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, Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau, 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 Lichuan Municipal 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., and executed by Lichuan Longchuan Diao Film & Media Co., Ltd. and Enshi Starry Sky Cultural Media Co., Ltd. Lichuan Branch, and sponsored by Hubei Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd., was held in the cool city of Lichuan.

The 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 across China, all gathering in Lichuan to share in this sporting extravaganza.

At 8:30 am, the race 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, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhu Silin, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of 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 District Chief of Xinzhou District People’s Government of Wuhan City; Wang Kundei, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Enshi Prefectural Culture and Tourism Bureau; Tang Lin, Olympic women’s judo champion; and 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, judges, athletes, volunteers, and members of the press.

Distinguished 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 ceremony, stating: “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 faraway places!”

Luo Qiyi, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau, gave the closing opening remarks, saying: “As a modern sport that combines athleticism with nature, the mountain marathon inspires outdoor sports enthusiasts to step into nature’s gallery, sweat through challenges, and enjoy the thrill and joy of competition. It serves as an important vehicle for elevating sports quality, promoting ecological civilization, and flourishing 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’ delight along the lush, vibrant, and picturesque course.”

Luo Qiyi, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of 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, sounded the starting horn for the race. Tang Lin, Olympic women’s judo champion, and other guests joined as pacers. Over 4,000 energetic athletes followed the pacers and dashed into the breathtaking landscapes of Lichuan, kicking off the fierce competition of this mountain marathon.

Dignitaries sound the starting horn for the race

Tang Lin, Olympic women’s judo champion, and other guests serve as pacers

Athletes start running

The starting point of the race was set at the Baique Mountain Eco-Park Homestay Resort Plaza. The starting and finishing points for the mass fitness race were the same, while the finish line for the 42km individual race was at the Tianlong Cave Scenic Area. Both courses circled the Tianlong Cave Scenic Spot, connecting Lichuan’s unique natural elements such as mountains, water, caves, and forests. Runners raced through lush, natural oxygen bars—climbing peculiar peaks, descending into serene valleys, passing through karst caves, traversing forests, admiring steep 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 Municipality and Yin Shunjin from Hubei Province took the 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 No. 1 Mountain Marathon City” and “Home 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 initiative, 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 hosted more than 2.5 million visitors, generating a comprehensive income of over 800 million yuan, directly creating over 6,000 jobs and indirectly employing more than 30,000 farmers. This has significantly boosted the development of planting, breeding, and service industries, transforming village appearances.

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