The 2019 China Longzhou–Vietnam Phuc Hoa Red Trail International Marathon Commemorating the 90th Anniversaries of the Baise Uprising and Longzhou Uprising & “Run, Guangxi!” Eco-Marathon Series (Longzhou Station) concluded successfully on November 17. Nearly a thousand runners gathered at the China–Vietnam border to embark on an international race filled with passion, bringing new vitality to the picturesque border town of Longzhou.
Photo: Runners crossing the national border, kicking off the cross-border marathon (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
Photo: Group photo of some participants during the run (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
This event was jointly organized by the All-China Sports Federation and the People’s Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and hosted by the Department of Sports of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the People’s Government of Chongzuo City, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, and Guangxi Radio and Television Station. It was co-organized by the Guangxi Social Sports Development Center, the Department of Culture and Tourism of Chongzuo City, the CPC Longzhou County Committee, the People’s Government of Longzhou County, and the People’s Committee of Phuc Hoa County, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, and operated by China Sports Industry Group Co., Ltd. and Beijing Zanborui Sports Development Co., Ltd. With the theme of China–Vietnam revolutionary friendship and the slogan “Cross-Border Scenery, A Red Trail Journey,” the race featured a brand-new course with 90% of the route set within Phuc Hoa County, Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, allowing participants to weave through Vietnamese urban streets and experience a unique “Red Trail” cross-border journey.
Photo: Champion lead group (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
The event attracted nearly a thousand participants from 17 provinces and cities in China — including Beijing, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Henan, Heilongjiang, Hubei, Hunan, Jilin, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Yunnan, and Guangxi — as well as from Vietnam. It also garnered attention from renowned runners in the industry, drawing multiple nationally registered high-level athletes to register. Additionally, the organizing committee invited five Olympic, World, and Asian Games champions — Tian Yumei, Tang Lingsheng, Qiu Le, Lao Yi, and Yan Jiankui — to serve as lead guests. The participation of these high-level athletes and sports champions enhanced the influence of the event.
Photo: Award ceremony for the top three male finishers in the half marathon (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
Photo: Award ceremony for the top three female finishers in the half marathon (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
In the end, Tie Liang from Ningxia won the men’s half marathon championship with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 9 seconds, while Deng Yufang from Guangxi claimed the women’s title with a time of 1 hour, 24 minutes, and 41 seconds. Additionally, a special “China–Vietnam Friendship Award” was set up for 40 participants in the 10 km category, with 23 Vietnamese runners receiving the honor.
Photo: Vietnamese students interacting closely with participants (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
Photo: Runners crossing the national border (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
The successful hosting of the event played a positive role in promoting friendly exchanges between China and Vietnam, and in advancing the integrated development of Longzhou’s “sports + culture + tourism.”
Close cooperation takes China–Vietnam partnership to new heights
Longzhou County and Phuc Hoa County in Vietnam are connected by mountains and rivers, share cultural similarities, and have similar customs, with the people on both sides enjoying profound traditional friendships. Since establishing their international friendship county relationship, the two counties have continuously expanded their areas of cooperation and elevated the level of collaboration. This event marked the second time Longzhou and Phuc Hoa jointly organized a large-scale cross-border sports event, serving as a joint exploration in promoting the integration of sports, culture, and tourism between China and Vietnam, and deepening local cooperation.
The success of the event was made possible through close cooperation and seamless coordination between China and Vietnam. Prior to the race, the course had to be temporarily adjusted due to onsite conditions, and the organizing committee responded quickly by formulating contingency plans. Longzhou County and Phuc Hoa County jointly formed a comprehensive support team comprising medical, volunteer, public security, and traffic police professionals, who worked closely together to ensure the smooth running of the event.
Photo: The marathon route passing by the bamboo forest temple in Tuo Long, Vietnam (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
2018 marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, which has shown positive momentum. In August of this year, the Department of Sports of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Vietnam Sports Administration signed a comprehensive cooperation memorandum, heralding a new “golden period” for China–Vietnam sports exchanges and cooperation. Seizing this major opportunity, guided by the “16-character guideline” and the “Four Good Spirits,” Longzhou aims to create China’s first internationally influential marathon brand between China and Vietnam. Continuing its collaboration with Phuc Hoa County, Vietnam, the event will be held year after year, making the China Longzhou–Vietnam Phuc Hoa Red Trail International Marathon a new bridge for mutual learning, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation between the two countries, as well as a sporting event that enhances the friendship between the peoples of China and Vietnam.
Looking ahead, setting a new benchmark for cross-border premium events
To provide runners with a high-quality, high-standard, and top-tier sports event experience, the organizing committee of this event prepared in accordance with the highest standards in terms of event organization, medical services, and atmosphere creation. Whether it was the course integrating China–Vietnam border scenery and cultural elements, the unique Tianqin performances at the start and finish lines, the enthusiastic interactions between Vietnamese students and runners along the Vietnam section, or the distinctive China–Vietnam supply stations — all were met with praise and acclaim from participants.
Photo: Friendly interactions between people of China and Vietnam through the event (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
Moving forward, building on the successful experience of this event, Longzhou will continue to optimize and upgrade the event brand, creating a well-structured, fully functional, and distinctive cross-border marathon product system. It will be developed into a benchmark for premium cross-border events, injecting new energy into the development of Longzhou’s sports industry, further driving the innovative growth of Longzhou’s “sports + culture + tourism,” and boosting the overall elevation of Longzhou’s city image and economy.
Empowering development, establishing a new city calling card for Longzhou
Currently, “running a marathon” while traveling has become a fashionable lifestyle, and marathons have undoubtedly become an important window for promoting a city’s image. In recent years, Longzhou has focused on its three major international tourism brands — “cross-border red heritage, world heritage of the Left River, and the mysterious Nonggang” — organically integrating leisure, culture, sports, health, and wellness elements into the creation of a Guangxi-wide all-for-one tourism demonstration zone, effectively enhancing the visibility of the county’s cultural tourism brand.
Photo: Unique Tianqin performance in Longzhou
Photo: Highlights of the marathon event (Photo provided by Running Vitamin)
This event utilized diverse communication formats such as TV broadcasts, online live streams, and photo news to showcase Longzhou’s urban charm to the public from multiple perspectives. It helped more travelers and sports enthusiasts get to know and fall in love with Longzhou, significantly boosting the city’s popularity and reputation. In the future, Longzhou will continue to leverage the China Longzhou–Vietnam Phuc Hoa Red Trail International Marathon, making full use of its geographical advantage of being connected to Vietnam by mountains and rivers. It will integrate its own strengths in beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and borderland charm, aligning with Phuc Hoa County’s cultural, ecological, and rural tourism resources to create an annual cross-border cultural, tourism, and sports extravaganza. Establishing Longzhou’s new cross-border sports tourism brand, the city will promote all-for-one tourism development through its “landscape card,” “sports card,” and “cross-border card,” letting the world know Longzhou and bringing Longzhou to the world.