On November 24, the 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – Qianjiang, Chongqing Station (International Race) & Annual Finals was held in Qianjiang District, Chongqing. The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Qianjiang District, Chongqing, and hosted by the Qianjiang District Culture and Tourism Development Committee of Chongqing. It was exclusively operated by Beijing Nantianxing Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd.
▲Start point of the 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – Qianjiang, Chongqing Station
This marked the third time Qianjiang District has hosted the event, following successful editions in 2017 and 2018. Themed “Civilize the Spirit, Strengthen the Body,” the race attracted over 3,000 participants from 11 countries — including Ethiopia, Mongolia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Canada, Belgium, and Pakistan — as well as from across China. Competitors took part in three categories: the 42 km individual race, the 23 km individual race, and the mass fitness race.
▲Starting gun fires to begin the race
“The Most Beautiful Mountain Marathon Course in China” — Igniting Passion in the “Mysterious Balahu”
At 8:30 AM, the opening ceremony was held at Lotus Square in the Balahu Scenic Area. The choice of the Balahu Scenic Area as the starting point not only represents the symbolic image of Qianjiang, Chongqing, but also serves as a launchpad from this “city of canyons” — shaped by gorges and caves — to gather all its beauty, mystery, and cultural richness. The mountain marathon weaves these elements into a cohesive, personified, and tangible experience.
▲Opening ceremony
Attending the opening ceremony were Wang Yongfeng, Deputy Director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Yao Denghui, Standing Committee Member of the Qianjiang District Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department; Chen Yulin, Party Group Member and Deputy Inspector of the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau; Wang Zengxun, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Development Committee; Li Wenmao, Head of the New Projects Department of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Liu Guigen, Standing Committee Member and Deputy District Chief of the Qianjiang District Committee; Qian Hong, Olympic swimming champion; Yang Hongying, Standing Committee Member of the Qianjiang District People’s Congress; Tang Hongfang, Deputy District Chief of the Qianjiang District People’s Government; Liu Yuanshou, Standing Committee Member of the Qianjiang District Political Consultative Conference; and Guo Zihui, General Manager of Beijing Nantianxing Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd. — among other leaders from national sports authorities and municipal departments. Yao Denghui, Standing Committee Member and Head of the United Front Work Department of the Qianjiang District Committee, delivered a welcome speech, while Tang Hongfang, Deputy District Chief of the Qianjiang District People’s Government, presided over the ceremony. Also present were guests from other provinces and cities, members of the mountain marathon organizing committee, judges, athletes, and friends from the press.
▲Leaders and guests lead the race
At 9:00 AM, the race officially commenced. Wang Yongfeng, Deputy Director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association, along with Olympic swimming champion Qian Hong, served as pacers. Over 3,000 energetic participants followed the pacers, running along the “Most Beautiful Mountain Marathon Course in China” — traversing Asia’s premier canyon, the Balahu Scenic Area; the Apeng River “both banks” rural tourism and leisure agriculture demonstration zone; the romantic wedding garden; vibrant flower fields; the thousand-year-old Zhuoshui Ancient Town; and the “World’s No.1 Wind and Rain Corridor Bridge.” Whether heading uphill into the mountains or following the waterways, runners passed through three 4A-level scenic spots and two developing 5A-level scenic areas. The course offered constantly changing scenery — picturesque and refreshing — allowing athletes to enjoy not only scenes of small bridges over flowing streams and quaint homes, but also corridor bridges, ancient towns, Tujia culture, the rugged beauty of the urban canyons, the elegant charm of the Apeng River, the mystical Pu Hua Underground River, the grandeur of the Wind and Rain Corridor Bridge, and the profound history of Zhuoshui Ancient Town.
▲Audience cheers on the athletes
Running Uphill, Toward the Mountains
— Where “Marathon Spirit” Meets “Qianjiang Spirit” in a Spectacular Display
▲Runners speeding through the mountains
It is reported that this year’s course retained the routes from the previous two editions, featuring diverse terrains such as dirt paths, farmland roads, stone-paved paths, highways, riverbanks, and bridges. Starting from a canyon with a vertical drop of 500 meters, runners climbed hills and headed upward.
▲Runners making their way through the mountains
The 42 km individual race course featured a total elevation gain of over 1,000 meters. Based on the physiological principles of long-distance running, the main climbing sections were divided into four stages: 3 km–5 km, 8 km–10 km, 29.3 km–30.4 km, and 34.3 km–36.7 km. The finish line of the 42 km individual race is located in the developing Zhuoshui 5A-level scenic area, which consists of the existing 4A-level Zhuoshui Ancient Town, the Pu Hua River Leisure Agriculture Experience Park, and the 4A-level Pu Hua Underground River. The area boasts rich tourism resources, where the Pu Hua Underground River, natural bridges, sinkholes, intermittent springs, the leisure agriculture park, and the ancient town streets all come together. Scenic spots such as the “World’s No.1 Wind and Rain Corridor Bridge,” “Heaven Has Eyes,” and “Heaven’s Justice” are widely renowned for their breathtaking beauty.
▲Runners making their way through the mountains
The 23 km individual race course had a total elevation gain of over 600 meters. Its finish line is at Alice Manor, a national 4A-level tourist attraction located within the tourism loop of the Apeng River, Balahu Scenic Area, and Zhuoshui Scenic Area — a shining gem on the Apeng River “both banks” leisure agriculture and rural tourism demonstration belt. The park is themed around “love,” featuring Dutch windmills, Mediterranean-style architecture, luxury yachts, the Eiffel Tower, and seasonal flower fields, all blending the culture of love into exquisitely crafted life scenes and integrated cultural-tourism experiences.
▲Runners making their way through the mountains
“Running Toward the Mountains” is also “Running Upward.” The tiered ascent design of the course fully embodies the distinctive characteristics of mountain outdoor sports and the marathon spirit, encapsulating the Qianjiang spirit of “preferring hard work over suffering.” Throughout the race, athletes demonstrated high morale and passion, showcasing perseverance and tenacity. Together with the spirit of Qianjiang, the city’s image, and the landscape of Wuling, they formed a unique and inspiring sight. In recent years, the Qianjiang District Committee and District Government have united and led the district’s 560,000 residents of all ethnicities to advance the new era of the “Qianjiang Spirit.” They have deepened its core values of “self-reliance and hard struggle,” ignited the motivation for poverty alleviation through “all-out efforts and full engagement,” solidified the path to prosperity via “stable poverty relief and sustained income growth,” and reinforced the vision of a well-off society where “no one is left behind, no household is forgotten.” This uplifting spirit was manifested in the enthusiastic crowds lining the course, the thoughtful services provided by volunteers cheering on the athletes, the presence of professional medical and emergency rescue teams offering full-course care, and emergency personnel running alongside the athletes in relay to ensure the safety of every participant.
Top 3 Men in the 42 km Individual Race
In the end, Luo Tao from Guizhou won the championship of the 42 km individual race men’s category with a time of 2:48:38; Guan Yousheng from Guizhou and He Fujun from Gansu took second and third place, respectively.
Top 3 Women in the 42 km Individual Race
Zheng Wenrong from Yunnan claimed the women’s championship in the 42 km individual race with a time of 3:21:02; KHALIUNAA BYAMBAA from Mongolia and Yang Hua from Guizhou secured second and third places, respectively.
Top 3 Men in the 23 km Individual Race
Zhao Guohu from Zhejiang won the men’s championship in the 23 km individual race with a time of 1:30:52; TAMIRU ABERA METAFERIYA from Ethiopia and Huang Yinbin from Qinghai took second and third places, respectively.
Top 3 Women in the 23 km Individual Race
Zhou Lili from Guizhou won the women's championship in the 23km individual race with a time of 1:51:29; SANJIDMAA TSERENDORJ from Mongolia and Tang Jingyan from Sichuan took second and third place in the women's 23km individual race, respectively.
The total prize money for this event was 280,000 RMB. Of this, 180,000 RMB was for the series (international) races, and 100,000 RMB for the annual finals. Awards were given to the top 20 male and female finishers in both the 42km and 23km individual races.
Top 3 Men in Annual Points
Luo Tao finished first in the men's category of the annual finals with a total of 780 points. Cao Pengfei from Anhui Province came in second with 667.5 points, and Wang Zhihu from Guizhou Province ranked third with 551.5 points.
Top 3 Women in Annual Points
Zheng Wenrong claimed first place in the women's category of the annual finals with 870 points. Yang Guangmei from Guizhou Province ranked second with 560 points, and Yao Yuzhou from Anhui Province came in third with 510 points.
Luo Tao’s Proposal Success
The track of the China Mountain Marathon Series Chongqing Qianjiang Station not only witnessed the athletes crossing the finish line but also their love stories. After crossing the finish line, Luo Tao from Zunyi, Guizhou, dropped to one knee and proposed to his fiancée who was waiting for him at the end—leaving everyone in awe. Not only did Luo Tao win the men's 42km championship at this station, but he also topped the annual men’s points rankings. On the final race of the year, the double champion chose to let the people of Qianjiang and fellow participants witness the most special moment of his life. Let’s all send them our heartfelt congratulations.
Integration of Sports, Culture, and Tourism
— "Passion Mountain Marathon" Lights Up "Beautiful Qianjiang"
At 7 PM that evening, the closing ceremony of the race was held simultaneously with the "Passionate Mountain Marathon · Beautiful Qianjiang" night gala at Qianjiang Stadium. Wang Yongfeng announced the closing of the event. Athletes fully immersed themselves in the unique ethnic culture of Qianjiang through traditional mountain songs and hand-waving dances. In addition to the professional competitions, the organizers also held the "Running Through the Wilderness · Capturing the Moment" Mountain Marathon Photography Contest to promote the spirit of the marathon and Qianjiang, as well as to spread the culture and tourism of the area. During their stay in Qianjiang, participants could also explore the Tujia Thirteen Villages of Xiao Nanhai, experience bonfire parties, sing mountain songs, and join in hand-waving dances. They could also try traditional crafts such as Shiji Tuo pottery, Xilan Kapu, and Tujia batik, and sample local Tujia specialties like Qianjiang chicken offal, green vegetable beef, mung bean noodles, ma dagun (sesame rice rolls), and pigeon tofu.
▲ Qianjiang Chicken Offal
▲ Wuling Mountain Delicacies
▲ Rice Tofu
It is understood that Qianjiang is designated by the state and municipality as a central city in the Chengdu-Chongqing urban cluster and southeastern Chongqing. It holds city brands such as National Health District, “Green China · Outstanding Green Ecological City,” “China’s Fresh and Cool Canyon City,” “China’s Forest Oxygen Bar,” and “China’s Most Charming Livable, Business-Friendly, and Tourist-Friendly City.” It is a vibrant economic growth pole in the southeastern Chongqing Wuling Mountain urban cluster with great development potential and investment appeal. In recent years, the municipal Party committee and government have promoted the development of all-for-one tourism. Qianjiang District has adhered to the philosophy that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” vigorously developed “all-for-one tourism,” advanced the construction of “Panoramic Qianjiang,” and made the integrated development of sports, culture, and tourism an inherent strength.
▲ Apeng River
▲ Puhua Hidden River
By using the “Mountain Marathon” as a platform, and leveraging “mountain sports” as a driving force, efforts have been accelerated to establish the Zhuoshui Scenic Area as a 5A-level attraction, and construction has begun on the Balahu National 5A-level Tourist Attraction. Rural tourism has been vigorously developed, and in partnership with CITIC Group, a 20-billion-RMB investment has been initiated to build the Santanggai International Health and Leisure Tourism Resort. This has formed an all-for-one scenic area array of “2 5A-levels + 10 4A-levels,” continuously promoting tourism brands such as “Highland Wellness,” “Summer Retreat,” “Geological Wonders,” and “Science Education.” A development pattern integrating “sports, culture, agriculture, and tourism” has emerged, further amplifying the “Mysterious Balahu, Charming Apeng River – Fresh Qianjiang” tourism brand. This highlights Qianjiang’s prominence and distinct identity within the Greater Wuling International Tourism Destination, showcasing Qianjiang’s charm within Chongqing’s identity as the “City of Mountains and Waters, Land of Beauty,” and adding Qianjiang’s color to the phrase “Vast in Scale, Grand in Vision.”
More Highlights
▲ Luo Tao at the Finish Line
▲ Zheng Wenrong at the Finish Line
▲ Foreign Participants
▲ Athletes Stretching Before the Race
▲ Runners on the Mountain Trails
▲ High-Fiving the Audience
▲ Lively Opening Ceremony
▲ Medical Personnel Ensuring Athlete Safety
▲ Special Police Maintaining Order on the Course
▲ Runners Crossing the Bridge