The Cliffside Taihang Baquan Station Launches the First Stop of the 2018 National Hiking Conference

Baquan Scenic Area has hosted the Hiking China events organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association for four consecutive years since 2015, and this year it serves as the inaugural stop of the 2018 Hiking China series. The event coincides with the peak blooming season of tulips at the foot of the mountain and winter jasmine at the summit. Moreover, the over 100-kilometer hiking route traverses the dramatic, cliff-carved red rock formations, creating an exceptionally stunning landscape. Atop the crimson cliffs, along the forsythia-lined paths, more than a thousand hiking enthusiasts from over twenty provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across China embarked on their cliffside hiking adventure with great enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, a group of distinguished leaders including Li Haojie, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Li Ruixia, Vice Mayor of Xinxiang Municipal People’s Government; Qu Zhe, Deputy Director of the Mass Sports Division of the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau; Li Gang, Deputy Director of the Henan Provincial Social Sports Management Center; Ma Yongjun, Deputy Director of the Xinxiang Foreign Affairs, Overseas Chinese Affairs and Tourism Bureau; Wang Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Xinxiang Sports Bureau; Jin Kaiwei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Huixian Municipal Party Committee and Minister of the Propaganda Department; Zhang Xiaoyin, Director of the Huixian Sports Commission; Wang Baoshun, General Manager of Neo (Beijing) Public Relations Planning Co., Ltd.; Zhang Hongmei, Chairwoman of Chunjiang Group; Zhang Haiming, Executive Vice President of Chunjiang Group and head of the Henan Baquan Tourist Resort, were all present to cheer on and encourage the hikers.

The Might of Taihang Echoes Through the Ages; The Hiking Journey Begins at Baquan

From the heroic resistance against Japanese invaders led by Generals Chen Geng and Pi Dingjun during the War of Resistance, to the glorious era of New China where the people of Huixian sang the praises of “the people of Huixian do it well,” and through to the new period of reform and opening up exemplified by Peking-born hero Pei Chunliang, Party Branch Secretary of the Peizhai Community in Huixian—these generations of legendary sons and daughters of Taihang have embodied a spirit that transcends time and remains ever-relevant. This Taihang Spirit is a reflection of brave and tenacious revolutionary conviction, a culture of hard work and pioneering resilience, and a heartfelt commitment to seeing fellow villagers thrive. In the new era, the historical monument of Taihang Spirit continues to shine as a beacon for this land, standing alongside the Taihang Mountains to be immortalized in history and glorified for generations to come.

The 52-kilometer extreme group of the "Cliffside Taihang" event follows one of the most distinctive and captivating segments of the crisscrossing cliffside hiking routes at the southern foot of the Taihang Mountains — within Baquan Scenic Area. The Hiking Conference itself is a modern interpretation of the Taihang Spirit, which embodies fearlessness in the face of adversity and an indomitable drive to strive forward. Hikers set off from the entrance of the visitor center at the foot of Bopi Mountain in Baquan Scenic Area, passing through picturesque Taihang villages such as Zhouzhuang, Mawuzhuang, and Wujiange, before trekking over ten kilometers along the rugged ridges and towering red cliffs of Mapo Mountain. They then continue through unique cliffside villages like Nanzhai, Daxigou, Tan Tou, Pingdian, and Boyuzhang, and finally arrive at the endpoint in Baquan Village via the ancient Jinchu Trading Route — the Bai Xing Ancient Path — and its historic pass, Zixia Pass, as well as Yuan Shikai’s former residence. The other two groups, the 35-kilometer professional and 25-kilometer experience routes, have their respective finish lines set along this trail according to distance.

Taihang Landforms Understand Humanity; Nature’s Gifted Greenways Ideal for Hiking

Moreover, the unique landform of Baquan is the primary reason it is favored by hikers from all over the country. A key feature of the Taihang Mountain Zhangshiyan landform is its layered, terraced steep cliffs that run throughout the region. Each terrace is locally referred to as a “stack” — the bottom stack consists of 2.5-billion-year-old ancient metamorphic rocks, the second stack is formed by 1.8-billion-year-old red Zhangshiyan rock, and the top stack is made up of 500-million-year-old white limestone. At the junction of the red cliffs of the second stack and the forested peaks of the top stack lies a verdant ecological path shaded by trees, shrubs, vines, and grass. Through eons of geological shifts, wartime upheavals, and the wear of both human and animal traffic, this path has evolved into an ecological trail winding along the summits of red cliffs and the edges of forests. The unpaved, earthy and gravel surfaces are beloved by outdoor enthusiasts for hiking, mountaineering, and trail running. With every step, the trail offers a natural foot massage, preventing blisters even on long treks, making it a true “foot massager.” Coupled with the rustic rural scenery and the majestic, rugged natural landscapes, Baquan attracts outdoor sports lovers from all over the country every spring. Comrade Zhang Zhijian, Secretary-General of the Chinese Mountaineering Association, remarked during his first survey of this trail in 2015 that primitive and ecological resources like those found on the "Cliffside Taihang" hiking route in Baquan Scenic Area are rare to find nationwide.

Forsythia Weaves the Starting Line; Athletes Embrace a New Journey

The "Cliffside Taihang" hiking route is not just about red cliffs and stone walls — today, the vibrant and colorful Baquan Scenic Area is the true way to experience the grandeur of the Taihang Mountains. In addition to the lush tulips throughout the valley, the peak forests are now in full bloom with forsythia. Vast stretches of bright yellow forsythia are interspersed with pink peach blossoms, along with many unnamed wildflowers blooming in cheerful profusion, making the hike feel like a journey through a sea of flowers.

Forsythia is extremely common in the Taihang Mountain area of northern Henan and is often called the “Taihang Welcome Spring Flower.” On mountaintops, slopes, gullies, cliffs — in any expected or unexpected place — bursts of dazzling yellow suddenly emerge through the late winter chill, heralding the arrival of spring. The Taihang Welcome Spring Flower is not picky about soil and fears no cold, displaying exceptional vitality. This mirrors the enterprising spirit of the people of Baquan, who stride forward with vigor in the new era of booming all-for-one tourism development. It also reflects the unyielding, challenge-embracing mindset of hikers who maintain a passionate and driven spirit through extreme sports.

The starting line of this "Cliffside Taihang" hiking conference is woven from hundreds of golden forsythia blooms. After witnessing the hikers’ proud strides into a new era and new journey, these flowers will be planted throughout Baquan Scenic Area for more visitors to enjoy, blossoming vibrantly in the spring breeze of 2019.