The 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – Hubei Communications Investment Cup Lichuan Station (International Race) was successfully held ...

On June 2, the 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series – “Hubei Communications Investment Cup” Lichuan Station (International Race), jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau, the Hubei Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission, and the People’s Government of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, hosted by the Enshi Municipal and Prefectural Culture and Tourism Bureaus and the People’s Government of Lichuan City, exclusively operated by Beijing Nantianxing Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd., with media promotion by Paonar Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., executed by Lichuan Longchuan Diao Film and Television Media Co., Ltd. and Enshi Starry Sky Culture Media Co., Ltd. Lichuan Branch, and sponsored by Hubei Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd., was held in the cool city of Lichuan.

This event featured two categories: a 42km individual mountain marathon and a mass fitness race, attracting over 4,000 mountain marathon enthusiasts from 13 countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Kenya, Ethiopia, Denmark, Switzerland, and Portugal, as well as from across China, all gathering in Lichuan to share this major sports event.

At 8:30 am, the competition officially commenced with a grand opening ceremony at Baique Mountain Square. Attendees included Li Zhixin, Director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Zhang Junhao, Deputy Director of the Research Office of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission; Luo Qiyi, Party Group Member and Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhu Silin, Party Group Member and Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Ethnic and Religious Affairs Commission; Sha Yushan, Standing Committee Member of the Enshi Prefectural Committee and Secretary of the Lichuan Municipal Committee; Yang Shengcai, Standing Committee Member of the Enshi Prefectural Committee and Deputy Governor of the Enshi Prefectural People’s Government; Li Wenmao, Head of the New Projects Department of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Zhang Tao, Deputy Secretary of the Lichuan Municipal Committee and Mayor of the Lichuan Municipal People’s Government; Zhang Zaiqiang, Deputy Governor of the Xinzhou District People’s Government of Wuhan City; Wang Kundei, Party Group Secretary of the Enshi Prefectural Culture and Tourism Bureau; Tang Lin, Olympic women’s judo champion; Guo Zihui, General Manager of Beijing Nantianxing Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd., among other distinguished guests. Also present were leaders and guests from national, provincial, prefectural, municipal, and county levels, representatives from various business associations and entrepreneurs, as well as members of the mountain marathon organizing committee, referees, athletes, volunteers, and members of the press.

Leaders and guests from all walks of life across the country attended the opening ceremony.

Sha Yushan, Standing Committee Member of the Enshi Prefectural Committee and Secretary of the Lichuan Municipal Committee, delivered a welcome speech at the opening ceremony. He stated: “Lichuan has hosted the China Mountain Marathon Series for four consecutive editions. The scale of the event has expanded year by year, its influence continues to grow, and its status has been elevated from a ‘domestic race’ to an ‘international race.’ ‘Mountain Sports + Homestay Tourism’ has become Lichuan’s brightest city calling card. We sincerely invite everyone, after the race, to enjoy the landscapes of the Tujia and Miao people, savor Lichuan’s black tea, and take the beauty of Lichuan back to your hometowns and to distant places!”

Luo Qiyi, Party Group Member and Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau, gave the closing opening speech. He said: “As a modern sport that combines nature and physical activity, the mountain marathon inspires outdoor sports enthusiasts to step into nature’s gallery, sweat through the challenge, and enjoy the thrill and joy. It serves as an important platform to elevate the quality of sports, promote ecological civilization, and boost sports tourism. In Lichuan, known as the ‘First City of Mountain Marathons,’ we believe all participants will create wonderful memories and experience the ‘oxygen-rich’ joy on the lush, vibrant, and picturesque course.”

Luo Qiyi, Party Group Member and Deputy Director of the Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau, delivers the opening speech

Sha Yushan, Standing Committee Member of the Enshi Prefectural Committee and Secretary of the Lichuan Municipal Committee, delivers the welcome speech

At 9:00 am, Li Zhixin, Director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China and Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association, along with other dignitaries, signaled the start of the race with a whistle. Tang Lin, Olympic women’s judo champion, and other guests participated in the leading run. Over 4,000 energetic athletes followed the leading guests and dashed into the stunning landscapes of Lichuan, commencing the fierce competition of this mountain marathon.

Dignitaries signal the start of the race with a whistle

Tang Lin, Olympic women’s judo champion, and other guests participate in the leading run

Athletes start running

The starting point of the race was set at the Baique Mountain Eco-Resort Homestay Village Plaza, with the start and finish of the mass fitness race at the same location. The finish line of the 42km individual race was at the Tenglong Cave Scenic Area. Both race courses encircle the Tenglong Cave Scenic Area, connecting Lichuan’s unique natural elements such as mountains, water, caves, and forests. Runners traversed lush, natural oxygen bars—climbing peaks, descending valleys, passing through karst caves, crossing forests, admiring cliffs, and viewing waterfalls—fully experiencing the charm of Lichuan.

After intense competition, Luo Tao from Guizhou Province won the men’s championship in the 42km individual race with a time of 3:10:13; Li Bo from Chongqing and Yin Shunjin from Hubei Province took second and third places, respectively.

Zheng Wenrong from Yunnan Province claimed the women’s championship in the 42km individual race with a time of 4:05:11; Yang Guangmei from Guizhou Province and TSERENDORJ SANJIDMAA from Mongolia secured the second and third places, respectively.

In recent years, under the guidance of the three major goals set by the Enshi Prefectural Committee and Government—“creating a national all-for-one tourism demonstration zone, building a 100-billion-yuan eco-cultural tourism industry cluster, and establishing an international tourism destination”—Lichuan has seized opportunities and promoted the integrated development of the ‘wellness industry’ and ‘all-for-one tourism.’ Especially under the careful guidance of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Mountaineering Association, and the provincial sports bureau, Lichuan has hosted the China Mountain Marathon Series annually since 2016, earning the titles “China’s First City of Mountain Marathons” and “Hometown of China’s Mountain Marathons.” The concept of “Mountain Sports + Homestay Tourism” is thriving.

Cool City Mountain Marathon, Rural Revitalization. Lichuan has comprehensively launched the “Ten Villages, Hundred Enterprises, Ten Thousand Households” rural homestay construction project, using tourism to extend the “income chain” for farmers. In just three years, the homestay industry has spread to over 80 villages, involving nearly 1,500 operating households. In 2018, rural homestays received over 2.5 million visitors, generating a comprehensive income of more than 800 million yuan, directly providing over 6,000 jobs, and indirectly creating employment for over 30,000 farmers. This has significantly boosted the development of planting, breeding, and service industries while transforming village appearances.

Lichuan Station is the fourth leg of the 2019 China Mountain Marathon Series. Subsequent races will be held at Wulian Station in Shandong (Sep. 1), Mashan Station in Guangxi (Oct. 20), Conghua Station in Guangzhou (Nov. 3), Zhangzhou Port Station in Fujian (Nov. 10), Xinzhou Station in Wuhan (Nov. 17), and Qianjiang Station in Chongqing (Dec. 1). We look forward to the participation of all mountain marathon enthusiasts.