The 2019 China Hiking event. The Baise “Journey to the Earth’s Core” (Lingyun & Leye) Station of the National Hiking Conference concluded successfully ...

    On April 28, 2019, the 2019 China Hiking · National Hiking Conference Baise “Journey to the Earth’s Core” (Lingyun & Leye) Station concluded successfully in Leye County, Baise, Guangxi. This was the fifth time the China Hiking · National Hiking Conference had come to Lingyun and Leye, and the 52nd overall station in the China Hiking series. The event drew over 600 outdoor enthusiasts from 18 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country, including Beijing, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jilin, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Tianjin, Yunnan, Zhejiang, Zhengzhou, and Guizhou.

The event was co-organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the People's Government of Baise City, and the Sports Bureau of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and was hosted by the Baise Sports Bureau, the People's Government of Lingyun County, and the People's Government of Leye County.

Lingyun County, historically known as Sicheng, is under the jurisdiction of Baise City in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is a historic cultural city where four rivers converge within the urban area. With nearly a thousand years of history as a seat of prefectures, sub-prefectures, and counties, Lingyun County sits at elevations ranging from 210 to 2,062 meters. The county is home to 365 centenarians, a proportion that exceeds the international standard for recognized longevity regions, making it China’s first “National Longevity and Wellness Base for Relocation.” It enjoys the reputation of being a “Mountain Water Town, Ancient Prefecture Lingyun, and a Paradise for Living.”

Leye County, known as the “Capital of Sinkholes in the World,” is located in northwestern Guangxi, on the southeastern edge of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. It borders Tian’e and Fengshan counties of Hechi City to the northeast, Lingyun County to the southeast, Tianlin County to the southwest, and is separated by the Hongshui River from Ceheng, Wangmo, and Luodian counties of Guizhou Province to the northwest. The Fengshan-Leye Global Geopark covers a total area of 930 square kilometers and has 30 sinkholes of various sizes, making it the largest cluster of sinkholes in the world.

In this vibrant spring season of 2019, the footsteps of China Hiking once again set foot on the land of Lingyun and Leye. Anyone with even a basic knowledge of geography knows that the land beneath our feet features karst topography, distinct from the danxia landforms of Zhangye or the volcanic landscapes of Wudalianchi. These geological features accompanied us throughout the hiking journey—majestic, spectacular, and extraordinary, leaving us in awe.

On the 27th, the first day of hiking took place entirely within the Haokun Lake Scenic Area in Lingyun County, covering a total distance of 19 kilometers. Starting from the Maodong Viewing Platform, the route proceeded eastward along the main road, passing through Baxianyan Village before ascending the mountain. The path went through Chadong, Xiaolongdong, and Yanshang, then reached the Nongguang Pier, where participants took a 500-meter boat ride to the northern shore of Haokun Lake at Polou Village. From there, they hiked along the scenic lake loop trail to the Sanhe Visitor Center to conclude the hike. “The trail was really tough, going up and down constantly—I almost couldn’t keep going. But my hiking teammates kept encouraging me. When I finally climbed over the mountain and saw the beautiful Haokun Lake, with such blue skies and clear water, I gradually soaked in the stunning scenery. I didn’t expect to make it all the way to the end. It felt like a hike where my eyes were in heaven—it was truly unforgettable,” said Shen Ling, a hiking enthusiast from Chengdu.

On the 28th, the second day of hiking took place in Leye County, covering a total distance of 20 kilometers. Starting from the Cultural Square, the route proceeded to Luomei Cave. After hiking 1 kilometer through Luomei Cave, participants entered Longyang Cave and hiked 0.7 kilometers to reach Longyang Village. From there, they ascended the mountain toward Niuping Village, passing through Tanjiadong in Niuping, then traversed the Bewitching Cave and Linba Village. Finally, they passed through the Xidong and Dongdong Caves of the Xiongjia area to arrive at the Dengjiatuo Parking Lot. The cave sections covered approximately 7 kilometers; natural surface trails spanned 9.5 kilometers; and paved roads covered 3.5 kilometers. This section represented the essence of the Journey to the Earth’s Core, featuring passage through six natural caves. “This is my second time in Leye. Last year, I visited the famous Dashiwei Sinkhole, which was spectacular. Today, walking through six caves made the trip absolutely worthwhile. I used to think caves were dark and dangerous—I’d never dare go in alone. But after exploring these, my perspective changed. The first three caves had well-maintained hiking paths, making them easy to navigate. The last two retained their most pristine state, complete with stalactites and underground rivers. The caves were damp and slippery, and some sections required crawling through—but hiking through them with fellow participants from all over the country made it feel completely safe. I also got to admire the famous Red Rose Hall in Leye up close, which was truly magnificent and showcased the wonders of nature. I’ll definitely come back next year because I’ve fallen in love with this place,” said Zhang Haiqing, a hiking participant from Guangdong, in an interview with reporters.

The 2019 China Hiking · National Hiking Conference Baise “Journey to the Earth’s Core” (Lingyun & Leye) Station was the fifth edition of this event. In 2015, the organizing committee of the National Hiking Conference selected “Journey to the Earth’s Core” as the theme based on the unique landscape resources of the two areas, aiming to promote their world-class underground karst cave resources. The goal was to establish a new model of outdoor leisure tourism economy, showcase the folk culture and breathtaking landscapes of Leye and Lingyun, and position both destinations at the forefront of the national fitness movement and the development of outdoor leisure industries.

China Hiking is a key nationwide fitness initiative developed by the Chinese Mountaineering Association in recent years. To date, over 90 stations have been held, with the aim of implementing the National Fitness Program Outline and promoting outdoor sports. “China Hiking” was officially adopted in 2016 as a targeted initiative with the approval of the Chinese Mountaineering Association. Based on the National Hiking Conference, its objective is to complete hiking activities across all 34 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and special administrative regions of China. It uses hiking—arguably the healthiest form of outdoor sport—to enable a comprehensive exploration and appreciation of China.