On August 4, 2025, the CMP Pujen Cultural & Arts Foundation held the 5th Mountain Fellowship Gathering at 0km Mountain Base in Taipei.
Under the theme “Like ____ These Mountain Wanderers”, seven individuals from diverse fields—each deeply connected to Taiwan’s mountains and land—were invited to share their stories, experiences, and practices rooted in nature.
This event focused on the relationship between people and nature, centering on the themes of forest stewardship, terroir brewing, and healing culture, guiding participants to reflect on the distance between ourselves and the land.
Assistant Professor Chang Chia-Lun from the Department of History, Chinese Culture University, delivered a talk titled “Forest Governance in Colonial Taiwan: Did You Know There Were Bananas in the Camphor Forests?”
He explored the history of Taiwan’s forest management during the Japanese colonial era, posing the intriguing question: “Did you know that camphor forests were once filled with banana trees?” Through this lens, he revealed how ecological knowledge and human–land interactions evolved under the influence of colonial policies and continue to shape Taiwan’s modern landscape transformation.
Lin Chia-Min, board member of the Taiwan Forest Therapy Society, presented a talk titled “A New Benchmark for Asian Forestry: South Korea’s Forest Welfare Act and Healing Policy.”
He shared how South Korea has promoted a culture of forest healing through legislation, fostering a new dialogue between forests and public health. His insights offered valuable inspiration for Taiwan’s potential future direction in forestry and nature-based well-being.
Hsu Chia-Chun, Associate Researcher at the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute and author of “The Tree Seekers: A Botanist’s Journey in Search of East Asia’s Giant Trees,” delivered a talk titled “Our Tree Friends.”
Through his presentation, he introduced the rich ecology of Taiwan’s ancient and monumental trees, guiding the audience to better understand and appreciate the living heritage of forests across the island.
He also personally led participants in a field activity titled “Visiting Our Tree Friends.” Within the multilayered forest of the 0KM Mountain Base, attendees were guided to meet and photograph a century-old camphor tree, experiencing firsthand the beauty of ecology and the passage of time.
Beyond academic and policy discussions, the event also invited local practitioners of terroir culture to share their creative journeys rooted in the land.
Culinary curator Kao Ching-Yu shared her talk titled “Preserving the Taste of Taiwan’s Terroir Through Ingredients.” She explored how food memories and local agricultural curation can rekindle people’s sensory and emotional connections to the land.
Through her presentation, she showcased the unique flavors of Taiwanese dried fruits — among them, the most distinctive being dried watermelon. Kao thoughtfully explained how each fruit is transformed into dried fruit, highlighting both the challenges and the special characteristics of the process, offering valuable lessons drawn from experience.
Sharon, founder of the brand Yanzhi, shared her journey of fermentation and brand development — a process through which she discovered new ways to explore self-identity and reconnect with the land through brewing.
Chen Pu, creator of Black and Bluecosmos, presented “Crafting Nature: Beyond Organic Symbiosis,” showcasing creative projects that envision coexistence and collaboration with the natural world.
The event also featured a presentation by Chao Cheng, founder of the brewing brand TOMU, titled “One Glass for Good Harvest, Two for Great Fortune.” From millet cultivation to terroir-based brewing, he used wine as a medium to tell stories of human connection, the land, and the passage of time.
Attendees were invited to sample TOMU’s latest creations — Red Oolong Millet Sparkling Wine, Green Plum Millet Sparkling Wine, and Peach Honey Millet Sparkling Wine — each embodying the brand’s heartfelt philosophy that “to drink this glass is to taste the spirit of Taiwan’s terroir.”
The event also featured a dried fruit tasting, showcasing local agricultural products from various regions — including the exceptionally rare dried watermelon — allowing participants to experience the dedication and passion of each artisan toward their craft. This gathering was not only a feast of knowledge and the senses but also a heartfelt journey back to nature.
「Our generation is fortunate — we don’t all need to work in the fields, but precisely because of that, we must learn to cherish and protect this land.」
The 5th Mountain Fellowship Gathering was more than a series of talks; it was a new beginning — an invitation to rediscover the mountains, and to rediscover life itself.
Curated and hosted by the 0KM Select Shop.
