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Hiking photos - Student Camping trip, 2011/09

In September we helped organise camping trips for students from one of Beijing's international schools. Each group spent two days out, with a night of camping between two days of hiking. Click through to read a write up and see more photos.

The students learned about life in rural areas, and practiced camping skills and leave-no-trace environmental protection philosophy.

The first day of the program started with a very gentle, but scenic hike through Intelligence Valley, a river canyon with many interesting aspects of nature for the students to observe, from geology to flora and fauna.

After completing the hike, the students went to their campsite in a quiet forest and set up camp. First, we showed them how to put up their tents, and then each pair of students had a go at setting up a tent themselves.

After the campsite was set up, we all went on another hike – a short, albeit much more challenging uphill hike next to an unrestored section of the Great Wall.

After that hike, and dinner at a local farmer's house, it was back to the campsite for a bonfire and stargazing, and a good night's sleep!

The next day everybody woke up early, packed up the campsite, and got ready for another hike.

This time it was our Chestnut Orchard hike, a nice loop hike that follows a stream up to a waterfall before getting into the hills for a good long walk. Towards the end of the hike, we walked through orchards belonging to our local guide and were able to try some of his fresh chestnuts and pears.

Getting started on the Intelligence Valley hike.

We stopped here for a rest.

We set up camp in a quiet forest valley, near a stream.

In the hills above the campsite there is a stretch of Great Wall.

On the second day we walked up the valley from the campsite, following a clear stream which comes from a waterfall upstream.

We stopped for a rest at a small waterfall and pool.

In September, many beautiful species of flowers were still in bloom.

Many species of insects were in abundance, especially beetles, grasshoppers, cicadas, and praying mantises.

Local farmers raise goats in this valley.

The goats are kept in an area with short, rocky cliffs and overhangs, which resembles their natural environment.

The group observed several species of brightly colored spiders of very different shapes and sizes.

The last section of the trail led us along a hillside covered with flowers.

More photos from hikes in the news section; more hikes on the upcoming hikes page.

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