2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – Shandong Wulian Station Kicks Off

On September 1, the 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – Shandong Wulian Station kicked off at the plaza of Beishan Rural Residential Guesthouse in Dongjialou Village, Kouguan Town, Wulian County, Rizhao City. Over 800 professional athletes and more than 2,000 mountain marathon enthusiasts from across the country gathered in Wulian to share this sporting extravaganza.

At 8:00 a.m., the opening ceremony was grandly held at the plaza of Beishan Rural Residential Guesthouse. Attendees included Wang Yongfeng, Deputy Director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice President of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Huan Mei, Vice Chairman of the Rizhao Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; Li Wenmao, Head of the New Projects Department of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Shi Dongpeng, renowned Chinese hurdler; Ma Weiqiang, Secretary of the Wulian County Party Committee; Zhu Guiyou, Deputy Secretary of the Wulian County Party Committee and County Magistrate; Hao Shuang, Director of the Wulian County People’s Congress Standing Committee; Ma Xuexue, Chairman of the Wulian County CPPCC; Jiao Chunfeng, Deputy Secretary of the Wulian County Party Committee and Director of the Management Committee of Rizhao North Economic Development Zone; Tian Jun, Deputy Director of the Rizhao Municipal Sports Bureau; Guo Zihui, General Manager of Beijing Nantianxing Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd.; as well as guests from across the country, journalists, and media representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Wang Hui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Wulian County Party Committee, Head of the Publicity Department, and Secretary of the Education Work Committee.

 ▲ Opening Ceremony

At 8:30 a.m., Li Wenmao, Hao Shuang, Ma Xuexue, and Guo Zihui jointly sounded the starting horn, and over 3,000 participants ran toward the mountains and embarked on an extraordinary journey. Led by Wang Yongfeng, Shi Dongpeng, Huan Mei, Tian Jun, Ma Weiqiang, Zhu Guiyou, Jiao Chunfeng, and Wang Hui, the 3,000 athletes and mountain marathon enthusiasts competed in three events: the 42-kilometer individual mountain marathon, the 21-kilometer individual mountain marathon, and the 6-kilometer mass fitness race.

▲ Leaders and Guests Leading the Run

▲ Runners Start the Race

It is reported that this event was hosted by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, organized by the Shandong Provincial Athletics Sports Management Center, Rizhao Municipal Sports Bureau, and Wulian County People’s Government, co-organized by the Wulian County Education and Sports Bureau, Wulian County Land Development Group, and Rizhao Kunyun Cultural Tourism Industry Development Co., Ltd., and exclusively operated by Beijing Nantianxing Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd. It is the highest-level sporting event held in Wulian County this year. The starting point of the race was set at the plaza of Beishan Rural Residential Guesthouse, with the 21K individual race and the mass fitness race sharing the same start and finish. The 42K individual race finished at Mafu Mountain Campsite. The course passed through Songya Village, Dongshan Village, Jingjiagou Village, Wei Garden, Liyan Gully, and other areas, offering runners stunning views of Wulian County’s landscapes. The 42K individual race featured an accumulated elevation gain of over 1,300 meters, while the 21K race had over 500 meters.

▲ Runners Racing Through the Mountains

According to the organizing committee, compared to previous stations of the series, the Shandong Wulian Station offered three distinctive features and highlights.

First, the course is more challenging. To enhance the athletes' experience, this year's route largely avoids overlapping with the 2018 course, featuring diverse terrains including mountain trails, rural roads, farmland paths, stone-paved roads, highways, river embankments, and bridges. The increased difficulty better reflects the theme “Running Toward the Mountains – An Extraordinary Journey” and the inherent spirit of marathon running.

Second, the scenery is more beautiful. The 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – Shandong Wulian Station course is located along the Wulian County National Hiking and Fitness Trail, known as “the longest and most beautiful in China.” Along the way, runners pass six natural scenic spots such as Songyue Lake and Mafu Mountain, as well as 15 cultural heritage sites including the ancient Tuoshi Gully Village, the Qi Great Wall ruins, and the Wutaiwei Ruins. All three events — the 42K individual race, the 21K individual race, and the mass fitness race — start from the Beishan Rural Residential Guesthouse in Dongjialou Village, Kouguan Town, Wulian County. The 42K individual race finishes at Mafu Mountain Campsite, a demonstration project of the hiking trail, while the 21K individual race concludes back at the guesthouse. Participants can not only improve their health and enjoy the experience but also immerse themselves in nature, with ever-changing landscapes along the route, fully experiencing the joy of mountain marathons and the thrill of sports while taking in the magnificent scenery of Wulian.

Third, the experience is richer. Wulian County has a long history, and its hospitable people have cultivated rich local folk culture. In addition to enjoying the picturesque scenery, athletes can watch traditional performances such as tai chi, drumming, and yangko dancing, and savor Wulian’s signature cuisine, giving competitors a full taste of the region’s serene landscapes and timeless folk traditions.

After intense competition, Guan Yousheng claimed victory in the men’s 42-kilometer individual mountain marathon with a time of 2:58:11, living up to expectations, while Zheng Wenrong won the women’s title with a time of 3:54:51.

▲ 42KM Men’s Division Award Ceremony

▲ 42KM Women’s Division Award Ceremony

Wulian County is named after the beautiful Wulian Mountain within its borders. The county boasts excellent mountains, waters, and air quality, with over 3,300 hills and peaks. It is home to the Wulian Mountain, a renowned Buddhist meditation site in northern China; Jiuxian Mountain, a mountain leisure and sports base; Daqing Mountain, famous for tai chi; Mafu Mountain, the highest peak in southeastern Shandong; and Heihu Mountain, known as the “Mulan Paddock.” The county’s forest coverage rate reaches 58.5%, all drinking water sources meet Class III or higher water quality standards, and there are four high-quality geothermal hot springs. The days with “blue skies, white clouds, and starry nights” exceed 300 per year. Wulian is recognized as one of China’s first national ecological demonstration zones, a national model county for afforestation, and a national model county for leisure agriculture and rural tourism.

▲ Runners Racing Freely

In recent years, Wulian County has actively practiced the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” deeply tapping into resources in tourism, sports, culture, and folk customs. It promotes the deep integration of tourism and sports, incorporates tourism into sporting events, and uses events to promote tourism, forging a path of multi-industry integrated development through strategies like “sports + tourism,” “movement + culture,” and “folklore + tourism.” The county has developed distinctive brand events such as the “International Tai Chi Competition,” the “24-Hour Outdoor Challenge,” and the “National Hiking and Fitness Trail League.” The hosting of this mountain marathon series in Wulian once again demonstrates the county’s strong commitment to implementing the tourism-driven development strategy and transforming ecological advantages into development momentum. Leveraging the national platform of the China Mountain Marathon Series, Wulian integrates fitness into its overall tourism offerings, shifting from sightseeing to sports, leisure, and participatory experiences. It also uses holistic tourism as a new vehicle for sports development, continuously enriching fitness activities and creating branded events. Through the integrated development of sports and tourism, Wulian is forming a new industrial chain and boosting the vitality of its county economy.

 

▲ Runners Taking Group Photos on the Course

Additionally, Wulian County will use the exemplary influence of the China Mountain Marathon Series to further promote the integration of national fitness and public health, encouraging residents to adopt healthy lifestyles and inspiring more people to join the fitness movement.