Taiwan improves mountain safety for hikers and climbers

台灣提升登山客安全保障

Forestry agency installs over 4,800 safety signs, cell signal info now synced with government data platform


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency on Thursday announced major upgrades aimed at improving safety for mountain climbers, including updated trail signage and expanded mobile signal coverage information.

The agency said it has installed 1,381 mobile signal coverage signs and 3,420 newly designed trail signs across popular hiking routes, per CNA. Citing an uptick in mountain accidents since climbing restrictions were eased, the agency hopes that clearer signage and improved communication capabilities will reduce incidents related to disorientation or physical trauma.

In collaboration with other government departments and private telecom providers, the agency has established more mobile reception points in mountainous areas. These updates allow hikers to better report their locations and call for help in emergencies.

As for the redesigned road signs, the agency said they now feature clearer, more comprehensive information. Each sign includes the trail name, key landmarks, distance from the trailhead, and GPS coordinates. The signs are placed at approximately 100-meter intervals and will be maintained annually by professionals.

The agency added that all new data, including signal maps and sign locations, have already been uploaded to the government’s open data platform and integrated into relevant mobile applications and mapping services.