Hiking Taiwan's Summit “Jade Mountain” and the World's Tallest Building “Taipei 101”

(CKS Airport pick-up service provided)

Taiwan's Summit “Jade Mountain”

(elevation:3,952 m)

Charges

US$300 or ￥36,000 or 220 euro per person for a trip of 3 days and 2 nights, including car rents, insurance, application fees for a mountain entry permit and a park (ecological conservative area) entry permit, hiking guide's fee, the ticket to Taipei 101, tips, two days’ breakfast and three days’ dinner, one overnight accommodation at Dongpu Mountain Hotel, and one overnight accommodation at Paiyun Lodge.

Members of Each Hiking Group

We provide services to self-organized groups only. It is suggested that each group be formed by at least seven (7) members. (In case of a group of less than seven members, we will otherwise quote the price.)

Jade Mountain Entry Permit Application

According to the regulations of the Jade Mountain National Park Administration, a Jade Mountain entry permit application must be filed 60 days in advance by submitting one photocopied passport of every member of the hiking group and other related information.

The World's Tallest Building “Taipei 101”

(508 m high)

Remark

Any groups planning to visit Taipei 101 must arrive at the CKS International Airport before the noon of Day 1. Otherwise, the visit will be cancelled to avoid delaying the hiking schedule.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Pickup at the CKS International Airport (or Taoyuan or Taipei)® (for groups arriving at the airport before the noon of the day) Taipei 101 ® (about 5 to 7 hours’ drive) Cyunfong Restaurant Mountain Hotel, Chiayi Fenci Lanke or Dongpu Mountain Hotel in Nantou County (overnight accommodation)

Day 2: Cyunfong Restaurant Mountain Hotel, Chiayi Fenci Lanke or Dongpu Mountain Hotel in Nantou County (breakfast at 6 a.m., and leaving the hotel at 6:30 a.m.) ® shuttle bus ® Tataka Anbu (Entrance) ® (8.5 km's hike) Paiyun Lodge (approximately at 3 p.m.) (accommodation)

Day 3: Morning call and breakfast at 2 a.m., and hiking starting from Paiyun Lodge at 2:30 a.m.® about 2.5 km's hike ® the Summit (main peak) of Jade Mountain® back to Paiyun Lodge (8.5 km's hike) ® Tataka Anbu (Entrance)® shuttle bus ® Shang Dong Pu Parking Lot (after all the members have arrived at the parking lot) ® CKS International Airport (or Taoyuan or Taipei)

If you are interested in the above package, please send e-mails to henry246101@yahoo.com.tw or call 886-3-378-1986 (for English speakers).

National Alpine Association of Taiwan

Association No. Tai-Nei-She-8836500 issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior

Telephone: 886-2-2777-3186 Fax: 886-2-2777-4420

Address: 1F, 18-9 An Dong Street, Taipei 10492, Taiwan

E-mail: service@taiwanalpine.org.tw

http://www.taiwanalpine.org

Sunset and clouds viewed from mountains

Introduction to Taiwan’s Jade Mountain (Yu Shan)

Taiwan is situated on the edge of the Western Pacific Ocean and on the Tropic of Cancer in East Asia. Taiwan has a total area of 36,000 km² with 256 mountain peaks of over 3,000 m high running through the island. The main peak of Jade Mountain, which stands at 3,952 m in altitude, is the summit of Taiwan and that of the northeast Asia. In the 16^th century, some Portuguese sailors passing Taiwan were amazed at the island’s lofty and precipitous high mountains and called Taiwan “Formosa.” Jade Mountain is the source of Taiwan’s longest river Jhuo Shui Si and its second longest river Gao Ping Si. As ancestors of two of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes, the Bunnun Tribe and the Tsuo Tribe, came from Jade Mountain, their descendants consider Jade Mountain their holy mountain. So Jade Mountain is the important cultural heritage of Taiwan and human beings. The Jade Mountain is in the Jade Mountain National Park, a designated ecology conservation area that is rich in wildlife, plants and other natural resources and definitely worthy of a visit.

Paiyun Lodge (elevation 3402 m)

Points to note for foreign hikers taking our “Hiking Jade Mountain Package”:

1. As the Jade Mountain National Park restricts the number of daily hikers, any Jade Mountain entry permit applications must be filed two months in advance so as to be eligible for the entry permit lottery.

2. As it is not easy to obtain a Jade Mountain entry permit, anyone who has obtained a permit but is unable to go on the hike as scheduled can have his/her permit cancelled but cannot assign the permit. So please give the application a serious thought before filing.

3. Foreign applicants taking the above package do not have to pay the charges until they are informed that their applications have been approved. Once the payment is made, it will not be refunded, except for events of force majeure.

4. In case a hiking group is composed of less than seven members or desires to alter the itinerary or the accommodation or extend the hiking duration, we will otherwise quote the price.

5. As the hike is to be carried out in the outdoors, an extension of the hiking duration will probably be necessary for events of force majeure. In case of such an extension, the expenses so increased shall be borne by the hikers.

6. Any Jade Mountain hikers are required to observe the administrative regulations prescribed by Taiwan's Jade Mountain National Park Administration.

7. Foreign citizens taking our “Hiking Jade Mountain Package” shall pay for their own airfare and prepare their lunch for the (three) hiking days.

8. It is suggested that foreign citizens choose to hike Jade Mountain on non-holidays for which obtaining a permit is much easier.

9. As it is not easy to hike Taiwan's high mountains during snow seasons, we will suspend offering the “Hiking Jade Mountain Package” at every February.

10. Safety first during hiking. So everyone hiking Jade Mountain through our services shall cooperate with the guide, which will be provided by us, and follow the guide's directions so as to prevent any accidents.

11. If any hikers have special eating habits, such as vegetarians and Muslims, please inform us in advance.

12. Anyone successfully reaching the main peak of Jade Mountain is entitled to a certificate issued by our Association.

Night view of "Taipei 101"

Suggested Personal Hiking Outfit

Backpacker's pack (for a volume of 40-50 liters), raincoat, rain pants, pack cover, lunch for three days, eating utensils, gloves, drinking water, cap (with ear flaps), helmet lamp (with spare batteries), windbreaker with a down or pile lining, a spare set of clothes, passport, and whistle.

Jade Mountain National Park Administration's Nature and Ecological Environment Protection Regulations:

Jade Mountain is situated within the Jade Mountain National Park that is Taiwan's precious natural and ecological heritage. Anyone hiking Jade Mountain or entering the National Park's ecological conservation areas is required to observe the applicable regulations prescribed by the Park Administration. Do not enter any trails, paths or areas not open to the public. And except photos, do not take any things away from the Park; except your footprints, do no leave any things in the Park.

Hikers on the summit of “Jade Mountain”

Suggestions to Hikers

1. The entire hiking course covers 22 km's walk. Take it easy and be patient. You can successfully reach the peak.

2. Wear hiking boots or sports shoes rather than new or too small shoes, which makes the low pressure on high mountain areas hurt your feet easily.

3. As oxygen is thin on high mountain areas, it may take a while to adapt your body to such an environment. So walk slowly but don’t take long breaks, and regulate your breathing.

4. Hikers intending to reach the main peak should practice more before the trip to improve their cardio-pulmonary function, which will increase the probability of success.

5. Taiwan’s island-type climate creates the high humidity and cold, windy and changeable weather on its high mountain areas. For every 3,000 m a person climbs, the temperature may drop approximately 15-20℃. Be sure to keep yourselves warm and protect yourselves from moisture.

6. Wrap your outfit items with plastic bags before putting them into your packs. Place lighter items under heavier ones, and put oft-used things in the side pockets of backpacks.

7. Don’t wear disposable raincoats, which hinders hiking activities and is likely to block eyesight to cause danger.

8. Both Dongpu Mountain Hotel and Paiyun Lodge provide non-partitioned rooms only. Please excuse us for not being able to provide more comfortable accommodation.

9. Safety first during the hikes. Don’t walk or act alone. If you have any problems during hiking, tell your companions or the leader/guide. In case of an emergency, blow a whistle to call for help.