New Website for Making Online Applications for Entrance to Shei-Pa National Park
In an effort to reduce the red tape for mountaineers, the Construction and Planning Agency under the Ministry of the Interior has launched a new website: Online Application for Entry Permission to Taiwan’s National Parks (http://npm.cpami.gov.tw/en/index.aspx) for its namesake purpose. The website is an integrated online platform offering one-stop permit application services for three high mountain national parks: Yushan, Taroko and Shei-Pa, with particular emphasis on the consistency of user interface and application procedure, plus a shared, searchable database. The new park entrance system has been available since November 25, 2015.
To ensure safe climbing, the Shei-Pa National Park Administration Office adopts a multi-grade permit system and a modified version of park entrance rules, the details of which can be found at
http://npm.cpami.gov.tw/en/news_4main.aspx?ID=1548
For more information about the climbing route grades and entrance rules for Shei-Pa National Park Ecological Protection Area, please visit
http://npm.cpami.gov.tw/en/news_4main.aspx?ID=2548
The biggest change with the new system lies in its 6-grade climbing permit system. Entry permits are issued according to six grades from A, B, C, C+, D to E based on three criteria: length of activity, geologic hazards and seasonal snow, with the applicants required to submit a letter of commitment or proof of mountaineering experience under certain circumstances. Also under the new system, applications for the park and mountain entrance are combined, the waitlist period is lengthened from 3 days to 5 days, extra scenic spots are recommended and disqualification provisions will be further specified to thwart non-compliant climbers, while attaching equal importance to convenience and fairness.