Han Ximin

    ximhan@126.com

    The Ride for Hope charity ride was full of hardship, excitement and happiness along the 800-kilometer route from Guilin to Hong Kong. It was also filled with warm welcomes in Guilin, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hong Kong from local riders.

    The first day, from Guilin to Yangshuo, about 80 kilometers, started with beautiful views of mountains and hills sticking up from ground. The team became more confident on the trip before the long and tiring second day, which had driven some riders to become too exhausted to open the hotel doors in Zhongxian County.

    The third day was the biggest challenge, as riders had to climb over Dagui Mountain, which is more than 1,000 meters high and lies between the border that separates Guangdong and Guangxi. The 150-km trip started in terribly cold rain and riders had to endure broken concrete, with heavy vehicles going up and down the mountain. It was a fantastic ride and an unforgettable experience, as the riders had to complete a 40-km night ride.

    On the rest of the days in Guangdong, the riding became boring and was slowed down by heavy traffic and flyovers on the national highways from Zhaoqing City to Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Traffic on the National Highway 107 linking Shenzhen and Guangzhou is very congested and bikers had to ride between trucks.

    “It is not easier compared with last time, though it’s been shortened to seven days, while last year it was 21 days. There is no rest day arranged in between, whereas before there was a rest day every four days,” said Nicholas Smith, team leader and hotel manager with Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai. “Yet with dedication and persistence to help the villagers, we completed the challenging tour.”

    Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, initiated Ride for Hope in 2013 to draw public attention and raise money for those in need. The 800,000 yuan (US$129,030) raised this year will help build 40 water cellars and renovate a school in a Yao village in Guangxi, where the villagers have built 25 water cellars with the money collected in 2013.

    Harsh conditions in the villages found during the water well construction inspection in June last year resulted in the hotel’s commitment and decision to further help the locals by funding education, apart from continuing to collect funds to address the water shortage issue.