By the evening of the 18th, the second Wulagai River Hiking and Tracing Journey in Inner Mongolia was nearly halfway complete. So far, the first group of eight participants had received bronze medals and concluded their journey. The remaining team members continued advancing toward the destination.
It is understood that this hiking event kicked off on the 16th. A total of 122 hiking enthusiasts from 16 provinces and cities across the country embarked on a seven-and-a-half-day, 210-kilometer grassland trek. By the afternoon of the 18th, when the teams were camping, they had already completed 90 kilometers.
Li Wanguo, a participant from Chengde, Hebei, said with regret after receiving his bronze medal: “This place is incredibly beautiful, but my schedule doesn’t allow me to finish the entire journey. I have to stop here, but I’ll definitely come back next year.”
The team leader, nicknamed “Puppet,” told reporters that by now, every participant had developed blisters on their feet, but everyone was doing their best to persevere to the end. “There may be challenges ahead such as rain and physical endurance issues among the hikers, but everyone is very confident about making it to the finish.”
“The people here are so kind and genuine. After seeing these grasslands, I don’t want to go anywhere else,” said Dong Xueyan, an enthusiastic participant from Beijing.
Chen Qisong, a 66-year-old hiking enthusiast from Fujian Province with 20 years of experience, is the oldest participant in this event. He said this was his first time joining a grassland hiking trip and also his first visit to Inner Mongolia. “In the past, my hikes involved crossing mountains and cutting through thickets. This time on the grassland, my stamina isn’t an issue—I’m mainly here to enjoy the beautiful scenery.”
It is reported that the route arrangement for this event has been made more user-friendly. All hiking enthusiasts can choose from three different route options based on their personal circumstances: 3 days, 5 days, or 7 days. Upon completing each route, the Wulagai Administrative Region’s Culture and Sports Bureau will award bronze, silver, and gold commemorative medals respectively to those who successfully finish the different routes.
It is understood that the Wulagai Grassland is known as “one of the best-preserved grasslands in the world” and is hailed by tourists from home and abroad as the “Grassland by the Sky.”