Group photo from the first "Go Hiking, Women!" event in 2013
Mr. Jin Qiao, Secretary-General of the China Hiking Network, said: The “Go Hiking, Women!” event is not a reckless adventure blindly emphasizing that women can hike just like men. In the face of prejudices that women are the weaker sex, unsuited for hiking or risk-taking, what we should do is not give up on the hiking plan, but strive to realize it as much as possible, and through this action, influence society—even if the change is just a little. This makes the hiking event all the more interesting and meaningful.
According to women’s health check-up data from 2013, about 60% of women are in a sub-healthy state, especially urban women, where the condition is more pronounced. Fast-paced lifestyles, persistent gender discrimination in the workplace, high work pressure, and little time for self-care lead to irregular routines, dietary imbalances, hormonal disorders, mood swings, and physical discomfort. To be honest, without fundamentally changing one’s lifestyle to allow both body and mind to decompress, no amount of beauty treatments or skincare can solve these issues. Those seemingly glamorous urban white-collar workers might actually be dreaming of running away from home—not the childhood tantrum kind, but an escape to free their body and mind. Some may only dream about it, while others have taken action. The large-scale outdoor hiking event “Go Hiking, Women!” held by the China Hiking Network on March 8th may offer a way for modern women to release themselves and relieve stress. Women from different regions, of all ages and professions, will engage in dialogue with nature and experience the cleansing “chicken soup for the soul” that nature provides.
The route isn’t long, but the scenery is undulating—with mountains, water, and deserts—that delivers a powerful impact to the heart. In big cities full of skyscrapers, people who are always rushing with their heads down rarely see the stars, and sometimes not even the sun. When it comes to outdoor hiking, most people merely applaud others’ feats. But the large-scale “Go Hiking, Women!” event truly brings people into the wild beauty of nature—to go crazy together, laugh together, and feel every emotion. Scorching deserts, scalding Gobi deserts, barren mountain ranges, smooth yet perilous cliffs, and forests with sudden temperature shifts… These are things you can’t feel sitting in an office. Rather than saying the hiking network wants to offer an exciting event for Women’s Day, it’s more about giving ordinary citizens the courage to step outside. With increasing access to information, news of white-collar workers dying suddenly or committing suicide due to depression often appears online or in newspapers—these are not sensationalized stories. Especially for those living in big cities like Beijing, confined spaces, compressed schedules, and lingering smog mean everyone has a dream of escaping the urban jungle. Go Hiking, Women!, dedicated to all strong-hearted women—nothing can absolutely stop you from stepping out. Work can’t, and time certainly can’t. May hiking and trekking make women more beautiful, life more radiant, and bring positive energy to society.
[Hiking Route] Olympic Forest Park
[Participant Limit] 300 people
[Event Date] March 8, 2014
Gather and check in at the South Gate of Olympic Forest Park at 1:30 PM
Hiking begins at 2:00 PM
Hiking ends at 5:00 PM
[Hiking Route] 10 km within Olympic Forest Park
[Meeting Point] South Gate of the South Area of Olympic Forest Park
[Participation Requirements]
1. Female participants, dressed up (styles: punk, forest girl, or Western fashion)
2. Male participants, wearing dresses (styles: punk, forest girl, or Western fashion). If you don’t want to participate, accompanying someone is also an act of love.
Participants of “Go Hiking, Women!” don’t have to be women—men are welcome too—the organizers CVA & China Hiking Network have prepared dresses and Nepalese shawls for exceptional gentlemen. We know there are plenty of guys who actually want to wear dresses, but just never had the chance. Now, it’s time. Get it? In this bold era, Women’s Day isn’t just for female adventurers to run wild, act cute, and wear dresses—men can join in just as easily.
Gentlemen, please discard the prejudices that wearing a dress is effeminate or unmanly. Abandon tradition, liberate your thinking, and embrace a new era. Men can be strong, but also dashing and graceful. In films, whether it’s Brad Pitt in *Troy* or Mel Gibson in *Braveheart*, they’re all charming heroes in kilts, sparking endless admiration among women.
[Our Slogan] March 8th – Go Hiking, Women!!
[Our Goal]
1. Let life truly “live” once
2. Let women truly “be women” once
3. Help men better understand women
[What We’ve Prepared]
We’ve arranged several photographers to capture the dressed-up Women’s Day event
[Event Fee]
Public welfare event (free of charge)