In what may well qualify as one of the busiest cities in the world, it’s important that everyone find their antidote to the chaos. For Hong Kong brothers Ben and Robin Lee, that just happens to be putting on their running shoes and swapping the skyscrapers for some of Hong Kong’s breathtaking landscapes.
To showcase some of Hong Kong’s majestic, beautiful trails, the brothers collaborated on a video called “Why I Run” starring Ben, who is currently training for not one, but three different races worldwide. Shot by filmmaker Robin, the film opens with stunning aerial views of the famed concrete jungle, which is quickly contrasted with footage of the jaw dropping natural scenery that remains one of Hong Kong’s best-kept secrets.
Speaking to Coconuts Hong Kong, Robin said that even though 40 percent of Hong Kong is undeveloped country parks and nature reserves, “a lot of friends and family who live overseas have no idea that [we have] these beautiful mountains and country parks”.
Despite the brothers making the video entirely on their own, the biggest challenge was “really finding time […] to get together and film,” Robin said. In between their busy work schedules and Hong Kong’s often unpredictable weather, the film took a whole 11 months to put together.
“Luckily, there was no deadline for this video so we did have the time to wait and in the end it was worth it.” We have to agree with that one.
Trails featured in the video include Pat Sin Leng, Sai Kung Country Park, Sunset Peak in rain and shine, Violet Hill and Ma On Shan. “I really enjoy running the whole of Lantau for its peace and quiet. It’s generally pretty empty out there. Going over Tai To Yan is pretty cool and is one of my favourite views, as is the view over Aberdeen on the HK trail,” Ben said.
Talking to Coconuts Hong Kong about what he’d wanted to achieve with the video, Robin said, “We hope that we got people inspired to go out and enjoy Hong Kong’s amazing countryside and to get out of the city every once in a while.”
“We are also curious to know if anyone out there is interested in a sequel,” the filmmaker joked, proposing the title “Why I Still Run”. Hey, why not? We’d certainly be interested in showing more stunning shots of Hong Kong to all the people in our lives that have made the ridiculous decision to live anywhere but here.
To see more of Robin’s work, take a look at his website or Facebook page.
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