China Fitness Mountains Mountaineering Race Heads to Chongqing’s Jinfo Mountain for the Fifth Time — Sports-Tourism Integration Promotes Development
On June 29, the 2019 China Fitness Mountains · 7th Jinfo Mountain Mountaineering Race and the Launch Ceremony of the Jinfo Mountain Outdoor Sports Season, jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the Chinese National Scenic Areas Association, and hosted by the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau, Chongqing Municipal Culture and Tourism Commission, the People’s Government of Nanchuan District in Chongqing, and Chongqing Tourism Investment Group, with co-organization by the Nanchuan District Culture and Tourism Commission (Sports Bureau), the Jinfo Mountain Management Committee of Nanchuan District, and Chongqing Shanshui Urban Tourism Development Co., Ltd., and exclusively operated by Shizhi Sports, was held at the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area in Nanchuan District, Chongqing. Now in its seventh consecutive year, the event is gradually becoming one of the most influential mountaineering brand competitions in China.
On the morning of the 29th, over 2,100 mountaineering and fitness enthusiasts from across the country and dozens of international tourists gathered to take part in this grand sports-tourism event for all. Upon the announcement of the race, it quickly garnered attention from runners, media, and the general public, further fueling the fervor of national fitness.
It is understood that the China Fitness Mountains Mountaineering Race (hereinafter referred to as the China Mountains Race) is a national-level competition jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the Chinese National Scenic Areas Association and exclusively operated by Shizhi Sports. It pioneered outdoor mountaineering events in China’s scenic areas and has been held annually at famous peaks across the country, with nearly 40 events taking place in seven years.
According to staff from the organizing committee of the China Mountains Race, the Jinfo Mountain event featured three categories: Speed Group, Family Double Group, and Fitness Group. The Speed Group race covered a distance of approximately 15 kilometers, with the route running from the West Gate of the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area to Qianniuping. The course had steep slopes and was highly challenging. This year’s Speed Group attracted top-tier athletes, including well-known domestic runners such as Wang Tao, He Fujun, Wang Guolong, and Zheng Wenrong. Both the level of competition and intensity were exceptionally high. In the end, Wang Tao from Gansu and Zheng Wenrong from Yunnan won first place in the men’s and women’s Speed Groups, respectively.
Unlike the competitive nature of the Speed Group, the Family Group and Fitness Group focused on promoting national fitness and leisure recreation. The courses for these groups spanned about 7 kilometers, and along the way participants could engage in various cultural experiences and interactive activities such as “Treasure Hunt” and “Taste Local Cuisine.” These activities combined fitness with cultural immersion, integrating the natural landscapes and historical heritage of the scenic area to offer participants a unique “sports + culture + tourism” experience. Athletes encouraged and assisted each other while scaling the heights, filling the route with laughter and joy. By around 12 noon, the entire event concluded successfully.
The smooth execution of this event was inseparable from the strong support of Tian’an Life Insurance. As a renowned enterprise in the insurance industry, Tian’an Life places great emphasis on social responsibility and is dedicated to public welfare. At the awards ceremony, Tian’an Life, in collaboration with the organizing committee of the China Mountains Race, donated care packages to Dingjiazui Primary School in Nanchuan District, Chongqing. These packages included school supplies and sports equipment, contributing directly to the education of students in mountainous regions. Through their philanthropic actions, they also called on more caring individuals in society to pay attention to and support the educational needs of these students.
In 2019, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the China Mountains Race joined hands with Jinfo Mountain to promote the concept of a “Healthy China,” continuing to advocate for national fitness, effectively advancing healthier lifestyles among the people, and spreading positive social energy. Over a thousand participants ascended Jinfo Mountain to pray for blessings, celebrating the growing prosperity of the nation, and demonstrated through their actions the vibrant development of China’s sports industry, presenting a heartfelt tribute to the nation’s seventieth anniversary.
It is reported that this marks the fifth time Jinfo Mountain has hosted the China Mountains Race. The ability to repeatedly stage such a high-caliber national outdoor event is inseparable from its outstanding ecological environment and the premium competition experience it offers. Boasting titles and honors such as “UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site,” “National 5A-Level Tourist Attraction,” and “National Science Education Base,” Jinfo Mountain has become one of China’s premier natural and cultural tourism destinations. Its host region, Nanchuan District in Chongqing, was among the first cities selected in the second season of the “Charming China Cities” program, rich in cultural heritage.
Every summer, the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area is covered in lush greenery, with its magnificent scenery and oxygen-rich recreational environment allowing all visitors to relax both physically and mentally. From July to September this year, Jinfo Mountain will launch the “Magical Summer” Camping Season under the theme “World Heritage Beauty at Jinfo Mountain, Summer Tourism in Nanchuan.” The event will feature a rich variety of activities, including summer leisure, gourmet experiences, outdoor adventures, jungle trekking, fishing competitions, cave exploration, and fun orienteering, offering visitors a uniquely fantastical experience.
In recent years, with the establishment of “National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day,” the partnership between the China Mountains Race and the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area has taken on even greater significance. The event will continue to provide athletes with opportunities to hike and compete within a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Leveraging the influence of the race, it promotes the achievements of China’s cultural and natural heritage endeavors, advances the protection of ecological environments and historical culture, raises and strengthens public awareness and participation in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, encourages more individuals to join in environmental and cultural conservation efforts, supports the sustainable development of scenic areas, and carries forward the value and essence of China’s natural heritage.
(Text: Zhang Wei & Dong Jiawen, Nanchuan District Sports Bureau)