The First National Forest Extreme Sports Forum Opens to Explore Ways to Revitalize Rural Areas through Sports

Recently, the Second Promotion Meeting for the Construction of Zhejiang’s Sports and Leisure Towns, themed on Revitalizing Rural Areas through Sports, and the First National Forest Extreme Sports Forum at Lingjiu Mountain opened in Kecheng District, Quzhou City. Distinguished guests in attendance included Li Zhengmei, former director of the Aviation Sports Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, current vice-chairman of the Chinese Aeronautical Sports Federation and the Chinese Orienteering Association; Han Jiling, secretary-general of the Chinese Extreme Sports Association; Wu Hong, head of the Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Bureau and chairman of the Zhejiang Society of Forestry; Li Hua, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Bureau; Lü Yuelong, vice-mayor of Quzhou City; Jiang Jiancheng, head of the Sports Economics Department of the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Bureau; Xu Lishui, secretary of the Kecheng District Committee; Fang Qingjian, deputy secretary and district chief of the Kecheng District Committee; Yao Limin, standing committee member and deputy district chief of the Kecheng District Committee; Liu Min, standing committee member and deputy district chief of the Kecheng District Committee; Bao Mingxiao, director of the Academic Committee of the Sports Industry Development Research Center at Tsinghua University; He Wenyi, deputy director of the National Sports Industry Research Base at Peking University; Zhang Lin, head of the Sports Management Department and professor at Shanghai University of Sport, as well as doctoral supervisor; Tan Jianxiang, deputy director of the Key Research Base of Sports Social Sciences of the General Administration of Sport of China; Jiang Yinhuo, chairman of Beijing Heyi Sports; Song Jianhua, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Group Special Committee; and Liu Xiang, chief brand officer of Peak Sports Industry Group. These heavyweight guests shared forward-looking industry insights and experiences at the forum.

In his welcome speech, Xu Lishui, secretary of the Kecheng District Committee, mentioned: “With the original aspiration and mission of ‘revitalizing rural areas through sports and empowering cities through sports,’ we are seizing the historical opportunities of the consumption upgrade era and the high-speed rail era. We are actively practicing the theory of transforming ‘Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’ and the strategies of rural revitalization and Healthy China. Centered around the construction of Lingjiu Mountain · National Forest Sports Town, we are striving to establish the first national rural sports park in China, aiming to create an innovative and exemplary zone for the integrated development of rural revitalization, culture, tourism, and sports, and to accelerate the growth of the beautiful economy and happiness industry.”

Lü Yuelong, vice-mayor of Quzhou City, stated: “The cultivation and integrated development of the forest extreme sports industry is not only an academic gathering akin to a ‘Lingjiu Mountain martial arts conference,’ but also an intellectual feast that opens a new chapter for the sports industry in Quzhou. We will fully support the continuous and vigorous development of this sport in Quzhou, promote the forest extreme sports industry to a new stage, and continuously inject new connotations and vitality into the construction of Quzhou’s Grand Garden.”

Li Hua, deputy director of the Zhejiang Provincial Sports Bureau, said at the forum: “Forest extreme sports is a key new concept released at this forum. It is a bold attempt to integrate sports with rural elements, an active exploration and practice of using sports to activate rural resources and strengthen rural industries, and an important engine for the economic transformation of rural areas, a vital source of rural vitality, and a significant medium for the governance of rural civilization.”

The Mascot of Lingjiu Mountain · National Forest Sports Town Debuts – “Ju Xiaomang” and the Green Dumpling Family Represent the Town

The design of Ju Xiaomang draws inspiration from the combination of the “Spring God Ju Mang” and the “Lingjiu (Vulture).” In November 2016, the “24 Solar Terms” represented by the JiuHua Lichun Festival in Kecheng District, Quzhou, were officially inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, becoming a world-class calling card for Kecheng District. Ju Xiaomang incorporates features of the “vulture” to enhance the brand recognition of Lingjiu Mountain. While promoting the spirit of sports, Lingjiu Mountain · National Forest Sports Town aims to help more young people understand and inherit history.

God of Spring, Spirit of the Forest. Embodying the natural traits of nature, agility, optimism, and kindness.

Showcasing the joyful, fun, and positive sports spirit brought by Lingjiu Mountain · National Forest Sports Town.

The Green Dumpling Family evolved from the spring planting in the hands of the Spring God Ju Mang, representing teamwork, collaboration, and mutual assistance in forest extreme sports.

Forest Extreme Sports Settles in Kecheng, Forest Extreme Sports Standards Released

As one of the first sports characteristic towns designated by the General Administration of Sport of China and the only forest sports town among them, Lingjiu Mountain · National Forest Sports Town has made significant progress in its construction over the past two years. The development of distinctive events such as the First Zhejiang Forest Sports Games and the Auto Jungle Crossing Competition, as well as the implementation of major sports projects like China Auto Sports City and Quzhou Ordovician Park, have laid the foundation and outlined the blueprint for the future development of the forest sports town.

Forest extreme sports is a key new concept released at this forum. It is a bold attempt to integrate sports with rural elements, an active exploration and practice of using sports to activate rural resources and strengthen rural industries, and an important engine for the economic transformation of rural areas, a vital source of rural vitality, and a significant medium for the governance of rural civilization.

During the forum, the Forest Extreme Sports Committee was established and unveiled on-site, and the draft of the “Forest Extreme Sports Standards” was released. According to the standards, forest extreme sports specifically refer to a group of collective activities with characteristics of extreme sports conducted in forest settings, and corresponding competitions involve those based on five or more forest sports events. In essence, it is a highly innovative frontier sports industry that combines people’s ideal of returning to simplicity and nature with cutting-edge extreme sports, belonging to the “future sports” of personalized consumption. Han Jiling, secretary-general of the Chinese Extreme Sports Association, pointed out: “Kecheng District features diverse landforms, interconnected landscapes, and a forest coverage rate of 90.4%, making it uniquely suited for developing forest extreme sports. With strong support from governments at all levels and bold implementation by local authorities, this sport will thrive in Kecheng.” She also announced that the Forest Extreme Sports Games will be held at Lingjiu Mountain · National Forest Sports Town within the year.