Study Buddy (Explorer): Hundreds of Hong Kong trekkers head to Shenzhen for free guided hike
- Event is part of Shenzhen’s ongoing efforts to attract tourists from the city
- Each week, this page presents an interesting story that we have adjusted to be more accessible for all English learners
Hundreds of Hong Kong trekking enthusiasts embarked on a free and guided hike in neighbouring Shenzhen earlier this month. Photo: Edmond SoContent provided by British Council
[1] Hundreds of trekking enthusiasts from Hong Kong embarked on a free, guided hike in neighbouring Shenzhen earlier this month. The trek was part of Shenzhen’s ongoing efforts to attract tourists from the city.
[2] About 400 hikers braved the rain to gather at 9.30am near the cross-border checkpoint of Liantang Port in Shenzhen. They then boarded coaches that brought them to the starting point at Yantian Shuangyong Park in half an hour.
[3] Among them was Carmen Wong, who headed off from North Point at 6.45am to meet the team at the border crossing. “I was invited by a friend, and this is my first time hiking in Shenzhen. I usually go to Shenzhen on weekends for food, karaoke and massages,” she said.
[4] “I didn’t expect the rain. But it’s nice and safe to hike with a big group of people. I don’t need to worry about safety issues. If there are more opportunities like this, I will be more than happy to sign up again.”
[5] Each hiker was given a raincoat and free snack bag that included a waffle, an egg and some jelly before they started their 10km trek. The hike covers scenic spots and paths such as the Provincial Greenway Line 2, Honghualing Reservoir and Yunhai Park. It was organised by Shenzhen municipality’s Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau, along with hiking associations.
[6] The team began to divide into small groups at lunchtime, with some hikers choosing to take a bus to the park or leaving for the railway station. Those who continued the hike arrived at a white hilltop building in the park around 2pm. The entire hike took about five hours.
[7] “In general, the hiking was nice, with facilities like restrooms, bus stations and supply depots along the way. But it is more like a countryside trail instead of a real, hardcore hiking trail for me,” said veteran hiker Chan Hon-tong, director of the China Hong Kong Mountaineering and Climbing Union. Chan, who completed the whole walk, said he wanted to try a different trail nearby with fewer concrete paths and staircases.
[8] “The view of Yunhai Park is impressive, and I believe it’s better when the weather is sunnier,” said Chan, adding that there was nowhere in Hong Kong where one could find an affordable, well-furnished coffee shop and library with a 360-degree panoramic view in the middle of a hike.
[9] The hike is the 10th in a series of Shenzhen government-endorsed trekking activities this year aimed at attracting more Hong Kong tourists. Lei Dongfeng, deputy director of the Shenzhen Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Association, said the first hike on January 28 encouraged 170 Hongkongers to explore parts of the Kunpeng Trail. Nine more guided hikes have been organised in Shenzhen’s Yantian district since then.
Source: South China Morning Post, March 10
Questions
1. Find a word in paragraph 1 that refers to “someone who is very interested in and
involved with a particular activity”.
______________________________
2. How many people participated in the hike according to paragraph 2?
A. about 100
B. less than 500
C. close to 900
D. more than 1,000
3. In paragraph 3, what does Wong usually do when she is in Shenzhen?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Based on your understanding of paragraph 4, Wong found the hike …
A. thrilling.
B. strenuous.
C. scary.
D. enjoyable.
5. What snacks were the hikers given?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What did some hikers decide to do before reaching the hike’s destination?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. In paragraph 7, Chan probably did not find the hike very …
A. challenging.
B. engaging.
C. accessible.
D. none of the above
8. Decide whether the following statements in paragraphs 7 and 8 are True, False or the
Information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks)
(i) Some people had difficulty finding restrooms during the hike.
(ii) The trail is suitable for beginner hikers.
(iii) Chan enjoyed some coffee when he arrived at the hike’s destination.
(iv) Chan did not find Yunhai Park particularly interesting.
9. How many hikes have been organised so far according to paragraph 9?
Answers
1. enthusiast
2. B
3. She goes there for food, karaoke and massages.
4. D
5. a waffle, an egg and some jelly
6. They either took a bus to the park or left for the railway station.
7. A
8. (i) F; (ii) T; (iii) NG; (iv) F
9. 10