International hikers from around the world participate in the 100km Hong Kong Oxfam Trailwalker which runs through eight country parks and over 20 hills in the New Territories

More than 4,000 keen hikers from around the world will take part in Oxfam's annual fundraising marathon, Trailwalker, in Hong Kong from 5-7 November.

The participants competing in 100 teams are from Australia, the UK, US, Japan, South East Asia and the Chinese mainland. They aim to complete the 100 km (62 miles) MacLehose trail in less than 48 hours.

Trailwalker is not just the biggest fundraising sporting event in Hong Kong. It is known as a showcase for Hong Kong's natural beauty as the trail runs through eight country parks and 20 hills in the New Territories, enabling the hikers to enjoy a diverse scenery of luxuriant woodlands, rugged mountain peaks, streams, plateaus and a vast array of flora and fauna.

Past overseas participants have said they had not expected to see so much wild life and such stunning scenery. "There were monkeys and a variety of lizards and through the night you could hear the sounds of many creatures. Then every now and then, you'd come out of the forest and there'll be a beautiful shoreline," said a participant from the US.

Trailwalker is organised annually by Oxfam Hong Kong and is sponsored by State Street Corporation. Over the past years, Trailwalker has raised over HK$158 million (US$20 million) for charity. Last year over 924 teams and nearly 4,000 participants raised HK$18.4 million (US$2.3 million) to help disadvantaged people in Hong Kong and to support development projects and emergency relief programmes in Asia and Africa. Trailwalker events are also held in the UK and Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

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Trailwalker