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Nature-loving student aims to walk perimeter of nation

Kuo Yan-jen (郭彥仁), a sophomore in the department of ecology at Providence University in Taichung, loves Taiwan so much that he has decided to travel the country's circumference this summer -- on foot.

The 21 year-old student enlisted the help of the Taiwan Ecology Student Association (TESA) in organizing a 54-day hike of the country -- the first circumferential tour of its kind. So far, over 40 nature lovers have signed up, among them students and retired teachers, eager to accompany Kuo on his pioneering quest to take in the natural beauty of Taiwan.

The tour is planned to begin on June 26 and end on August 18, and will span 1,100km. The intrepid hikers will begin walking from Providence University, traveling north through Taipei before hooking back to hike down Taiwan's east coast.

Eventually, the walkers will cut across Pingtung County to Kaohsiung, from where they will journey up the west coast through Tainan before arriving back in Taichung.

"I was never taught how to get to know the country in which I've grown up. Later, I discovered that walking is the most practical way to appreciate Taiwan's beauty," Kuo said.

His tour is meant to promote increased public awareness of environmental issues.

For more information on the hike, call TESA at (04) 2632-8001.
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