Hiking in Taiwan - the 523 Mountaineering Association

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Hiking in Taiwan with 523 – 523 Mountaineering Association

We hold hiking, rock climbing, and river tracing activities. You’re welcome to join us to find the beauty of Taiwan. Information on hiking activities can be found on the Facebook group of the 523 Mountaineering Association.

See also our English Website and Chinese Website.

What is 523? There are two meanings. One is “I love Mountains” in Chinese, and the other is the 523 Mountaineering Association, a non-profit organization. The 523 Mountaineering Association is founded by alumni from the Mountaineering Club of National Chengchi University.

The association is dedicated to environmental protection and education. Also, 523 provides people with opportunities to access nature and aboriginal cultures. Our missions:
[ul][li]Advocate the concept of “Leave No Trace” and promote ecological mountaineering. [/li]
[li]Help the elderly, the handicapped and drop-out students to access nature. [/li]
[li]Assist international friends to climb mountains in Taiwan and aid residents in Taiwan to climb overseas mountains. [/li]
[li]Help people understand the culture of Taiwan’s aborigines.[/li][/ul]

We welcome you to join us!

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Pingteng Historic Trail is along an ancient canal, built in 1835. The canal, which played an important role in the early years of reclamation, supplied drinking water and irrigation water for the frontiersmen. The canal also supports a rich eco system, so when you walk on the trail, you will find many beautiful insects, such as butterflies and dragonflies in the flourishing woods beside the trail. Finally, we will reach the famous Chingteingang grassland, a perfect place for picnic.

★ Date: Nov 19
★Departure Time: 8:30 am
★Gathering Place: Gate 1 of of MRT Shilin Station
★Cost: NT100 per person
The fee covers insurance and guides but not includes bus fare
★ How to register
Send email to doris@523.org.tw or call 02-2555-7523, and leave your name, nationality, passport number, email address and phone number.
★Itinerary:
8:00 Gathering → 8:30 Take bus from Shilin Station → 9:10 Arrive at the entrance of Pingteng Historic Trail → 12:00 have lunch and take a rest → 14:00 Reach Chingtienkang → 15:00 Take bus from Chingtienkang → 16:00 arrive at MRT Beitou Station and dismiss
★Note:
If it rains on Nov 19, the activity will be canceled.

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Welcome to Forumosa.

Can you tell me what you would charge for helping people get permits to climb one of the high mountains? Let’s say Snow Mountain, If some friends and I wanted to climb it by ourselves, how much would you charge to get us permits, and arrange transport?

Thanks.

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NT$100 per person for Mountain permit and Shei-Pa National Park permit of Snow Mountain. As to the cost of transportation, It depends on the number of people. A van, which can take 7 people, is NT$8500 for a round trip from Taipei to the entrance of Snow Mountain.

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Great! Could you post future events like the November 19th one on Formosa? Also, by the way, after looking at the Action Asia’s article on Climbing in Taiwan, my husband and I would like to try Mount Yushan. Is there anything planned for the coming couple of months? If not, how can we do it by ourselves? What is the recommended itinerary (we are just casual hikers)? Thanks

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Datongshi Historic Trail
Since Datongshi Historic trail was discovered in 1973, it has attracted many hikers. The trail goes along with Datonshi River, and was named after the river. On the trail, there is a famous historic building, Ching-yu Dyehouse, which used to be a very important dying factory and had contributed a lot to Taiwan’s export trade in 19 Century. Moreover,We will visit the crater of Mt. Tsaikungkang. You won’t be disappointed.

★Leader: Peihua Wu (The leader’s cell phone number: 0921-883-087)

★Date: March 18, 2007

★Departure Time: 8:30 am

★Gathering Place: Exit of MRT Danshui Station (There is only one exit)

★How to register

Send email to doris@523.org.tw and provide your name, email address, and phone number.

★Itinerary

8:30 Take bus from MRT Danshui Station → 9:10 Arrive at North Shinchung and start hiking → 10:10 Reach San-ban-chiao bridge → 11:40 Arrive at Three-layers Waterfall → 12:10 Have lunch → 14:30 Reach West Peak of Mt. Tsaikungkang → 15:30 Take bus to MRT Shilin Station

★Note

1.If it rains on March 18, the itinerary will be canceled.

  1. Please bring rain gear, lunch, water, headlight or flashlight and working gloves (we will walk through high Silvergrass)

523 Mountaineering Association

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Hi Doris,

It’s Robert from Lonely Planet. It would help if you tell people where exactly the trail is. Northern Taiwan, Yangmingshan, etc?

Also, this should go in Events not Travel.

To all fellow Forumosans:

I have met with this association and they are very professional and organized. They do several long and short hikes a month, and even overseas trips. They are a registered NPO and have been around 20 years. The members are true outdoor lovers.

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Okay, I met with the association last week as part of research for the new Lonely Planet and they are exactly what they say: a long running professional NPO group that now is offering their help to the foreign community.

They have a fantastic hike schedule (check the website or drop by their office for a brochure), some overnight, some just a few hours. Prices for Yushan are good (NT$5000 for everything). One upcoming hike has an aboriginal hunter taking people on a three day hike from Ilan back to Wulai (on the Hapen trail not the more well-known Tonghou).

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This must be the Tatunhsi (Datunxi) Historic Trail:

http://www.pse100i.idv.tw/Yan/taytwc/taytwc001.htm. I’m not sure if it’s within Yangmingshan or not, but if so, it’s way in the north of the park. Sounds like a beautiful hike. I’m certainly game.

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[quote=“Chris”]This must be the Tatunhsi (Datunxi) Historic Trail:

http://www.pse100i.idv.tw/Yan/taytwc/taytwc001.htm. I’m not sure if it’s within Yangmingshan or not, but if so, it’s way in the north of the park. Sounds like a beautiful hike. I’m certainly game.[/quote]

I’m not sure either. I gave Yangmingshan as an example of a reference point.

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I’ve heard that rumour. :stuck_out_tongue:

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The trail is within Yangmingshan. The link shows pictures of the trail. Welcom to join us!

523 Mountaineering Association

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I was so impressed by the 523 Mountaineering Association when I did my first hike with them in September 2006 that I ended up volunteering for them in the office once a week for a few months. Very friendly bunch who are genuinely dedicated to environmental conservation.

Regards,
Ilan

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★Leader : YI-Ru LI (The leader’s cell phone number: 0968-010-501)

★Date: April 21 (Sat)., 2007

★Gathering Time: 8:30 am (Please don’t be late because we have to take the train at am9:00)

★Gathering Place: Taipei Main Station South 3 Gate

★ How to register
Send email to yrli@tsmc.com and leave your name, email address, and phone number.

★Itinerary
8:30 Meet everyone and buy tickets → 9:00 Take the train→ 10:00 Arrive Rueifang→ 10:30 Arrive trailhead → 12:00 Arrive tea pot mountain and have lunch → 14:30 Arrive Tsan-Gong-Liao Mountain and take rest → 15:30 Be back to Chiu-Fenà 17:00 Arrive Chiu-Fen. Have a look about Chiu-fen and take bus to Taipei.

★Note

  1. If it rain we will go to Golden Museum near the trail head.
  2. Please bring rain gear, lunch, water, headlight or flashlight and working gloves (we will walk through high Silvergrass)

523 Mountaineering Association
523.org.tw/English/index

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Experiences of Maokong Aroma and tea culture

Zhinan Teak Picker Hiking Trail is an ancient trail of historical importance for tea conveying in Taipei. Zhinan Teak Picker Hiking Trail includes Sanxuan Temple Hiking Trail (Mucha Tea Ancient Trail), Along with Zhanghu Hiking Trail and Feilong (flying dragon) Trail, those are three famous hiking trails for Taipei citizen with attraction in tea, blossom and proximity. The route offers you an access to MuZha Tourist Tea Plantation area, superior view toward Taipei City, and Taiwan tea culture.

Located in southern Taipei, Zhinan Tea Picker Hiking Trail rests in an area of natural beauty, rolling tea plantations, bamboo groves and rural charm. Walking on the historic stone steps, you can recall and imagine how the ancient people transport tea leaves downhill. Approaching the end of the trail, you can see the newly-built cable car station that owns the longest cable-car system in Taiwan. Total length of one ride stretches over four kilometers. This is Taiwan’s longest cable-car system, stretching just over four kilometers. It takes around 10 minutes for a trip (Traveling speed: 6 meters per second).

After a short hiking, we go to the Tea Exhibition Center of Taipei City Government (previous Taipei Tea Promotion Center for TieKuanyin Tea and Paochung Tea) to know Taiwan local teas, tea making tools, reprocessed products, tea-making process and slope-land conservation through a film and narration in the T.E.C. Along the road, you can see Tung blossom in mid April, and Taipei 101 building and the cable car station in a distant place.

(Lunch at a café or teahouse.)

After the educational trip and lunch, we turn back to the intersection of Sanxuan Temple Hiking Trail and Zhanghu Hiking Trail to continue our trip. Zhanghu Hiking Trail begins at a corridor of Sweet Osmanthus trees, offering a gentle climb. After a 20-minute walk, we go uphill to intersections of Erjiaoge Mountain, Degao Peak (Dailaokeng Mountain), Erge Mountain and Yin He Cave. You can go to Hsintien via the route to Yin He Cave. Turn right to pass the Erjiaoge Mountain and then go down the crest line to connect Zhanghu Hiking Trail. The trail leads to the Zhangshan Temple downhill. In mid and late April, you can enjoy a trail of fantastic Tung blossom scattered around the road as white snow.

At Zhangshan Temple, you can have magnificent view toward Taipei City. It is a famous scenic spot for a spectacular view of the city lights. After a few minutes’ break, we go downhill on the Zhangshan Temple Hiking Trail, around 1km of stone steps. The trail resembles a flying dragon, so it is also called Feilong, flying dragon, Trail. Walking on the narrow roads, you can enjoy the broad view toward Taipei Basin and a never-ending stream of vehicles on the highway. After the trail ends, we arrive National Cheng-Chi University and then finish this nice trip.

★Leader : Wei-li Lin (The leader’s cell phone number: 0956-791245)

★ Date: May 5 (Sat.), 2007

★Gathering Time: 9:00 am

★ Gathering Place: National Cheng-Chi University at Muzha

★ How to register

Send email to doris@523.org.tw and leave your name, email address, and phone number.

★Itinerary

9:00 Meet at National Cheng-Chi University
→ 9:20 ZhiNan Elementary School and the mountain entrance
→ 10:20 Cable car station
→ 10:25 Trail-end of Sanxuan Temple Hiking Trail (1.2km, 1 hour)
→ 10:50 Pass Maokong teahouses and reach Tianen Temple
→ 11:00 Tea Exhibition Center (30 min.)
→ 11:00 to 12:30 introductory film and narration (tea making tools, reprocessed products, tea-making process and slope-land conservation)

→ 12:30 Lunch at Tianen Temple, an open-air café or teahouse.

→ 13:30 go uphill to Zhanghu Hiking Trail

→ 13:45 Intersection of Sanxuan Temple Hiking Trail and Zhanghu Hiking Trail

→ 14:10 Finish the trail, pass Sandunshih Tea Pot Museum, and go down to the Zhangshan Temple

→ 14:40 Zhangshan Temple Hiking Trail (Feilong Trail) to National Cheng-Chi University (1km, 40 to 50 min.)

→ 15:30 dismissed and back home.

Transportation:

MRT Taipei Zoo Station (Terminal Station of Muzha Line)à Take bus 236, 237, 282, 611, S10, Brown 3, Brown 6, Brown 11, Brown 15, and Green 1, and get off at National Cheng-Chi University. (It only take 5 minutes by bus from Taipei Zoo Station to the university)

★Note:

  1. NT$ 100 registration fee ( T.E.C. ticket included )

  2. Please bring rain gear, lunch, water and money for transportation.

  3. You can join us to enjoy some special local specialties after hiking.

523 Mountaineering Association
523.org.tw/English/index

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523 have a well deserved good reputation. If you’re in the south, or are interested in doing something of a similar nature down here, consider barking-deer.com.

Based in Tainan (this utopia of temples, snacks and exploding whales) we have a selection of itineraries getting you away from those tempting KTVs and speeding trains.

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hi

i’m kenny from singapore and i’m at the initial stage of planning a trip to taiwan in dec.

i wanted to including mountain hiking in the trip. 3 other friends and i have been on hike in Brunei before with association Outward Bound, however, this is the first time that we are hiking on our own.

there are a few questions that i hope you can help me clarify.

how should i go about planning this hike? or do you have hiking trips that we can join in on the first or second week of dec?

are there any essential things that i need to have for the hike? Can it be rented from you?

which mountain would you recommend if we wanted to experience snow, if there is a chance in december?

hope that you can answer to my questions and help me. I will appreciate very much. thanks

kenny

p.s. i’m not very good in chinese, thus your website give me headaches. =D

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[quote=“kennykhek”]hi

I’m kenny from Singapore and I’m at the initial stage of planning a trip to Taiwan in dec.

i wanted to including mountain hiking in the trip. 3 other friends and I have been on hike in Brunei before with association Outward Bound, however, this is the first time that we are hiking on our own.

there are a few questions that i hope you can help me clarify.

how should i go about planning this hike? or do you have hiking trips that we can join in on the first or second week of dec?

are there any essential things that I need to have for the hike? Can it be rented from you?

which mountain would you recommend if we wanted to experience snow, if there is a chance in december?

hope that you can answer to my questions and help me. I will appreciate very much. thanks

kenny

p.s. I’m not very good in Chinese, thus your website give me headaches. =D[/quote]

Kenny, you should send an email directly to Doris. Also, start another thread in the travel section. There are lots of us who can also help you.

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Who is Doris?

i’m disappointed that 523 didnt reply my email, though richard from barking-deer.com did PM me.

I started another thread under Travel, as you adviced, but after days, there is only 1 reply. =[

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If you can’t get with an organized hike, you can still get some great walking done in Taiwan. There are books available on local day hikes. The Saunders book on day hikes 2 should still be available at any Eslite Bookstore - I like the one across from National Taiwan University. That book has directions to Bei Cha Tian Shan (north piercing sky mountain). Of all the walks I’ve done in the Taipei area this was the biggest kick in the ass. I really liked it and didn it several times. Don’t bother with the peak itself unless you like tripping a lot; just hike to the old forest. The people you meet along the way will not be great in number but they are the best. Take food and water. If you have a stove you can cook up some tea at the top. That’s more important in winter.

For extended hikes, you’re going to have to get a response from someone or rely on whatever the national parks provide. I’ve done extended hikes and have camped out recently over the hill from Neiwan. The nice fellow there said he could take me up further in the hills when I get back next time and there is a Japanese era stone trail that was used to pacify the mountain areas by getting police in from Dahsi (Daxi) quickly. The hikes and trails are there and you have to give them a little respect if you go up very far. Take a stick for keeping from falling and for defending yourself from the poor dogs that have been released in the hills. A bitch with a pup will attack you and think nothing of it - literally.

Otherwise, it is really really beautiful.