Zhang Bo, Vice Mayor of Weihai; Song Linji, Deputy Secretary-General of the Weihai Municipal People’s Government; Zhang Lingxiang, Director of the Weihai Municipal Sports Bureau; Yu Jianhua, Deputy Director of the Weihai Municipal Sports Bureau; Yang Liqiang, Chairman of the Weihai Mountaineering Association and Chairman of Shandong Yiren Group, among others, attended the launch ceremony of the event. A total of over 1,100 outdoor enthusiasts from various sectors of society registered to participate in this pole walking event. They came from different companies and outdoor clubs – including nine-to-five office workers, elderly with silver hair, and innocent children. Though so different, they are also so alike: all drawn here by their love for the outdoors and passion for sports. Here, they enjoyed the strength and joy brought by hiking.
Yang Liqiang, Chairman of the Weihai Mountaineering Association, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony
Zhang Bo, Vice Mayor of Weihai, fires the starting gun to commence the opening ceremony
Different from previous years’ events, this edition featured two courses: a 10-kilometer group and a 25-kilometer group, allowing participants to choose freely based on their physical condition and athletic ability. The 10-kilometer route started from Weihai Municipal Government Square, passing through Tongyi Road, Gongsongling Road, Yuanyaodun Road, Gumo Ridge Fitness Trail, Gongsongling, Juhuading Road, and back to Weihai Municipal Government Square. The 25-kilometer group started from Weihai Municipal Government Square, going via Tongyi Road, Gongsongling Road, Yuanyaodun Road, Binhai Road, Binhai Road Auxiliary Line, Binhai Road, Dongshan Road, and returning to Weihai Municipal Government Square. Special thanks go to the Weihai traffic police for managing traffic along the route, and to the Weihai Blue Sky Rescue Team for ensuring safety and providing rescue services to all participants. Today, Weihai experienced a significant drop in temperature, with strong winds along the coast, but all participants persevered with determination to complete the full course.
