Taiwan’s Cueifong Lake Circular Trail Named World’s First ‘Certified Quiet Hiking Trail’

Photo Credit: Taiwankengo / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

It’s official: Taiwan is home to the world’s first “certified quiet hiking trail.” The international nonprofit organization Quiet Parks International (QPI) gave the trail the designation during a ceremony on July 18, 2022 – World Listening Day.

Cueifong Lake Circular Trail. (Photo Credit: Taiwankengo / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

Located approximately 84 miles from the Taiwanese capital of Taipei, in northeastern Yilan County’s Taipingshan, the Cueifong Lake Circular Trail winds around Cueifong Lake, the island’s largest mountain lake. At 2.5 miles long, it’s the longest trail in the Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area.

Efforts to ensure the location remained peaceful began a decade ago. Natural sound recordist Laila Fan loved how the trail was quiet, yet diverse in its animal sounds and ambient noises. This prompted her to both promote the area and work to preserve its peaceful environment.

Fan’s efforts led the Taiwanese government to declare the Cueifong Lake Circular Trail the country’s first “silent trail” in 2018.

Cueifong Lake. (Photo Credit: pang yu liu / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 2.0)

The trail was built upon the old and currently unused tracks of a forest railway, and sits at an elevation of between 1,900 and 2,000 meters. Its serene atmosphere is credited to its lush forest comprising of cypress trees and the thick green moss that carpets the ground.

According to the QPI, the lowest measured volume along the Cueifong Lake Circular Trail is lower than 25 decibels, which is its classification for “almost silent.” Speaking about the designation, Lin Hua-ching, the director of the country’s Forestry Bureau, said, “For a densely populated island to have the world’s first certified ‘Quiet Trail’ carries special meaning for Taiwan.”

Cueifong Lake Circular Trail. (Photo Credit: Taiwankengo / Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)

Quiet Parks International is a US-based volunteer organization that aims to raise awareness about the benefits of “quietness,” with the aim of preserving tranquil urban and natural places. The nonprofit is currently looking to expand its efforts into Marine parks, as well.

Clare Fitzgerald

Clare Fitzgerald is a Writer and Editor with eight years of experience in the online content sphere. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from King’s University College at Western University, her portfolio includes coverage of digital media, current affairs, history and true crime. Among her accomplishments are being the Founder of the true crime blog, Stories of the Unsolved, which garners between 400,000 and 500,000 views annually, and a contributor for John Lordan’s Seriously Mysterious podcast. Prior to its hiatus, she also served as the Head of Content for UK YouTube publication, TenEighty Magazine. In her spare time, Clare likes to play Pokemon GO and re-watch Heartland over and over (and over) again. She’ll also rave about her three Maltese dogs whenever she gets the chance. Writing Portfolio Stories of the Unsolved