Where to go during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Climb the Great Wall? Too crowded. Hit the beach? It’s a bit cold this time of year. Go abroad for a trip? Not enough time. How about a farmhouse meal and drinks? That’s just too unambitious... Bring your family, your friends, your kids, escape the hustle and bustle of the city, put on a pair of hiking shoes, pitch a tent, and join friends from all over the country. Hike and chat during the day, sleep in a tent, gaze at the moon, and count the stars at night... How does this kind of hiking and camping life sound?
From September 4 to September 7, 2014, the 2014 China Xinglong Wuling Mountain National Hiking Conference, themed “Focus on Air Quality, Promote National Fitness,” will soon commence in Xinglong County, Chengde City, Hebei Province. At that time, more than 300 outdoor and hiking enthusiasts from all over the country will gather in Xinglong County to jointly launch the Xinglong Wuling Mountain National Hiking Conference. The 2014 China Xinglong Wuling Mountain National Hiking Conference is a large-scale public outdoor event jointly organized by the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Hebei Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Xinglong County.
The specific format is “long-distance hiking + camping.” The Wuling Mountain hiking loop is a 9-day activity, to be completed over 3 years, with 3 days and 100 kilometers each year. The total route length is 265 kilometers. In 2014, hiking participants will start from Xinglong County Cultural Square for the opening ceremony and begin hiking northward via Xinglong Karst Cave, Wuling Mountain South Gate, Shibatang Scenic Area Trail, Immortal Pagoda, and Lotus Pond, staying overnight at the Lotus Pond platform. On the second day, they will pass through Golden Eagle Cliff, Wuling Mountain North Gate, Heigukou Village (the birthplace of Beijing’s first ray of sunlight), and arrive at Wuling Mountain Village, staying overnight there. On the third day, they will hike through Chen Zhuang Village and Xiwanzi to Beiyingfang Town, where the closing ceremony will be held, marking the end of the first year’s activities. The total distance is 85 kilometers.
In the second year, 2015, the first day will begin with an opening ceremony at Xinglong County Square, followed by a transfer bus ride to Beiyingfang Town, where the hiking will commence. Heading south via Yaozhazi, Xiaozaoziling, and Baimachuan to Huangjiupuzi Village, participants will camp there after a 30-kilometer hike. On the second day, starting from Huangjiupuzi, they will proceed southwest along Xiaohenghe, pass through Miaoling Village, reach National Highway 112, turn west, and camp at Shuangshijing Scenic Area after a 30-kilometer hike. On the third day, starting from Shuangshijing, they will hike west along National Highway 112, turn south at Miaoliang Intersection, and continue until arriving at Xiangshutai Village, completing a 31-kilometer hike. The closing ceremony will be held in Xiangshutai Village, marking the end of the second year’s journey.
In the third year, 2016, the first day will begin with an opening ceremony at Xinglong Square, followed by a bus ride to last year’s endpoint at Xiangshutai, where the hike will commence. On the first day, hikers will walk 31 kilometers to camp at Madizhuang Village. On the second day, starting from Madizhuang, they will turn north at Geziyu, reach Jiulongtan Scenic Area, and camp there after a 28-kilometer hike. On the third day, starting from Jiulongtan, they will pass through Liuliping Scenic Area and return to Xinglong County Square, where the closing ceremony will be held. This completes the first loop of the Wuling Mountain Grand Circuit. The organizing committee will record the completion time of each participant who finishes the full hike, issue certificates, and provide souvenirs. Those who participate for all three consecutive years and complete the full circuit will be eligible for a lucky draw to win major gear prizes.
The venue for this hiking conference, Xinglong Wuling Mountain National Nature Reserve, is located in Xinglong County, Chengde City, in northern Hebei Province, with geographical coordinates between 117°17′ to 117°35′ east longitude and 40°29′ to 40°38′ north latitude. It lies among the four cities of Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde, and Tangshan, approximately 140 kilometers from Beijing, 180 kilometers from Tianjin, 148 kilometers from Tangshan, and 135 kilometers from Chengde. The mountainous area within the reserve belongs to the Yanshan Mountain Range, specifically the central section of the range, with its main peak, Waitao Peak, situated right in the heart of the core zone. It is hailed as the “Foremost Peak of Eastern Beijing.”
Hiking and camping are healthy ways of life that allow people to return to nature and engage in active leisure, as well as being among the most fashionable forms of tourism culture and physical fitness today. The National Hiking Conference is characterized by broad participation and high safety, making it one of the most mainstream outdoor sports activities in China. It is a key outdoor sports brand promoted by the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, with around four events held across the country each year. Over the past two years since its inception, the National Hiking Conference has been warmly welcomed and actively participated in by hiking and outdoor enthusiasts nationwide, playing a very positive role in promoting the “National Fitness Program Outline,” showcasing the magnificent landscapes of the motherland, and inspiring patriotic enthusiasm. Currently, work on participant recruitment, event sponsorship, and venue planning and construction has been fully launched. Enthusiasts can visit the Camping Life Network (www.mytentlife.com) for more up-to-date information.
Registration Methods
1. Online: Visit the Camping Life Network at http://www.mytentlife.com
2. QQ: 958978597, QQ Group: 223117152 WeChat: @CampingLifeNetwork