Welcome Remarks
It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 4th Asia Trails Conference which will be held from December 1st to 5th, 2022 in Taipei, Taiwan.
In 2014, Asia Trails Conference was first held in Jeju, South Korea, followed by Tottori, Japan in 2016, Busan, South Korea in 2019. We are delighted to announce that Taiwan will host the 2022 Asia Trails Conference.
Taiwan lies on the eastern edge of the Asian continent, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Taiwan Strait. While only 36,000 square kilometers in size, Taiwan has 129 rivers and 268 peaks over 3,000 meters in height. With more than two-thirds of the island occupied by mountains and hills, Taiwan is blessed with a richly diverse and variegated topography.
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association(TMI Trail)was established on April 23, 2006, aiming to protect the environment and culture through trail movement. In 2017, TMI became an official member of the World Trail Network. It is our honor to invite trail organizations and hiking lovers in Asia and worldwide to Taiwan via the conference and hiking activities. During the 4-day event, participants will be able to access Taiwan’s rich natural and cultural landscape features and explore Taiwan’s diverse ethnic and cultural characteristics.
The conference is designed to stimulate inspiring dialogues amongst all participants with diverse seminars and trail activities. The ATN General Assembly and Welcome Banquet will be held on December 2nd. The forum with discussion on different related topics will be held on the following day, simultaneous interpretation in Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean will be provided. The ATN Declaration, The Handover Ceremony, and Walking Tour in Taipei City will be organized on the third day. On December 4th, different hiking activities will lead all participants to experience the natural and cultural beauty of Taiwan. The themes include Tamsui-Kavalan Trails and surrounding towns, Hakka culture and traditional cuisine, etc.
We look forward to welcoming you in Taiwan. We hope you will join us to make the 4th Asia Trails Conference a memorable event!
Asia Trails Conference Introduction
Asia Trails Conference is a global walking event of Asian trail organizations with hikers from all over the world. People walk together and enjoy nature and culture of the local community, diverse performances and local food during the conference and also share up-to-date trail information. Asia Trails Conference is held biennially in different trails and countries, affiliating with other representative walking events in Asia. By sharing knowledge and experiences, these events work as a channel to communicate and cooperate for co-development of Asian trails.
1st Asia Trail Conference
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Date:2014/11/5-6
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Place:Jeju, Korea
2014 ATC-Jeju, Korea
2nd Asia Trail Conference
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Date:2015/10/16-19
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Place:Tottori Prefecture, Japan
2015 ATC-Tottori Prefecture, Japan
2015 ATC-Tottori Prefecture, Japan
3rd Asia Trail Conference
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Date:2019/10/11-13
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Place:Busan, Korea
2019 ATC-Busan, Korea
2019 ATC-Busan, Korea
4th Asia Trail Conference
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Date:2022/12/1-5
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Place:Taipei, Taiwan
Host Organization
2022 4th Asia Trail Conference Executive Committee
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (TMI Trail)
Asia Trails Network
2022 4th Asia Trail Conference Executive Committee
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (TMI Trail)
2022 4th Asia Trail Conference Executive Committee
Co-organized by
國家發展委員會
客家委員會
交通部觀光局
農委會林務局
重現淡蘭百年山徑北北基跨縣市平台
山海圳國家綠道推動平台
客委會樟之細路工作站
林務局羅東林區管理處
經濟部水利署臺北水源特定區管理局
觀光局東北角暨宜蘭海岸國家風景區管理處
農委會水土保持局臺北分局
台北市政府工務局大地工程處
外交部非政府組織國際事務會
千里步道志工群
台灣大學山徑行動社
步道師種子師資共學社群
統一翻譯社
手編幸福
嘉和口筆譯顧問服務有限公司
實誠石視創有限公司
丘山旅行社
中華民國聾人協會
野果創意有限公司
不貳偶劇團
NATURE 那秋樂團
玉山合唱團
身聲擊樂團
切音樂電影有限公司
Key Visual & Graphic Design
Design Concept
The 4th Asia Trails Conference takes place in Taiwan. Every connection between an island like Taiwan and the world goes through the ocean. This includes the movement of people and the exchange of ideas. The ocean is a symbol of an adventurous nature and open-mindedness, similar to the spirit of a trail hiker. It allows islands to be connected and no longer be isolated. One could say that the regions in Asia are located on top of island landmasses of various sizes, floating on the ocean; this commonality also involves Taiwan. Our logo design draws inspiration from the concept of the ocean embracing islands and connecting landmasses. The different solid colors and shapes with spaces in between form an abstract image of island landmasses on the ocean or mountains in a sea of clouds. The gap between the shapes takes the form of the Han character “友”; this character is common throughout East Asia and means “friends”, representing our warm welcome to all our friends coming from afar. Particularly during the post-pandemic era, this grand conference in Taiwan to gather trail organization representatives around the globe is such a meaningful and valuable event for all of us.
Visual Designer
蕭青陽 Xiao Qing-Yang
The acclaimed designer Xiao Qing-yang was born in 1966 and graduated from the Department of Arts and Crafts of the Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School. At age 18, Xiao started to work for the newly founded San Ger Record & Tape as a graphic designer, and designed the album package for the first artist signed by the company—Sammi Kao. Since then, he has designed over 1,000 album packages and has worked for renowned artists such as Song Zuying, Jay Chou, Mayday, Jody Chiang, Cheer Chen, Hsu Wei, Han Geng, and many others. He is the first Chinese album package designer to be nominated for a Grammy Awards.
Xiao is a current jury member of the Grammy Awards, the Independent Music Awards, and Unknown Asia in Japan, and a current member of the Recording Academy. He is the author of the book “Imagine, my generation”. In addition to album designs, he has ventured into a myriad of diverse design paths in recent years, such as placemaking, exhibitions and event planning, filmmaking, and others. The 2018 film “Tamsui-Kavalan Historical and Cultural Trails” directed by Xiao was chosen as the opening film of the World Trails Film Festival in Spain. In 2020, his film “Tamsui-Kavalan Trails - The Tao of Kung Fu” won the “East Asian Tourism Film - Good Film" award in the Japan World's Tourism Film Festival. In 2021, his “Tamsui-Kavalan Trails Trilogy” won 1st Prize in the Sports & Leisure category of the Portuguese ART & TUR - International Tourism Film Festival. Xiao is the Key Visual Design Artist of the 4th Asia Trails Conference.
Asia Trails Network Introduction
Established in 2014, the Asia Trails Network aims to share trail issues and common values within the region. It takes the initiative in sustainable development of the trail industry through creation of a healthy walking travel culture, campaigns for protecting natural resources, knowledge sharing and an effective implementation of cross-promotion and corporate marketing for trails.
ATN Member Introduction
Daegu Green Consumers Network (www.dcgn.org)
Daegu Green Consumers Network has been promoting Green Consumption, Green Transportation and Green Health since 1996. By designing 12 Daegu Olle routes on Palgong Mountain, the Network is trying to secure pedestrian rights or “the right to walk”, and to find a solution for health problems caused by lack of walking in the heavily motorized city of Daegu.
Gubulgil Association (www.gubulgil.com)
Gubulgil in Gunsan, Jeollabukdo Province has 11 courses which wind their ways along every inch of the city. Each course reflects local themes and traits such as migratory birds, rice paddies, reservoirs, modern history and literature of colonial era.
Happy Walking in Busan (www.greenwalking.co.kr)
Happy Walking in Busan started out as a network of 36 civil society organizations and was officially launched in 2009. Its trail name “Galmaetgil”is coined from Busan’s symbolic bird Galmaegi (seagull). There are 9 courses and 20 side tracks in the trail, and the whole track will take roughly 90 hours.
Jeju Olle Foundation (www.jejuolle.org)
Since the opening of its first route in 2007, Jeju Olle Foundation has kept exploring and developing routes encircling Jeju Island. This path has allowed travelers to discover the value and beauty of the island while changing the traveling culture nationwide. Until now, 26 routes, 425km in total, were opened and over 2.7 million visited the trail.
Korean Trails and Culture Foundation (www.tnc.or.kr)
Korean Trails and Culture Foundation was founded by trail experts and cultural figures to maximize positive effects of trail development projects and to foster sound and healthy walking tour culture. KTCF is developing and managing Haeparang Trail, the longest trail in South Korea which stretches out from Oryukdo Sunrise Park in Busan to Unification Observatory in Goseong along the east coast.
Kyushu Olle Certified Council (https://www.welcomekyushu.jp/kyushuolle/)
The Council was launched in February 2014 for repair and maintenance of all routes of the Kyushu Olle Trail and to enhance publicity and information sharing. 21 routes and 20 local offices are serving as council members.
Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation (http://www.miyagi-kankou.or.jp/)
Miyagi Prefecture, once the domain of legendary samurai warlord Date Masamune, has 4 routes of Miyagi Olle Trail which boast the majestic Pacific Coast, Naruko Onsen hot spring, Byodonuma Lake, and picturesque bay of Matsushima famous throughout Japan for its beauty.
Mountain Journey China (www.ntscn.com)
Excellent outdoor sports experts of Mountain Journey China has implemented leading role in planning, designing and constructing national mountain-climbing fitness trails system since 2009. China National Trail System currently has 11 trails where people can enjoy mountaineering sports, leisure and entertainment.
Naepo Trail (www.naepotrail.org)
Naepo Trail is a 320km-long trail connecting Buddhist temple ruins, Catholic churches and a number of historical sites involved with Donghak Peasant Movement and Baekje Reconstruction Movement. 26 routes are spread in Naepo area and 4 other cities nearby (Seosan, Dangjin, Hongseong, Yesan) surrounding Gaya Mountain in Northwest Chungnam.
Non-profit Organization Mirai (www.npo-mirai.net)
NPO Mirai is playing a key role in planning and managing of Tottori Walking Resort to contribute to local residents’health enhancement and community invigoration through walking activities. The routes of Tottori Walking Resort are spread over historic Kurayoshi City and its neighboring towns in the middle area of Tottori prefecture.
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (https://www.tmitrail.org.tw/en/)
Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Taiwan through a network of hiking trails around the island.
The Pathway Foundation (www.trail.or.kr)
Jirisan Trail encircles Jirisan National Park and has 21 sections, the total distance being 295km. It was conceptualized as the road of retrospection and recollection from the initial proposal of “Jirisan Pilgrimage Trail”for life and peace movement. The Pathway Foundation is developing and managing the trail. Tongyeong Trekking has been supervising a small-scale walking event since September 2011, and it wishes to walk with citizens in search of the pretty roads in every corner of Tongyeong.
TYTREKKING (cafe.daum.net/tytrekking)
The Craftsmen’s Way shows history, culture and art of Tongyeong, a town that has been home to many artists and writers. Tongyeong Trail Culture Network, or TYTREKKING, has been supervising small-scale walking events since 2011, and it wishes to walk with citizens in search of the pretty roads in every corner of Tongyeong.
Yeogang River Trail (www.rivertrail.net)
The beginning of Yeogang River Trail traces back to river preservation efforts in the early 2000s. Its main purpose is to promote ecological value, history and culture of the Namhan River (Yeogang). The trail also runs educational programs like ‘Yeogang River Trail Ecology Lessons’and ‘Yeogang River Trail Eco School’for everyone who loves the river.
Gangnueng Baugil Foundation (www.baugil.org)
Named after “bau”in Gangwon dialect which means “rock”, Baugil links mountains in Baekdudaegan Range and port towns on the east coast of Gangwon Province. The trail features Geumgang Pine Tree forests where people can enjoy therapeutic walks.
Great Baikal Trail (https://en.greatbaikaltrail.org/)
The Great Baikal Trail is a non-profit organization founded in 2004 in Irkutsk, Russia. Its missions are the development of ecotourism and the cultivation of a socially-responsible society through the organization of volunteers and educational projects. The main idea behind the Great Baikal Trail is to build the first system of environmentally sensitive trails in all of Russia.
Jinan Gowongil (http://cafe.daum.net/jinanmasil)
Jinan Gowongil has 15 sections in Jinan Gowon (highlands), which is nicknamed “the roof of Jeolla Province”for its average altitude being 400m over sea level. The trail is a counterclockwise course starting from Mt. Maisan Provincial Park and circling around Yongdam Lake shaped by one of the biggest dams in South Korea.
Korean Trails Association (http://cafe.daum.net/koreantrails)
Korean Trails Association (KTA) is a specialized gathering of 26 trail institutions and organizations in Korea. KTA puts its significance on sharing information and knowledge, planning and running trail related events, and creating general manual for trail management. As a representative of Korean trails, KTA is also working with Asia Trails Network and World Trails Network.
Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization (www.welcomekyushu.jp)
Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization strives for improvement and promotion of tourism in the region with 7 prefectures of Kyushu, membership organizations, and a number of interested parties. Its strategical approach centers on attracting tourists from other major cities in Japan and East Asia.
Ulaanbaatar City Tourism Department (https://tourism.ub.gov.mn)
Ulaanbaatar City Tourism Department provides administrative services to tourists visiting Mongolia’s capital and its outskirts. Currently, two routes of Mongol Olle Trail are respectively located in the foot of Mt. Bogdkhan and Mt. Terelj, both of which are designated as national parks.
Trans Bhutan Trail (https://www.transbhutantrail.com/)
The Trans Bhutan Trail is a 403km route, spanning from Haa in the West of Bhutan to Trashigang in the East. It is considered one of the world’s greatest walks and one of the best hiking routes in Asia.