The 6th Guilin Citizens’ Hiking Conference Kicks Off

  As one of the key events of the 3rd Guilin International Landscape & Cultural Tourism Festival, on the morning of October 29, 2011, the 6th China (Guilin) International Citizens’ Hiking Conference was launched in front of the Ancient South Gate in the “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” scenic area. Diplomatic envoys from Nepal, Lithuania, and other countries stationed in China, as well as over 1,000 hiking enthusiasts from both home and abroad, attended the opening ceremony. Shi Chunlian, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Guilin Municipal People’s Congress, Wu Jiashi, Vice Mayor, and Liu Mingyu, Vice Chairperson of the Guilin Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, were also present at the event.

  The 6th China (Guilin) International Citizens’ Hiking Conference was jointly organized by the Guilin Municipal People’s Government, the Autonomous Region Tourism Administration, and the China Headquarters of the Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV), with co-organization by the Guilin Municipal Tourism Bureau, Guilin Municipal Sports Bureau, Yangshuo County People’s Government, and Ziyuan County People’s Government. The event was hosted by the Guangxi Branch of the IVV China and the Guilin Hiking Association. The hiking conference attracted participants from both domestic and international hiking communities, and its advocated travel style of getting close to nature and promoting green, low-carbon tourism gained widespread recognition.

  Wu Jiashi welcomed both Chinese and foreign hiking enthusiasts to Guilin for the conference during the opening ceremony. He said that Guilin is not only a tourist city but also a historic and cultural city with a history of over two thousand years. It is also the top recommended global tourist destination by the World Tourism Organization, attracting an increasing number of domestic and international tourists and hiking lovers for leisure, travel, and sports. Currently, Guilin is actively building a new highlight in tourism—“Outdoor Guilin.” Guilin will welcome guests from all over with even more beautiful scenery, a safer environment, and more personalized services, showcasing the charm of outdoor leisure sports in Guilin through various approaches and perspectives.

  Mr. Tanka, the Nepalese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China, stated in his speech that the hiking conference is a valuable exploration of integrating culture into the tourism industry. He believes that holding the hiking conference in a vibrant city like Guilin will greatly contribute to expanding cultural exchanges and interactions between different cultures.

  After the opening ceremony, nearly 400 hiking enthusiasts, including domestic and international guests, members of the Hengyang Hiking Association and Yongzhou Mountaineering Association from Hunan, as well as club members from Nanning, Liuzhou, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Dalian, Guangdong, Heilongjiang, and Beijing, took buses to Ziyuan. They hiked along the 10-kilometer Guibei Ethnic Eco-Trail along the Wupai River in Ziyuan. During the two-day hiking event, the participants also explored famous Danxia scenic areas such as Tianmen Mountain and Bajiao Village, enjoying the unique landscapes of northern Guangxi. Several hundred others participated in the “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” hiking activity. Most participants in the “Two Rivers and Four Lakes” hike were seniors, who promoted a low-carbon, green, and environmentally friendly fitness lifestyle through the activity while connecting with nature.

  Different from previous years, this year’s hiking event also included a charity donation and educational support activity at the end of the hiking route. Each of the 23 elementary school students from Yanzhu Primary School in Yanzhu Village, a local poverty-stricken school in Ziyuan County, received a new schoolbag, a set of stationery, and a brand-new winter outfit. Additionally, sports equipment such as footballs and basketballs were donated to the school’s teachers and students to improve the learning conditions for children in the deep mountains.

  It is reported that the Internationaler Volkssportverband (IVV) was jointly established in 1968 by clubs from Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria, and is an affiliated organization certified by the International Olympic Committee. The China (Guilin) International Citizens’ Hiking Conference was first held in 2006. After visiting Guilin, Mr. Luther, then President of the IVV, spoke highly of Guilin’s beautiful scenery and superior outdoor natural environment, and decided to hold the International Citizens’ Hiking Conference in Guilin annually.