On September 12, as the starting gun sounded, the 2015 China • Baquan “Cliffside Taihang” National Hiking Conference kicked off. The event was held at the Baquan Tourist Resort in Huixian City, Henan Province, marking the first time the National Hiking Conference came to Henan.
According to the organizing committee, the event attracted a total of 1,010 participants, including 310 in the professional category. The professional group consisted of outdoor enthusiasts who had taken part in numerous hiking events, hailing from 12 provinces and cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Yunnan. In the end, 209 participants completed the course.
It is introduced that hiking is an excellent form of aerobic exercise, beneficial for improving physical fitness and boosting the immune system, while outdoor hiking allows people to strengthen their bodies while fully connecting with nature.
It is understood that the National Hiking Conference is a large-scale outdoor activity project approved by the General Administration of Sport of China, hosted by the Mountaineering Sports Management Center, and integrates camping activities with other outdoor sports formats. The Baquan Tourist Resort first proposed the advanced concept of a national-level “tourism + sports event,” leading to the collaboration that brought about this grand gathering. It showcased to outdoor enthusiasts from across the country who value health and nature the stunning cliffside scenery and unique resources of Baquan.
This National Hiking Conference was jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People's Government of Huixian City, with co-organization by the Xinxiang Municipal Sports Bureau and the Xinxiang Municipal Tourism Bureau, and hosted by the Huixian Municipal Sports Bureau, Huixian Municipal Tourism Bureau, and Henan Baquan Tourist Resort. Liu Ying, Director of the Xinxiang Municipal Foreign Affairs, Overseas Chinese Affairs and Tourism Bureau, said this was a high-level, high-standard, and high-quality national sports event, and its hosting is of great significance for enhancing the visibility and influence of Baquan and even Xinxiang. Pei Chunliang, Chairman of Chunjian Group, which oversees the scenic area, stated that this event deeply interpreted the new concept of eco-friendly and healthy hiking, making “Cliffside Taihang” the calling card and spokesperson of Baquan.
“Cliffside Taihang” is a highlight feature of this hiking conference. The entire hiking route starts from the Baquan Scenic Area in Henan and ends at Dawangmiao Bridge, spanning a distance of 21 kilometers and divided into three segments. The majority of the trail is located on cliff platforms over 800 meters above sea level. With sheer cliffs on one side and overlapping mountain peaks on the other, hikers can fully experience the breathtaking views offered by Baquan. Li Jianjun from Jiaozuo, Henan, joined the event after seeing the online recruitment and drove with family and friends to participate. Upon completing the hike, he remarked, “It’s absolutely magnificent, especially after climbing up to the cliff top via the sky ladder—you can see the whole of Baquan. If there are more hiking events in the future, I’ll definitely come again.”
The Baquan Scenic Area is located in Baquan Gully, 60 kilometers northwest of Huixian City. It features steep mountains, crisscrossing ravines, lifelike peculiar peaks and rocks, waterfalls cascading like white curtains, serene and mysterious valleys, and a collection of stunning landscapes. The area’s unique Danxia landform, known as “Hundred-Mile Red Cliffs and Ten-Thousand-Zhang Red Ribbons,” creates majestic and spectacular scenes such as red cliffs, emerald ridges, peculiar peaks, and quiet valleys—breathtakingly beautiful. The natural pathways formed by thin layers of sandstone and shale atop the red cliffs turn lush green in spring and summer, and blaze with autumn colors in late fall. From afar, the rolling mountains present a layered view, while looking down reveals red cliffs like painted screens—making it a natural and ideal trail for hiking.
It is introduced that the Baquan Scenic Area also boasts the densest and most spectacular waterfall cluster in the Taihang Mountain range. With ponds every five steps and waterfalls every ten, the varied waterfalls form the “China Thousand Waterfalls Valley,” hailed as a wonder of Taihang and known as the “largest waterfall cluster in Central China.” The area also offers a rich variety of water recreation activities. On September 13, the Baquan Water Experience Competition was also held here. Over 300 handsome and beautiful participants from hiking conferences around the country took part in activities such as rope bridges, zip lines, kayaking, diving, and rappelling. Their athletic figures and joyful laughter blended seamlessly with the beautiful scenery, creating a stunning highlight at Baquan.
Additionally, the award ceremony for the “Baquan Goddess” Selfie Contest, jointly organized by the Baquan Tourist Resort and Xinxiang TV Station, was also held that day. Since its launch on August 12, the event has attracted over 2 million clicks and views from enthusiastic netizens, 150,000 votes and campaign efforts, and more than 1,000 participants. The top 100 contestants gathered at Baquan to showcase the charm of modern women amidst the area’s emerald waters and red cliffs.