Zhejiang Great Outdoors – Hiking, Trek & Trail Guide
This is the TA veteran’s Hiking, Trek & Trail Guide – a guide with info on the best outdoor trekking and trail routes, plus the knowledge needed to make the most of them, safely. Plan your route, have the right insurance, get out, and enjoy the great outdoors in safety, Zhejiang style.
Trail Season：March, April, May, June, September, October, November & December
The four seasons here are clear-cut, the transport is convenient. Spring warmth brings color back to the mountains and fields. Nature wakes, and the outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen wake with her. If you’re in Hangzhou, now is the time to try a casual, low-intensity trek on Gemstone Mountain, located conveniently close to the shady waterside tea tables of West Lake – the place to go to refresh, relax, soak in the view. Another spot is the ten-mile ‘Tianmu’ Mountain skirts the edge of the graceful and gorgeous Wozhou Lake. Spring is the perfect time to trek the mountain trail.
How about Fall? Glad you asked. Get drunk on the fresh air and enchanting colors of the Autumn atmosphere on practically any trail route in the province – ‘It's the season for it. “Old Road” merchant’s trails – a special feature of the province of Zhejiang. The Xianxia old road, Jinlan old road, the Huihang old road… they are all low difficulty, all historic and all trekkable in any season, they too are especially pretty in dressed in the colors of Autumn. Pro tip: you can link off of Huihang old road onto the Qingliang Peak mountain trail. Fall, Spring – beautiful in both, plus relatively safe.
Danger Season: Precautions to take. January, February, July & August
Summertime. Wet foot ‘river trekking’ has been booming in Zhejiang these past few years, but, be mindful: check weather forecasts diligently before going. July and August have sudden, high-volume rains causing flash floods. Lives have been lost in the past.
Too much water is bad, not enough water is also bad. High temperatures make Zhejiang’s dense forests extremely humid during the summer months. Dehydration and heatstroke become a risk factor, thus, forest walks in summer are not advised.
Winter. Snowfall puts caps on Zhejiang’s higher mountaintops, adding difficulty to those routes. Luckily, our mountains are generally low-down - all safely trekkable, so as long as one stays warm and takes the correct precautions. What precautions? Try to travel with someone experienced, and don’t skip your pre-departure homework: check the weather, route details, etc. (plus bring GPS, if circumstances permit).
Outdoor Cautions: What to watch out for
Our mountains may not be high-altitude, but they are steep, creating the danger of slipping and falling. Again, it’s vital to do your homework: understand trail conditions, etc. ahead of time, consider the physical fitness requirements of the trail, especially when carrying all your equipment and tent on your back.
Vegetation surrounding forest trails is dense, making it easy to lose your way. We recommend carrying GPS, or walkie talkies for group hikes and outdoor trips. In summer, carry ample drinking water, as well as sports drinks and electrolytes to prevent muscle cramps, dehydration, and heatstroke. Also, be especially cautious for playing in and around water.
Danger and Annoyances
Spring and Summer fill the Zhejiang mountain forests with bugs and snakes (it is their home, after all). Snakebite medicine and insect repellant are a must, as well as a basic first aid kit. Sudden Summer rains are also a mountain safety hazard. Mountain gullies are subject to flash flooding - the cause of a number of deaths in past years. For this reason, it is crucial to be aware of weather forecast information for any days you plan to be out in nature. Do your homework, be prudent, avoid an unnecessary misfortune.
Responsible Hiking
Low-carbon, energizing, oxygen-rich. Every year there are more of us stepping out into the great outdoors to hike, climb, and trace streams. Unfortunately, however, we tend to bring all our polluting and destructive habits along with us. Careless campers have caused several fires in Zhejiang in recent years, not to mention all the unsightly trash pollution they have left behind.
Carelessness leads to unhappy camping. Where should we be careful? Here are three areas:
Campfires. Nowadays portable stoves and battery lights often replace kindling-and-match campfires for cooking and illumination, lowering the overall risk of forest fires. But the devil is in the details – cigarette butts and matches are still a risk. A few sparks can set a field ablaze. Wherever possible, find flat, open, sparse land near water if lighting a campfire. Afterward, ensure without a doubt that all embers are completely extinguished before moving on.
Waste and trash. Non-biodegradable waste, in particular, needs to be bagged and taken when departing the site. Dispose of such trash according to classification at public bins. As mentioned above, careless littering and laziness have put a scar on the face of many Zhejiang grassland meadows and mountains. Be responsible, take nothing from the fields and mountains, and leave behind only footsteps.
Water. Water is where nature and life start. It makes sense that the well-being of water sources – rivers, streams, and ponds, should be a priority for outdoors people. Besides not deliberately dumping garbage and contaminants into waters, be mindful of where you make your toilet. Ensure your “waste” stays out of clean waters.
