On the afternoon of October 30, 2019, the Mountain Tourism and Sports Equipment Industry Expo, jointly organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guizhou Province, the Department of Sports of Guizhou Province, and the People's Government of Qianxinan Prefecture, and specifically hosted by the Qianxinan Prefecture Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau of Xingyi City, the Qianxinan Prefecture Sports Bureau, and the People's Government of Xingyi City, with the joint execution of Xingyi Wanfenglin Tourism Group Co., Ltd. and China National Geography・Didaifengwu, welcomed one of its key segments during the exhibition—the "Mountain Tourism and Sports Equipment Industry Development Forum." The forum grandly opened at the Basketball Gymnasium of Xingyi Sports Center, attracting over 300 domestic and international guests from government, industry, and business sectors, as well as on-site coverage by Guizhou Radio and Television Station, 《Fashion Travel》 magazine, 《Outdoor》 magazine, 《Guizhou Daily》, 《Guizhou Evening News》, Xinhua Net, Global Times, China Economic Net, Sina Sports, Sohu Travel, NetEase Travel, Colorful Guizhou Net, Yidao Sports, and other media outlets.
The 2019 International Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports Congress is the only national-level, international summit in China currently focused on mountain tourism, approved by the State Council. As a core highlight of the Mountain Tourism and Sports Equipment Industry Expo, the "Mountain Tourism and Sports Equipment Industry Development Forum" served as a platform for in-depth exchange and information sharing within the relevant industries, as well as a catalyst and accelerator connecting industry players with local resources—thus drawing significant attention and anticipation from both domestic and international mountain tourism sectors and outdoor brands. Guests attending the forum included: Xu Fenglun, Standing Committee Member of the Qianxinan Prefecture Committee and Secretary of the Xingyi Municipal Committee; Wang Liancheng, Political Commissar of the Xingyi Military Sub-district; Tian Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Xingyi Municipal Committee and Mayor of the People's Government; Jiang Shu’an, Director of the Xingyi Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee; Ban Tingyuan, Deputy Secretary of the Xingyi Municipal Committee and President of the Party School; Chen Jiang, Standing Committee Member of the Xingyi Municipal Committee and Deputy Mayor of the People's Government; Li Shuanke, President and Chief Editor of 《China National Geography》 Magazine; Zhu Dongfang, Vice President of IDG Asia; Zhang Li, Vice President of IDG China; Jin Doudou, Vice President of Xingzhi Exploration and Dean of the Xingzhi Exploration Experience Research Institute; Ma Li, President of the Urban Sports Work Promotion Committee of the China Enterprise Sports Association; Gao Yong, Founder and CEO of MAX Outdoor; International guests: renowned mountaineer Jon Otto (Zeng Shan), Jacob Storbakken from the National Speleological Society of America, and Richard James, Head Coach of the New Bee Racing Team; experts, scholars, and industry leaders in the outdoor tourism sector: Zhang Dexin, Founder of the China Tourism Entrepreneur Association; Shen Aimin, former member of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology and Council Member of the China Exploration Association; Zhang Liang, Vice President of the Shenzhen Mountaineering and Outdoor Sports Association; Wang Bing, leading figure in Chinese rafting; Huang Chunyan, Captain of the Guizhou Mount Everest Expedition Team and Guizhou’s first female mountaineer to summit Mount Everest; Chen Hui, China’s foremost slackliner; Li Zhaoyang, Council Member of the China Exploration Association and renowned extreme photographer; as well as representatives from well-known outdoor brands such as Toread, MobiGarden, Biancheng Sports Goods Co., Ltd., PELLIOT, and OSAH.
The forum attracted nearly 300 domestic and international guests from government, industry, and business sectors.
Xu Fenglun, Standing Committee Member of the Qianxinan Prefecture Committee and Secretary of the Xingyi Municipal Committee, delivered the opening speech. He provided a detailed introduction to the rich mountain tourism resources in Xingyi, Guizhou, and expressed his hope to leverage mountain tourism and outdoor sports to activate the area’s abundant tourism assets, promote the integrated development of the outdoor equipment industry and the local economy, and help more people discover Guizhou, appreciate its scenic beauty, fall in love with the outdoors, and enjoy outdoor activities. At the same time, he emphasized grasping the trends of international and Chinese tourism industry development, coordinating local tourism resources, landscapes, and cultural characteristics, rationally utilizing and protecting natural and cultural heritage, and ultimately fostering sustainable and harmonious development of the tourism industry and society.
Speech by Xu Fenglun, Standing Committee Member of the Qianxinan Prefecture Committee and Secretary of the Xingyi Municipal Committee
Next, Li Shuanke, President of 《China National Geography》 Magazine, delivered a speech titled "Guizhou: The World’s Mountain Park." President Li acknowledged the richness and advantages of Guizhou’s mountain sports resources. Comparing the development of outdoor sports in China, he stated, "As a form of human social activity, the spiritual essence of outdoor sports has transcended the activity itself, internalizing into a belief and pursuit within the human heart. The essence of competition is to maximally tap and unleash human potential in all aspects, continuously achieving self-breakthrough."
President Li’s speech provided valuable insights and references for the development of the local tourism industry. Grounded in the realities of Guizhou and adhering to a microscopic and pragmatic approach, he diagnosed the current state of Guizhou’s tourism economic development and offered concrete and actionable suggestions.
Li Shuanke, President of 《China National Geography》 Magazine, Delivers Keynote Speech
The forum drew attention from the international and domestic mountain tourism industry. Jon Otto (Zeng Shan), a renowned American mountaineer and founder of the Leading Climbing Mountaineering Training School, delivered an engaging keynote speech titled "The Beauty of Mountains—The Adventurous Gene Within Human DNA," offering a deeper understanding of the core appeal of mountaineering and outdoor sports. Only through profound understanding can genuine enthusiasm and momentum for advancing the outdoor industry be ignited, and it is this very enthusiasm that serves as the defining line for professionals in the outdoor sector.
Jon Otto (Zeng Shan), Renowned American Mountaineer and Founder of the Leading Climbing Mountaineering Training School, During His Speech
The forum adhered to the principles of scientific development and consistently focused on the iterative evolution of the outdoor market. At the event, Gao Yong, CEO of MAX Outdoor—an online sales representative of domestic outdoor gear—delivered a keynote speech titled "New Retail in Outdoor under New Scenarios." Comparing trends in domestic and international markets and incorporating the new characteristics of domestic outdoor consumers, he emphasized how to meet user needs in new scenarios and shared MAX Outdoor’s exploration in this regard. The speech resonated strongly with attending brand representatives and sparked lively discussion, signaling that the new retail trend integrating online and offline channels has quietly arrived.
Notably, the forum also marked the launch ceremony of the "MAX Exploration" Award on the same day. As a leading online seller of domestic outdoor gear, MAX Outdoor has long been attentive to the evolution of emerging forces in the domestic outdoor scene, courageously taking on the role of market and industry educator and promoter. It strives to gather top players and professional athletes to review achievements, encourage and recognize influential figures in the outdoor field who have excelled in various domains, showcase the strength of China’s outdoor community, and the "MAX Exploration" Award is an annual recognition established for this purpose.
The MAX Exploration Award Launch Ceremony Took Place That Day
The speeches of the three guests and the impressive MAX Exploration Award launch ceremony brought the forum to a small climax. Amidst warm applause, the thematic discussions of the forum commenced, further deepening the core topics. Moderated by Cai Yingyuan, Vice President of Toread, the thematic discussion featured Zhang Li, Vice President of IDG China; Jin Doudou, Vice President of Xingzhi Exploration; Ma Li, President of the Urban Sports Work Promotion Committee of the China Enterprise Sports Association; Bi Xiaoyi, Brand Director of Biancheng Sports Goods Co., Ltd.; and Jacob Storbakken, member of the National Speleological Society of America and cave exploration expert, as they explored the theme "Cross-sector Integration: How to Enhance Industry Vitality." The thematic discussion focused on tourism resources, industrial impact, and economic conditions, with emphasis on the integrated development of the outdoor industry and local resources, industry trends, and changes. In-depth discussions and active explorations aimed to identify pathways and draft development blueprints to boost the local economy, highlighting target models. A wealth of compelling topics and viewpoints emerged, with knowing smiles, resonant applause, and thoughtful expressions becoming the prevailing atmosphere throughout the venue.
Guests Discuss "Cross-sector Integration: How to Enhance Industry Vitality"
Times of change continually reshape people’s behaviors. New media, new retail, and new consumption have dramatically transformed lives, broadening perspectives and iteratively evolving preferences and choices. The format of the forum was no longer confined to a single time and space but extended into the boundless world of the internet, breaking the limitations of traditional exhibition forums and subverting conventional expo formats. The forum also proudly launched an online expo, which went live on October 25 via Max Outdoor and LifePlus, achieving remarkable results. The online expo format enabled comprehensive, real-time connectivity, directly bringing the event to the world, rapidly and extensively introducing Guizhou to global audiences, fostering affection for Guizhou, and focusing attention on Xingyi.
Group Photo of All Guests and Media
Clearly, the "Mountain Tourism and Sports Equipment Industry Development Forum" was a professional international forum that organically integrated global and domestic perspectives, as well as macro and micro insights. It was also a high-level, in-depth exploratory conference that will have a sustained, positive impact on propelling Guizhou’s tourism industry toward new heights and further elevating its development. Additionally, the forum served as a platform to showcase phased development achievements, where numerous industry projects completed cooperation signings and expressed intent to collaborate, demonstrating tangible outcomes and potential for local economic growth. This energized the local population and painted a bright future with promising prospects. Guizhou, once seen by agricultural civilizations as land without three flat feet, is now actively leveraging its unique landscape of "forests of peaks nowhere flat," making "the world’s most beautiful scenery gathered in Guizhou" a true geographical advantage—benefiting locals and welcoming guests from around the globe.