HL’s Int'l Exchange Lecture Series: Beast Runners to Share the Charm and Safety of TW’s Mountains

(中央社訊息服務20250724 11:56:10)The Hualien County Government successfully held its first International Exchange Lecture of the year in mid-July, featuring renowned actor Rhydian Vaughan, who shared personal stories of his upbringing and international performance experiences, receiving widespread acclaim. The second session of the series is scheduled for Sunday, August 24, and will welcome the founders of “Beast Runners Taiwan Ltd.” — Czech mountaineer Petr Novotny and Indigenous outdoor educator Eva Lobo, of Seediq and Atayal descent. Together, they will offer insights into their journey through Taiwan’s mountains, blending culture with safety practices. Titled “From Czechia to Taiwan: Exploring the Charm and Safety of Hiking,” the talk will explore the beauty and challenges of Taiwan’s mountains from an international perspective.

According to the Hualien County Government, forest coverage reaches 80.54%, accounting for nearly 30% of Taiwan’s total forested area. Hualien is also home to 43 of Taiwan’s “100 Peaks,” offering rich ecological diversity, dense trail networks, and vibrant cultural heritage. Key speaker Petr Novotny, who serves as the race director of the Formosa Trail, brings an engineering background and extensive field experience. He has built a GPS trail database spanning more than 40,000 kilometers — one of the largest privately maintained mountain trail data sets in Taiwan. His YouTube channel, Beast Runners, has attracted nearly 300,000 followers, featuring deep explorations of Taiwan’s wilderness and essential mountaineering safety knowledge. He is also known for his involvement in high-risk search and rescue missions. Eva Lobo, who grew up in an Indigenous village immersed in nature, appeared in the film Seediq Bale and has long promoted Indigenous culture and outdoor education. She integrates traditional wisdom with modern activity design, fostering local identity and a spirit of mountain reverence.

This lecture will focus on the practical aspects of hiking and lightweight trekking in Taiwan, highlighting real-life search and rescue cases to underscore the urgency of building mountain safety awareness. It will also delve into the efforts of the Beast Runners team and Formosa Trail in trail exploration, endurance races, and mountain education over the years. Through this international exchange, the Hualien County Government hopes to raise public and global awareness of both the beauty and the risks of mountain adventures. It also aims to promote a sustainable, safe, and culturally enriched environment for outdoor activities in Hualien. The public is warmly invited to register and take part in the event.

Event Information
Title｜From Czechia to Taiwan: Exploring the Charm and Safety of Hiking

Date｜Sunday, August 24, 2025, 14:00-16:00 (Doors open at 13:30)

Venue｜Hualien County Government Auditorium (17, Fuqian Rd., Hualien City)

Registration｜Online registration; successful applicants will be notified by email

Registration Link｜[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhCmvLLIsd-ojtpF9LoZlCmEwzGDue_Ws1B_SHkJaX1ORg3A/viewform]
Contact｜Director Liu, 0933-257163