Let's go hiking!

Autumn is finally upon us! Now that the air is crispy and the sun is shining - what are you doing cooped inside your room staring at the computer or television screen? Why not put those hiking boots on and blaze those beautiful trails in the countryside!

What? You have no idea where to go? Well, look no further as we are going to recommend an outdoor activity that promises not only fun but also gorgeous scenery that most of us urbanites have forgotten.

Swire Coca-Cola and Care Action are organising a day out just for Young Post readers, their friends and family on November 23. The one-day excursion will take participants to the scenic trails leading up to the plateau of Cheung Sheung in Sai Kung, which is known as the 'Leisure Garden of Hong Kong'.

'The outing is to encourage students to have a healthy and active lifestyle,' said Leone Leung of Swire Coca-Cola. 'This hiking trip meets exactly our objectives.'

The two designated trails were picked by Care Action, a non-profit group that organises local hiking trips and raises educational funds for children living in remote parts of the mainland. (The three-year-old charity has built two schools in Guizhou and a third one is being constructed in Guangdong.)

The 400 participants will be divided into two large teams. One will take the route that starts at Ko Tong while the other at Pak Tam Au. Both trails take hikers to Cheung Sheung and everyone will take the same return route to Pak Tam Chung. Two hours will be spent exploring Cheung Sheung. Care Action chairman Ng Siu-wai said these trails, which take hikers roughly four hours to complete, are perfect for beginners.

'Cheung Sheung is one of three plateaus in Hong Kong, the other two are both called Ngong Ping,' he said. 'These routes are very scenic and not physically demanding at all. The route starting at Pak Tam Au is actually part of the MacLehose Trail.