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Burning rubber: the HigKing Group enjoys a city walk from downtown to Sheshan. [Photo provided to shanghai star] |
Taking the road less traveled is a good way to keep fit and have fun, according to a group who likes to walk long and far. Yu Ran jogs along to get the whole story.
Xiu Shui says hiking helps enrich people's lives, and makes their personalities "more optimistic and bright". Xiu, 27, started a hiking group called HigKing in 2012 to explore areas outside the city.
It attracted university graduates and office workers who enjoy visiting places far away from tourist attractions and five-star hotels. To save money, members would take public transport to their chosen destinations.
The name of the group combines the words "high" and "hiking" and refers to the physical challenges of extreme hiking. Xiu had lived in Nanjing, Jiangsu province previously, where he regularly took part in hikes.
He moved to Shanghai in 2012 and initially had trouble finding other people interested in hiking. He organized his first hiking event in October of that year, and 80 people attended.
During summer, some hikes take place late in the afternoon because of the high temperatures.
Stone Chen, 27, an accounts executive at a network technology company, joined the hiking group just because he likes to run. Chen says he has discovered a lot of new places around the city since joining the group.
"It's different from traveling with a group through a travel agency," he says. "We spend more time together and get along, during both tough situations and happy moments," Chen says.
To attract new members, Xiu plans to add new hiking routes and other activities.
