China Trips: Waterlogged in Hong Kong (Grade 10)

From September 21 to 25, AISG’s sophomores left Guangzhou, and visited Hong Kong.  Hong Kong is one of the world’s major financial and manufacturing centers. The name itself makes you think of ports, and the world’s best skyline. It’s hard to believe that some of the most beautiful locations in Asia can be found less than an hour away from the bright lights of Hong Kong.

The bus that students hopped into on September 21 was heading to Sai Kung peninsula, one of Hong Kong’s more remote areas. The entire area is untouched by urbanization, and is home to marine ecosystems of significant ecological value.

This year’s China trip meant waking up at 5 AM, and getting on a 4-hour bus ride to Hong Kong. It was a tiring start, and the 1 hour long customs inspection at the border did not help.  We finally got off at Pak Tam Chung Holiday camp, where we were to spend Monday and Thursday nights. The entire Monday afternoon consisted of team-building activities, and later “Jigsaw”, which was simply more games split between Dragonfly teams. Dragonfly, the outdoor education provider, has worked with AISG for many years.

In the next 2 days, students had the chance to experience various summer thrills, like exploring mangroves. We also did water activities: snorkeling, standup paddleboarding, and kayaking. As a result of the harsh temperatures and high humidity, many developed a fondness for the water, especially with paddleboarding. Paddleboarding was very pleasant and relaxing, in contrast to the hot, muddy, and draining hikes to and from the beach.

After an entire afternoon of outdoor activity, students would hike to a public campsite near Hoi Ha Wan bay. Students cooked their own dinners, had the daily talk sessions with Dragonfly, and eventually slept in our tents.

During the last full day in Hong Kong, everyone packed up their luggage and separated into our groups. My group went hiking again, but at one point we put on helmets and went canyoning. Simply put, canyoning is hiking but with giant boulders and little streams of water.

These trips include some challenging moments, but I feel that overall it was great fun. How were your China trips? Feel free to share in the comments section below.