Recently, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision sought public feedback on local standards for "the setup and maintenance of hiking and fitness trails." This comprehensive set of standards, covering trail site selection, environmental protection, mobile signal coverage, and the placement of emergency call points, is the first of its kind in China. According to statistics from the China Mountaineering Association, as of December last year, there were already 11 completed national-level hiking trails across the country, with a total length of 900 kilometers.
Nowadays, more and more outdoor enthusiasts and general fitness seekers are falling in love with the nature-connected activity of hiking. To cater to tourism and outdoor sports, a wave of enthusiasm for building hiking and fitness trails (trails built in mountainous areas primarily for fitness purposes, using hiking as the basic mode) has swept across the country. Recently, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision sought public feedback on local standards for "the setup and maintenance of hiking and fitness trails."
This comprehensive set of standards, which covers trail site selection, environmental protection, mobile signal coverage, and the placement of emergency call points, is also the first local-level hiking trail standard in the country. It will provide conditions for more people to engage in hiking activities more safely, while also establishing a more comprehensive and scientific model for the construction of hiking trails.
The first local standard in China
With the rise of outdoor sports in recent years, more and more regions with the right conditions have also begun to develop hiking and outdoor sports. Hiking, as a fitness activity suitable for a wide range of people, has won the affection of more individuals. To boost tourism and outdoor activities, many local governments have started building hiking trails in scenic mountainous areas.
According to statistics from the China Mountaineering Association, as of December last year, there were already 11 completed national-level hiking trails across the country, with a total length of 900 kilometers, while places such as Chongqing, Shanxi, Hebei, Guangxi, Hubei, Zhejiang, and Inner Mongolia all have their own local hiking trails.
The abundance of forests and mountains around Beijing has also made hiking a popular fitness activity among many locals. Building on existing hiking trails, Beijing plans to construct an additional 208 kilometers of hiking trails this year. Faced with the geometric growth in the number of hiking and fitness enthusiasts, how to scientifically and standardly develop hiking trails has become a key supporting aspect.
As the first local standard for hiking trails in the country, Beijing’s "Setup and Maintenance of Hiking and Fitness Trails" local standards stipulate that hiking trails should preferably be located in areas rich in mountainous and ecological resources, as well as within a 1.5 to 3-hour drive from densely populated urban centers. Trails should prominently warn of dangerous sections and establish a patrol system. Patrol personnel should regularly inspect and maintain the condition of the trail surface and foundation, important public facilities, and disaster prevention and rescue equipment to ensure they are in good condition. Regular analyses of natural disaster risks along the trail and simulations of actual disaster scenarios should be conducted, with improvements made accordingly.
In addition, the standards also specifically emphasize that hiking trails should be set up as much as possible within areas covered by mobile phone signals. Infrastructure along the trails, such as signage systems and landscape features, should be uniformly numbered to help hikers accurately pinpoint their location when seeking assistance.
Promoting safety in mass hiking
The upcoming local standard has satisfied many in the outdoor community. "After all, this is the first time that the construction and maintenance of hiking trails have been clearly regulated in the form of standards," said Hai Mao, leader of the rescue team of the well-known Chinese outdoor organization "Green Field Outdoor." He believes the introduction of the standards will allow more people to enjoy the pleasure of hiking and fitness more safely.
In Beijing’s proposed hiking trail standards, special emphasis is placed on the placement of emergency call points. Call points along the trails should be located at relatively high and easily observable positions in areas with complex terrain and where people are prone to getting lost. The distance between any two call points should not exceed one hour (or 5,000 meters). The standards also specify that call points should have access to telephones for help and route guidance information. For safety reasons, medical rescue equipment and medicines are required at reception stations, and medical aid points should be established.
Hai Mao stated that for more professional hiking enthusiasts and backpackers, Beijing’s hiking trail standards don’t hold much practical significance. "Hiking trails aren’t yet very common in Beijing, mainly located in parks and scenic mountainous areas. For professional hikers, they carry more symbolic meaning than practical use," Hai Mao explained. Many seasoned outdoor enthusiasts still choose to hike on unofficial paths, and mobile signal coverage remains difficult on most of the routes frequented by these hikers. "For instance, at Lingshan Mountain, where hikers have previously had accidents, providing full signal coverage would involve astonishing costs, placing a huge burden on the government." Of course, the introduction of the standards still brings joy to this veteran outdoor enthusiast. "After all, with the growing number of hiking enthusiasts, it’s impossible for newcomers to start with unofficial paths that are more challenging and risky. Standardized hiking trails are clearly the safest way to get familiar with hiking. And for more fitness enthusiasts, hiking trails allow them to better enjoy the fun of hiking while also achieving fitness goals."
Benefiting the development of trail economy
In fact, many outdoor enthusiasts are paying attention to this groundbreaking local hiking trail standard, including Xu Chao, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Mountaineering Association.
Although Shanghai has limited local hiking trails due to urban resource and terrain constraints, many outdoor enthusiasts still go hiking in nearby cities. "In fact, the greater significance of this local standard lies in its reference value," Xu Chao admitted. Nowadays, more and more places are building hiking trails to facilitate public fitness hiking and outdoor exploration, but the results are not entirely satisfactory. "Because hiking trails require a high level of scientific input and professionalism, and involve aspects such as environmental protection and tourism, unscientific hiking trails can actually undermine the inherent charm of the sport."
Indeed, in recent years, with the increase in outdoor hiking activities, environmental protection along many hiking routes has also become an issue. "On one hand, some hikers still have low environmental awareness and casually discard trash during hikes. On the other hand, the unscientific design of hiking trails fails to take into account the harmony between humans and nature, contradicting the true essence of hiking, which is a highly nature-integrated activity," Xu Chao gave an example. Many places build hiking trails without considering environmental protection, often using hardened surfaces (simple concrete steps), which not only damage the natural mountain environment but can also easily harm the knees of fitness hikers. "Beijing’s hiking trail standards clearly state that trails should preserve the original environmental state as much as possible, using natural earth and stone paths as the main type, supplemented by wooden boardwalks and gravel paths. At the same time, natural environments must not be damaged, and rest areas, toilets, and trash disposal must all comply with environmental standards."
The local standard, which is as scientific and environmentally friendly as possible, also gives Xu Chao hope for nationwide adoption. "Beijing’s attempt can be promoted across the country, allowing regions to protect the environment and nature as much as possible while promoting hiking trails and developing the trail economy."
In fact, the national-level Ninghai National Hiking and Fitness Trail, which opened in 2009, has followed the principles of safety, environmental protection, and science from the design stage. "The effect has been very evident. More and more experienced hikers are willing to go to Ninghai because the combination of scientific design and the natural environment makes it more attractive for hiking adventures." In Xu Chao’s view, Beijing’s local hiking trail standards will enable more cities to plan hiking trails more rationally, making sports more accessible and safer while also benefiting local governments through the scientifically and environmentally friendly trail economy. "A hiking trail that is both scientific and environmentally friendly can bring considerable economic benefits to local governments."
Indeed, taking the Ninghai hiking trail as an example, in the first three quarters of 2012, Ninghai County received a total of 3.3 million rural tourists, including 980,000 for hiking and fitness tours and 2.2 million for rural tourism. In 2011 alone, the revenue from "farm stays" along the Ninghai hiking trail exceeded 110 million yuan.