The Secretariat of Asia Trail Network (ATN) was officially established in Taipei yesterday to facilitate exchanges of trail organizations in Asia and issue ATN passports, the Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association said.
The association, which is in charge of the secretariat, in July began managing the partnerships of the ATN’s 22 members, including those from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Bhutan, Mongolia, China and Russia.
Following a plaque-unveiling ceremony, the association held a news conference to explain what it plans to accomplish in the next four years.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
“We want to expand ATN by reaching out to trail organizations in Southeast Asia, and we then want to combine resources of different trail organizations and publish an ATN passport, which would contain detailed introductions of trails in the ATN. People can consult this passport when they go hiking on the trails,” association deputy executive director Hsu Ming-chien (徐銘謙) told reporters.
Taiwan has extensive experience in making handmade trails and can share the technique with other nations at the International Handmade Trail Workshop in 2025, Hsu said.
“Now that the borders are fully reopened, we can promote these trails in the foreign community to attract international tourists. The trails have great potential to be popular travel destinations among international tourists, which could inspire us to appreciate the trails more,” Hsu said.
Association executive director Chou Sheng-hsin (周聖心) said that trails entail more than just construction.
“Trails involve issues of environmental protection, international exchanges, remaking of local communities, interaction between people and nature, and quality living space. We hope that the world would see the trails in Taiwan. It is one of our ‘soft powers’ that could bring sustainability and world peace,” Chou said.
Association consultant Liu Ka-shiang (劉克襄) said that hiking is a way of fighting against land contamination and environmental destruction.
“Hiking helps connect the trails, connect the country, and connect Taiwan and the world,” Liu said.
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