Hong Kong adrenaline junkies walk the line

Some people go to great lengths to find zen in this city, but there's surely few whose pursuit of inner peace takes them to such extreme lengths - and terrifying heights - as Rio Zhang.

Last weekend, Zhang, 28, made his way across Hong Kong's first-ever high line - a 50-metre long rope suspended 20 metres above the crashing waves of Cape Collinson, with only a piece of rope to break his fall. Out on that slender rope - alone, body taut, mind intensely focused - he says he forgets all his troubles.

"You can only focus on your breathing and take one step after the other," says Zhang, who flew especially from Beijing to take part in the event. "If you look down or think you're going to fall, you will fall."

Highlining is the latest adrenaline junkie trend. It has evolved from slack lining, a rapidly growing sport around the world. Unlike tightrope walking, slacklining relies on the rope being slightly loose, though still under tension, allowing for more bounce and the possibility for tricks. Highlining is the same except - you guessed it - much, much higher.

Last weekend's event was the brainchild of Hongkonger Andy Knight and the result of cross Asia-Pacific efforts, bringing together Chinese-born Australian Simon Li, and the rigging skills of New Zealander Shane Yates and Australian Matthew Perret. "Slackers" from around Hong Kong also joined in, eager to take their first tentative steps in the city's newest extreme sport.