Burning rubber: the HigKing Group enjoys a city walk from downtown to Sheshan. [Photo provided to shanghai star]

Joy and the art of cycling

Hiking: off the beaten fitness path

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.

"Our activities include long-distance walking tours in the city and more challenging trips to different places outside the city," says Xiu, a full-time Web engineer.

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.