Joining up the island-wide trail
On 23 April 2006, Huang Wu-hsiung, Chinese Television System manager Lee Yuan and Hsu Jen-hsiu, founder of the Society of Wilderness, proposed the idea of the Thousand-Mile Trail project to rebuild environmental ethics, return to our values, and to develop a new culture for Taiwan. Chou Sheng-shin, who admits she's "not a big fan of biking or walking," was asked to serve as volunteer executive director of the planning center to drum up public support and use the power of the people to build a round-the-island trail.
To prevent trail construction from inadvertently impacting the natural ecology, movement leaders proposed what they refer to as "natural right-of-way" which entails connecting existing trails (such as pathways in the mountains and near the coast) whenever possible then giving some of the right-of-way taken by motor vehicle drivers back to walkers and bikers. Only in a very few areas will new trails be laid.
The project planning center brought together community colleges from all over Taiwan, community planning organizations, environmental and cultural groups, academia, and non-profit organizations. Over some 500 days, they surveyed over 700 kilometers of trails from Taipei to Taitung on Taiwan's east side as well as paths stringing together Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Miaoli on the west. They hope that the planning, surveying, testing, and any necessary amendments for the three sections that will make up the trail will be finished by late 2007. They will eventually provide a report to the government to be used in the planning of a trail. As of now, this has only been accomplished for the section between
Taipei and Ilan.
"Some say that the purpose of the Thousand-Mile Trail will actually be to link communities in Taiwan and to connect each individual with his community." Regardless of whether the true purpose of the trail is to link Taiwan physically or in spirit, Chou's dream is that in a few years, Taiwan will have a round-the-island trail free of concrete barriers and blazing mercury lights, a path on which you can backpack or bicycle as your heart desires and enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way.
"The Thousand-Mile Trail can be another symbol of Taiwan in addition to Taipei 101." Chou Sheng-shin, who speaks with passion when social activism and civil issues come up, believes that the atmosphere of pessimism and anger that presently envelops society is temporary and that the power of Taiwan's people will come out none the worse for wear. Chou is no longer the young helpless teacher of years ago. She has been transformed into a champion for civil rights and social activism.
Each individual and each community is a point. The Thousand-Mile Trail will serve to connect point to point, person to community. The most beautiful scenery lies in areas inaccessible to motor vehicles. Tien-jen's Stone House, in the outskirts of Nanwan in Hsinchu, is the central rest point for the four-day, three-night Taipei-Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli biking trail.