A morning walk alongside the scenic Sun Moon Lake is always refreshing.

Celebrating grassroots democracy in action in Taiwan! My apartment condominium is currently holding its annual meeting. 💪🏽🏘️

The Front Peak of Hoshanyue 猴山岳前峰, literally, the Monkey Hills, sits at the eastwestern edge of Taipei. From the Paozilun 炮子崙 trailhead, it's a climb of 300 meters in elevation, which gets a bit challenging toward the peak. But the panoramic view on the top is super!

I am excied to visit Waseda Institue for Advanced Study soon for a month. Looking forward to meeting new and old friends in Tokyo! waseda.jp/inst/wias/othe…

A long rainbow in Hsinchu, as seen from my apartment rooftop.

The first review of my book on Hong Kong protests, and it's a very penetrative and, at the same time, generous one. facebook.com/AsianCha.Journ…

Mt. Hakone with an elevation of 44.6 meters is the highest place in downtown Tokyo, defined as the area with the Yamanote loop line.

Excited to share insights from my new book on the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protest movement at Waseda University. If you're in Tokyo, you're warmly welcome! waseda.jp/inst/wias/news…

Tokyoites are blessed with fantastic trails in their backyard. I began with Mt. Takao (高尾山, 599m) and went to Mt. Kobote-Shiroyama (小仏城山, 670m) along a well-managed path. It's a wonderful 13KM-trekking that started in Tokyo Metropolis and ended in Kanagawa Prefecture.

As Taiwanese citizens are heading for an historical recall election next Saturday, I will give a talk on its origian the day before in Tokyo. Hope to see new and old friends there.

Located in Tokyo's western suburb, Mt. Mitake 御岳山 (929m) and Mr. Hinode 日の出山 (902m) offers a gorgeous look over the great Kanto plan.

Mt Buko 武甲山 (1304m) overlooks the Chichibu valley in Saitama (琦玉秩夫). It's a strenuous uphill walk climbing 1100 m from the near Yokoze station (横瀨).

It was a heartbreaking loss for Taiwan's civil society activists. But I trust our robust democracy will continue to be a fertile ground for more innovative and resilient citizen actions. thinkchina.sg/politics/taiwa…

My talk about Taiwan's civil society responses to the international crisis of democracy. It's my 5th lecture in Tokyo to wrap up my 40-day visit in Waseda and Rikkyo. I have enjoyed three mountain hikings and numerous drinking parties (nomikai) in this vibrant city!

Thrilled to see a new review of my 2019 book on Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement & Taiwan’s Sunflower Movement! In today’s fast-paced academic world, it’s heartening to see it still sparking discussion years later. 🔗 chajournal.blog/2025/08/06/sun…

Taoshan Waterfall (桃山瀑布) Trail is a gentle 4.3 km hike shaded by pines. At 2,200+ m elevation, it’s a refreshing summer escape from city heat. A delightful surprise: spotting Swinhoe's pheasants (藍腹鷴)—a stunning native species now under threat.

Shyueshan East Peak (雪山東峰), 3,201m, takes a demanding 8-hour hike with a 1,000m ascent. On clear days, it offers stunning panoramic views—but just before the summit, a thunderstorm struck. Nothing to see at the top, and we beat a wet, hasty retreat!

Hehuan North Peak (合歡北峰, 3,244m) offers a short yet rewarding 2 km hike. The trailhead sits right by the highway: the first half is a steep climb, while the second half opens into a gentle walk across rolling alpine grasslands.

Siliq 希利克, the augury bird for Atayal hunters, is the name for the 1-km trail in Lishan 梨山. The path begins at the guesthouse that used to house a villa for Chiang Kai-shek. Such a mixture of the orthodox Chinese culture and the Austronesian one is unique to Taiwan.

My book review of Insurgent Communities by Sharon Quisaant. It's a fascinating look on how decades of prodemocracy struggles of overseas Filipinos made a diaspora community--a great insight also applicable to other overseas activism. journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/73…