Walkers start the hiking journey at the International Nordic Walking Meeting in Xingxi on Nov 5. [Photo/zgqxn.com]

More than 500 hiking enthusiasts took part in the International Nordic Walking Meeting in Xingyi on Nov 5 and 6.

Nordic Walking is an enhanced form of walking that originated in Finland and involves the use of long poles resembling ski poles. It is an accessible form of exercise for all age groups that aims to improve cardiovascular efficiency and promote general health.

Xingyi, the capital city of the Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture, is famous for its natural landscapes and the meeting took place at its two signature scenic spots – Wanfeng Forest and Maling Gorge.

The first day of the two-day walking event was held at Wanfeng Forest, which is made up of thousands of peaks in karst landforms. Participants encountered peaks, countryside, rivers, villages and karst caves along the 23-kilometer-long hiking trails and stone roads.

The second day’s walking took place at Maling Gorge, where walkers were set a 20-kilometer route to finish. The entire gorge is 74.8 kilometers long, 50 to 150 meters wide and 120 to 280 meters deep. Walking on the alleys along the gorge, one can appreciate the waterfalls running down the cliffs.

The meeting was co-held by Chinese Mountaineering Association, Sport Administration of Guizhou Province and the prefecture’s government. The participants were from 23 provinces of the country and 44 of them were from foreign countries, including Canada, Italy and Finland.