PENANG: Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, took time off to hike Freedom Hill in Batu Ferringhi on Saturday, a day after meeting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Penang.

Wang Yi was on a two-day official visit to Malaysia and met Anwar in Penang on Friday.

A photo of Wang Yi taken with a local hiker went viral on social media.

Wang Yi’s hike has become a topic of heated discussions among Penangites and Freedom Hill hikers.

Sin Chew Daily reporter met two groups of hikers at Freedom Hill to find out more about Wang Yi’s hike.

Some hikers claimed that they missed the chance to hike with him, as they were heading to their polling stations Saturday morning.

According to the hikers who saw him at the foothill of Freedom Hill, Wang Yi smiled and greeted them.

For security reasons, the police stopped others from hiking after Wang Yi went up the hill.

One hiker managed to have a photograph with Wang Yi, as he had arrived earlier before the others.

“He met Wang Yi while taking a break on the hill. Wang Yi asked about his ancestors in China while having tea with him.

“Wang Yi took a photo with him, the only photo that showed him hiking Freedom Hill,” said a hiker.

Wang Yi was believed to have arrived at around 8 a.m. and spent two hours at Freedom Hill.

The hikers told Sin Chew Daily Wang Yi was accompanied by the police and bodyguards. About 30 to 40 people were escorting him and the military helicopter was seen hovering in Batu Ferringhi area.

They said many unfamiliar faces in a convoy of cars were spotted at the foothill of Freedom Hill to inspect the area on Thursday. They enquired about the area’s security by chatting with regular hikers.

Based on the photographs shown by Sin Chew Daily, the hikers were able to recognize Ou Yang Yijing, the Ambassador of China to Malaysia, and Zhou Youbin, the Chinese Consul-General in Penang who were at the foothill of Freedom Hill.