So I kept asking Baidu what orienteering was. After getting a basic understanding, I discussed it again with my friend, who explained that orienteering is a game testing both wisdom and physical fitness, and that what made the Red Bull Night Urban Orienteering unique was that it flipped the daytime norm into an exciting nighttime treasure hunt. As a night owl, I thought this activity sounded pretty fun.
Most importantly, as a newcomer to Zhongshan, I had always wanted a suitable way to explore the city. This time, there was a ready-made scenic route map. For those of us still quite unfamiliar with Zhongshan, this was a chance to learn more about this new city. And imagining our own scenes of conquering challenges one after another, I couldn’t help but feel bursts of excitement.
Mixed with anticipation, thrill, and nervous energy, the day of the event finally arrived.
When we arrived at the scene, looking around at the sea of people and seeing batches of participants coming to Xingzhong Gymnasium, it was clear that the Red Bull Night Orienteering was truly unique and had attracted quite a crowd. We’d better get into gear quickly.
Under the Red Bull logo were my three teammates—yes, we were all girls. Other teams had guys, but none of us were worried about getting lost or scared. We could just figure it out together.
The wait before the race always feels so long. Calm, calm—I must not let anyone see how excited I am.
Newbie’s Guide to Orienteering – Exhaustive Tip #1: Prepare Smartly Before the Race
I remember when I asked Baidu what we needed to prepare, I jotted everything down. Some of the items included: backpacks, flashlights, high-definition digital cameras, and so on. But some were clearly clueless. Each team member carried a huge, heavy backpack filled with snacks, bread, sodas, and other stuff. Maybe they were just too excited. They skipped dinner to come to the race, so they brought everything along, hoping to stay full and ease their load during the event. But as expected, they struggled all night—carrying something heavy, feeling hungry, wanting to eat to fill up and lighten the load, yet also afraid eating would waste time and let rivals pass them. If you’re a newbie next time, make sure you understand this well: gear matters, but weight must be light.
What excited us was the starting ceremony where participants lit the energy wall themselves. All we had to do was screw in our team’s bulb, and it would light up. It was a small ritual, but many felt it was really meaningful. We all took group photos with it—wow, we practically wore that bulb out.
These two were really just young girls—you’d never guess their usual stern teacher faces. Seeing how happy they were, they must’ve been lighting a bulb for the first time. Scared of getting shocked yet insisting on screwing it in themselves, they trembled but finally got the light on.
The game was about to start. The host was shouting on stage, and the crowd below was going wild, taking photos and getting all pumped up.
Newbie’s Guide to Orienteering – Exhaustive Tip #2: The First Five Minutes Are Golden
I remember that night, the maps were handed out to us about five minutes early, and then the host went over some guidelines. But those five minutes are actually very precious. In that time, we could glance over all the points on the map and figure out which ones we were familiar with and needed to find, which ones were totally unfamiliar and might need skipping or saving for last. Planning the route—where to go first, then next, and finally where—that’s crucial. Otherwise, you’ll end up like a headless fly, buzzing around chaotically.
Finally, it began. Our first stop was the Zhongshan Culture and Art Center. None of us had ever walked there before, and some didn’t even know such a place existed. As newcomers to Zhongshan who had worked and lived here for a year, we felt a bit ashamed. We chose to ask passersby, and the uncles and aunties were so friendly—it felt almost overwhelming.
You sing, I dance, she draws. Another takes a photo to post on Weibo. First stop completed.
Happily off to the next stop. The next one was to take a photo with Uncle McDonald’s.
Newbie’s Guide to Orienteering – Exhaustive Tip #3: Don’t Fight Unprepared Battles
This was a nighttime urban orienteering event—even friends who usually do orienteering found it quite novel. So rookies planning to join the next Red Bull Night Orienteering should definitely prepare in advance, or you’ll end up like us, spending half an hour just looking for Uncle McDonald’s. You need to have a basic familiarity with the orienteering area. Not knowing Zhongshan well, we wandered around aimlessly because we hadn’t prepared, missing many shortcuts. Of course, the silver lining is that this experience gradually turned us from newbies in Zhongshan into real local navigators. Haha.
Next stop: the giant yellow duck.
We hadn’t eaten dinner before coming, so the smell of food along the way almost made our mouths water. When the mental reward outweighs hunger, you can push through. Just like during crazy overtime at work—so immersed you forget you’re hungry.
But guys, seriously, don’t come on an empty stomach next time.
Finally, let me share the specific gameplay of this activity. Overall, we had several types of tasks:
1. Group Photo at a Location: The simplest was taking a team photo at a designated spot. For example, that night we were asked to take a group photo at Sun Wen Park in Zhongshan (of course, someone else had to take ours, then we took theirs—we helped each other).
2. Mimic the Genius: Next, follow the map and clues to find a prominent landmark, scenic spot, or unique area in the park. Then, have 2–3 team members mimic an action or pose related to it and take a photo. For example, during our night in Zhongshan, we mimicked the giant rubber duck at one of the local spots.
3. Smart Mimicry: What’s smart mimicry? The first two types barely test your intellect—mostly just physical ability and geographic knowledge. This one, however, challenges your wits. For instance, you might find the “Later to Rise” (Later to Rise) calligraphy at Sun Wen Park via the map, but your team must use body language to convey its meaning.Isn’t that fun?
4. Find Advertisements or Designated Icons and Answer Questions: Using the map, locate a specific billboard or icon in a given area, then answer related questions. For example, who endorsed the ad? What’s the retail price of the product shown? Don’t underestimate this—though you might see such ads daily, can you confidently recall the exact details when asked? This activity reminds us all to observe life mindfully.
5. Telepathy: As the name suggests, this tests teamwork and chemistry. Typically, one teammate acts out an object or noun using gestures, and others guess what it is. Think about it—if you’re on the same team, you should be in sync, right?
6. Brain Teaser Toys: Each team receives a puzzle-like game toy (similar to building blocks), and members must assemble it into a specified shape and color. This, too, is a test of your team’s intelligence.
7. Scan QR Codes: Back at the finish line or before the start, our competition base will have a large QR code puzzle. Naturally, players more familiar with smartphones will excel at this.
...and many more fresh, exciting gameplay ideas. Just join in—you’ll surely find surprises awaiting you. Most importantly, remember to @Guangzhou Red Bull Official Weibo with all your photos.
Rookie’s Hard-Earned Tips #4: Building the Ultimate Team Lineup
There really are methods and tricks to excelling at this. Based on the activities and rules above, I think it’s essential to assign clear roles within your team.
1. First, the “Navigator”—someone familiar with the area and strong with directions. They oversee route planning since they know the terrain best. Everyone follows their lead. Some spots don’t require all four members to go, so the Navigator divides routes, assigns sub-groups, and schedules meeting points. Frankly, this Navigator is like the team leader. If they perform well, we’ll undoubtedly excel.
2. Next, the “Wisdom Master”—an indispensable brainpower. Many challenges hinge on sharp thinking, and with them on board, your score won’t be low.
3. Then, the “Athlete”—a physically active member who handles tasks requiring long-distance travel or solo trips (when not all members are needed). Their role brings bonus points.
4. Finally, a “Trooper”—someone hardworking and reliable, tasked with managing all the team’s supplies. If every member fulfills their role as described, I believe you’ll have an outstanding team.
These are just my humble reflections as a former rookie during this event. Hopefully, they’ll help fellow newcomers like you next time. No matter how much I say, nothing beats experiencing the “Red Bull Night Urban Orienteering” activity firsthand to truly grasp its charm.