TrailWatch and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited are cooperating to promote the hiking spirit in Hong Kong
There’s no doubt that hiking is gaining popularity in Hong Kong. Annually, more than 13 million visitors trekked through Hong Kong’s vast and beautiful country parks. Why is hiking the fastest growing sport – second only to running – worldwide? There are many reasons.
Hiking is a healthy pastime both from a mental and physical point of view. It’s a sociable activity that includes all ages and fitness levels. Unlike other sports, which require an investment in gear or a fee for admission, hiking is free; all you need is a good pair of shoes (and a water bottle!). Finally, hiking can be spiritual as well, connecting practitioners to open spaces in nature. Hong Kong enjoys an added benefit. Its country parks span 443 km and are easily and quickly accessible from public transport. One minute you can be feel dwarfed by high-rise towers in a dense urban environment and the next you can enjoy a panorama of scenic vistas and intriguing trails.
The interest in exploring Hong Kong’s country parks may have been spurred in 2003 when the SARS epidemic made it more desirable to be outdoors than in crowded urban settings. With the advent of high-resolution smartphone cameras, appealing images and unique treks, shared on social media networks, helped to spread the word about Hong Kong’s natural beauty. Now, surveys show that the positive spirit of hiking, combined with its known well-being benefits has made its popularity soar. On some of Hong Kong’s more popular trails, there are queues waiting to start their journeys during weekends.
It is exciting to see TrailWatch and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited join hands to embark on a hiking campaign in Hong Kong. TrailWatch is the Hong Kong’s first, free mobile hiking app that combines nature conservation with the joy of hiking. The app encourages hikers to enjoy their hiking in new ways, share their mountain experiences and protect Hong Kong’s country parks by allowing users to report any suspected vandalism. What’s more, it makes hiking a lot more fun!
TrailWatch, a WYNG Foundation project, has been delighting users for years with its rich resources such as incidence and misuse reporting, safe hiking tips and overall route experiences. Please look at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited ’s We are all Hikers promotional page: (www.hsbc.com.hk/weareallhikers) to understand more about this exciting campaign. Stay in touch and we will keep you informed of more details on the programme.
Happy hiking with TrailWatch.