Late in 1998 the Lungtung Rock Climbing Guide arrived.
I'm quite impressed with the outcome and highly recommend this guide to
anyone planning to visit the crag. (I've left the web page of topo
papers up for those who want to use the dated material there for whatever
reason.) The guide's authors, Rae Kyung Park (a.k.a. Yum Yum) and Chin
Yin Lu, did a nice job of including photos of each cliff band for easy
identification. Some general information (rock type, what else to do in
the area, etc.) and maps with directions to the climbing area are included.
The guide is bilingual (Chinese-English) and appears to have more information
in English than Chinese about the actual climbs. A minimal guide to Big
Cannon Cliff is also included (click here for
an online BCC guide). I suspect you will be able to track down a copy
for sale at the prominent Taiwan gear stores or you can get a friend to
help you locate it. I only have three criticisms of the guide. I would
like to see a little more detail as to recommended gear, clearly distinguishing
the trad routes from the bolted routes or from the bolted routes that need
a little trad gear to make them safer. Secondly, there are quite a few
grammatical errors in the English, but that's not any real problem if you
just read carefully. (Hey Yum Yum, I'll proof the second edition in exchange
for an autographed copy.) Finally, I would like to see all of the information
in both Chinese and English, including route name translations (click
here for my suggested route name translations). The list price of $260
NT shouldn't scare anyone off from buying a nice guide to Taiwan's best
climbing location.
Lungtung Rock Climbing Guide, by Rae Kyung Park and Chin
Yin Lu, Yama Books, Taiwan; (03) 470-8818; 1998. Softcover; 261 pages;
black-and-white photos and illustrations; $260 NT. ISBN 957-8966-72-5.