The Raknus Selu Trail Passport has been further upgraded. Following the launch of Taiwan’s first long-distance trail paper passport in 2022, which featured 22 uniquely designed commemorative stamps and sparked a popular trend among hiking enthusiasts, the Hakka Affairs Council has introduced the new Raknus Selu Trail Digital Passport system this year. By integrating the latest digital technology, hikers can now complete their stamp collection missions online with ease through their mobile phones. The Council further explained that the system also connects with Google navigation. When hikers explore any of the 22 main routes of the Raknus Selu Trail, they can activate the route guidance with just one click to locate stamp points along the trail, enjoying a more convenient and smarter hiking and stamp-collecting experience.
The digital passport centers on the 22 main routes and provides comprehensive practical information, including trail length, walking time, elevation, difficulty level, GPX route download, and navigation. It is also linked to the Hakka Tour website, offering nearby Hakka village attractions, local cuisine, accommodations, and travel consultation services, making it the best digital guide for hikers exploring the trail.
In addition, the system incorporates the popular WebAR augmented reality technology. After completing each stamp collection, users can take commemorative photos with a virtual wood-carved badge and share them on social media, creating a new hiking experience that combines the real and the virtual. Through this innovative service, the initiative not only encourages more people to explore the mountains and experience the stories of the ancient trail, but also promotes local tourism and industry development, recording every hiker’s unique “pilgrimage on the trail.”
