taiwan, this kind of footwear may not be suitable and will make your
miserable if you hike on the difficult terrains. Rainboots are bulky
and heavy, and I have to say I'm not a big fan of them, but I still
wear them on the trails. Before my hike, I will Google to see the
trail condition to decide what I'm going to wear. Most of time, I
just wear rainboots.
D) The Little Vampires That Live in The Broad Daylight
The humid weather and jungle landscape are perfect for leeches to thrive, especially after raining. Wearing long
sleeves and pants doesn't totally protect you from being bitten by
leeches, but it can at least give those blood suckers some hard time
to attach to your bare skin.
Most people are taken back when they hear leeches on the trails in Taiwan,
but personally I think they are much better than wasps, bees, ticks and
poison plants. Leech bites are not fun, but they are almost harmless
and usually won't give you bad reactions, and it's very easy to get
rid of them once they lay their suckers on your skin. Just a pinch
of salt and they will drop right away. I tried to use my fingers to
pull them away from my skin, but they stuck on my fingertip instead.
Later, I put a pinch of salts and it works well.
E) Ticks
Yes, we still have
ticks on the trails in Taiwan.
F) A Pair of Cotton Yarn Gloves and A Headlamp Will Be A Plus
You can find cheap cotton yarn gloves at 7-11 or any convenience
stores in Taiwan. Having a pair will make your hiking experience
more pleasant and avoid rope burns or cuts. Other than that, a headlamp is
also a must-have item. If you don't have one, at least have a power
bank for your smartphone with you in case you have to hike in the
dark.
9. Regulations about Wild Camping and Camp Fire
Wild camping and campfire are not allowed at the National Parks,
preservation parks and other designated areas in Taiwan. There are
cabins and campsites on those areas and hikers must apply for
permits beforehand to hike and stay on those areas overnight. Some
sections of the trails are open to the public, but hikers still
should apply to enter after certain areas for the habitat
conservation purposes.
For example, not every part of Yangmingshan National Park is open to
the public. Hikers or tourists need to apply
permits
for entry in advance to enter some conversation areas.
As to trails other than those mentioned above, hikers usually can
camp there as long as they don't camp on private lands or farms.
Sometimes hikers can camp on elementary school campus, but not every
school allows that. Some police stations welcome hikers or cyclists
to use the toilets and water or even bathrooms and camp near them,
but again it's better to check with them first.
For some remote trails, wild camping is usually fine, if you can
find water source. There are many private campsites in Taiwan.
However, most of them are not legal and they are quite
expensive.
Here
is a list of public campsites in Chinese.
In September 2020, two families got swept away by river
when they camped on the riverbed. Please do your homework about the safety of camping.
10. Public Transport
I'm very proud to say that Taiwan probably has the cleanest and safest
subway systems in the world. New routes are still under construction
and the whole network will expand even more later. For what we have
and the connecting bus services now, it's very good and safe.
Moreover, just get yourself an
EasyCard
and you can use it to pay for MRT, buses, trains, rent a public bike
(you'll have to register your EasyCard first), and buy things at the
convenient stores as long as you have enough deposit in it. Some taxis
take EasyCard, too. If you don't have enough deposit in the card, you
can add balance in your card at the convenient stores or the MRT
stations. You can purchase your card at those places, too.
Moreover, there are several smartphone apps to check the bus
schedules. Other than local buses, there are also long-distance bus
services in Taiwan, and you can download
Android app
or
Apple app
for the timetables in English. Usually those buses will go through
highway, which means passengers are required to be seated and
buckled up for safety reasons. If all the seats are taken, you have
to wait for the next one.
As to trains, I think the quality of ours is above the average or
better. There can be some delays and very crowded during rush hours,
but most of them are within tolerance, unless accidents happen. I
used to complain about our train service, but I change my mind after
I experience the longest delay I've been through while I visited
Germany, 140 minutes. You can also find apps to check the schedule.
We also have
high speed trains
if you want to travel to the south.
If the trails are located in other counties, many hiking associations
will hire buses for the hikers or arrange carpool. Hikers pay the
fee first when signing up. Some are one-day trips, and others are multi-day hikes. Hikers need show up on time at the meeting
points and you can take a nap on the bus, bring extra clothing and
leave them on the bus during your hike. The hikers who take those
trips are also insured by the bus companies and hiking groups. I joined a hike like
this a while ago and met some foreign hikers hoping to get a
hitchhike. The driver didn't take them because according to the
driver, the bus company had to take responsibility if accidents
happened. So, I guess if you want to hitchhike, you probably will
have to ask for private cars or wait patiently for the bus to come.
A very famous hiker, Gigi Wu, who sadly passed away due to a hiking
accident, wrote a detailed note about
how to use public transport
to get to the trailheads of some 100 Peaks. Some information may be outdated
since she's no longer with us. It's still a great reference.
11. Weather
The main reasons that will lead to hiking trips cancelled are
typhoons and torrential rains. Multiple-day or the 100 Peaks hikes
are usually planned months beforehand, and it is difficult to
predict what the weather will be when you finally departure for the
hike. Check out hte local weather forcast
here
or download the app..
12. Boomer and Female Hikers Rock on the Trail
Boomer hikers are the major demographic group on the trails in
Taiwan. The interesting thing about hiking in Taiwan is it's deemed
as old people's activity, because many people start hiking after
they retire. I guess it's because people think only middle-class has
the leisure to participate recreational activities like hiking.
In 2017, I joined a group hike, I was 45 years old at that time and
I was also the youngest one. The oldest hiker I've ever met is an
88-year-old grandpa, and he grabbed the rope gliding down the slope
like anybody else. Nowadays, outdoor activities are getting popular
in Taiwan. However, the younger generations seem more into
triathlon, marathons, or cycling. You still can find young people on
the trails. Another interesting thing is female hikers also take the
majority on the trail.
Taiwanese hikers enjoy taking group photos and they will change the
poses several times, at least this is what I've observed, whether
they are boomers or Millennials. Facebook groups are the most
popular social media for hikers to connect and share hiking
information and photos. Selfie sticks are popular, too. If you get a
chance to hike with local hikers, be prepared to be asked for taking
many photos with them. If you don't hike with them, they might still
ask for photos with you if they see you on the trails.
Sharing food is common. Many friendly hikers, especially the guides,
will bring extra fruit or snacks and share them with other hikers. I
don't have many international hiking experiences, so I am not sure
this is also common in other countries. From the YouTube channels I
watch, most hikers from other countries usually hike with their
family or hiking mates. It will be fun to know how and what hikers
in different countries do on the trails.
Expect crowds and noise on the trials. Most of the hiking
associations don't set up a maximum number of hikers to join their
hikes. Many people may show up if the weather is perfect. Sometimes,
there might be even 100 or more hikers showing up. When it gets
crowded on the trail, please remember to keep a certain distance
from hiker in front of you if she or he uses trekking poles and keep
yours near you as much as you can.
You might find ropes on some steep slopes, but it can be difficult
to use the ropes if the hikers behind you also grab the rope at the
same time. I usually try to grab tree roots, pointed rocks, or
strong grass if I climb steep slopes and avoid the rope as much as I
can. Check to see whether the ropes are strong enough to hold your
weight.
Since the hiking groups can be very big, hikers in Taiwan have
established a habit to inform those behind them about the trail
condition ahead. For example, most hikers will say Xiǎo xīn tóu
小心頭 ‘watch out your head' if there are low branches, or Xiǎo xīn
jiǎo 小心腳 'watch out your feet' if there are holes or big tree
roots on the trails. This can prevent some injuries and it hurts so
much to bump your head into the low branches. I've seen some serious
cut on hikers' heads when they accidently bump into the trees.
13. Let Someone Know Where You Are Going to Hike
Please let your family or friends from your home country or at least
the hotel you stay know where you are going and when you plan to
return. Just in case something happens, and you fail to return to
your hotel on time, they can ask for help on your behalf. In the
mountains, it's difficult to find the phone signals, unless you have
a satellite phone with you, which is unlikely.
If you decide to hike alone, please at least bring a whistle with
you so you can make a distress call to let other hikers near you
know you need help. Please also prepare for the worst to happen,
even though you think the trail you pick is very easy, but sometimes
they might be more difficult than you could have imagined. It's even
better if you can write a hiking trip plan and give it to people
before you start your hike.
14. Facebook and Line Groups are hiking clubs' best friends in Taiwan
Taiwanese are heavy Facebook Groups and Line users. Line is like
WhatsApp, except with many funny emojis. Some hiking groups don't
have their own websites or blogs, and they mainly rely on Facebook
and Line to share the latest trips and photos and connect with
members. If things come up or they must cancel the trips, they
usually announce through Facebook. Some will send emails.
15. Last but not Least, Always Have a Plan B
The weather casts a major influence on whether you can hike or not.
It's normal to have trips canceled or postponed due to the sudden
weather change. For local hikers, this might be easy to solve. We
just stay home. However, for international hikers, if your main goal
is to hike the 100 Peaks, the sudden cancellation can be very
frustrating. But safety first. All hiking trips will be canceled if
the Central Weather Bureau in Taiwan issues typhoon alerts. If you
still insist to go (if, surprisingly, the guide also agrees), it's
not fun to hike in a bad weather. You potentially put yourself and
others in danger. I know you may not visit Taiwan again after this
trip, which I hope you will, but there are still many things for you
to enjoy during your stay if the weather is not in your favor.
Always have a plan B, and this won't hurt.
like enjoying the unique Laomei green reef 老梅綠石槽
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