Jilin · Fusong Luneng Shengdi Cup 2018 Changbai Mountain International Half Marathon Kicks Off Spectacularly ...

In early autumn, Fusong boasts clear skies, light clouds, and the fragrance of ginseng fruits. Everywhere—from the ridges of Changbai Mountain to Shengdi Bridge and Forest Sea Inn—you can feel the tranquility and coolness of the post-summer 22-degree weather.

On August 19, the highly anticipated Jilin · Fusong “Luneng Shengdi Cup” 2018 Changbai Mountain International Half Marathon commenced splendidly at Changbai Mountain Luneng Shengdi. Marathon runners from 10 countries such as France, Spain, and Egypt, along with participants from 13 provinces and cities nationwide and within Fusong, showcased their interpretation of sports through passion, speed, and sweat, fully immersing themselves in Fusong’s green beauty, ecological charm, and cultural richness.

In the morning, the Changbai Mountain Luneng Shengdi Sports Center was bustling with people and fluttering with colorful flags. Athletes, staff, and volunteers arrived from all directions, turning the site into a sea of joy. Accompanied by the dynamic music “Travel with the Marathon,” a rich variety of cultural and sports performances and warm-up exercises heralded the start of the marathon.

Wang Haiying, Deputy Secretary of the Fusong County Party Committee and County Magistrate; Sun Huabang, Chairman of the Fusong County CPPCC; Li Hongyan, Deputy Director of the Baishan City Sports Bureau; Wang Xindong, Chairman and Party Committee Secretary of Jilin Luneng Manjiang Eco-Tourism Development Co., Ltd.; Wang Chaofan, General Manager and Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Jilin Luneng Manjiang Eco-Tourism Development Co., Ltd.; Feng Zhigang, Chairman of Shanghai Zhiyou Hui Pao Sports Development Co., Ltd.; as well as deputy county-level and above leaders from the Fusong County Party Committee, County People’s Congress, County Government, and County CPPCC attended the opening ceremony. Zhou Jie, Vice County Magistrate of Fusong, presided over the ceremony.

According to the organizing committee, this event was hosted by the Fusong County People’s Government, organized by the Fusong County Culture, Broadcasting, News, and Publication Bureau, operated and promoted by Shanghai Zhiyou Hui Pao Sports Development Co., Ltd., and exclusively titled by Jilin Luneng Manjiang Eco-Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The competition included a half marathon (21.0975 km), as well as mini marathons of 5 km and 10 km. Both the starting and finishing points were located at Changbai Mountain Luneng Shengdi.

As is well known, Fusong County is situated in the heart of Changbai Mountain and the upper reaches of the Songhua River. Blessed with beautiful scenery and abundant resources, a century of development has forged a uniquely charming urban character and accumulated a profound historical culture. Covering an area of 6,159 square kilometers with a forest coverage rate of 87.6%, the county is home to one national-level tourist resort, six key A-level scenic spots, and is renowned as the “Hometown of Chinese Ginseng,” “Hometown of Chinese Blueberries,” “Hometown of Chinese Linden Honey,” and “Chinese Mineral Water City.” It is also a national model county for tourism standardization. The area has earned titles such as “One of China’s Top 100 Deep-Breathing Cities,” “China’s Most Investment-Potential Characteristic Charming Demonstration County,” and “China’s Most Investment-Potential Tourism Destination.”

In recent years, Fusong County has adhered to the development strategy of “ecology-based governance, green-driven prosperity, and industry-powered strength.” Leveraging its unique natural resources, convenient geographical advantages, and distinctive cultural endowments, the county has maximized the integrated impact of sports, culture, and tourism, promoting the synergistic development of sports culture and tourism industries. This has injected strong momentum into the in-depth implementation of the “25101000” project and the comprehensive construction of a happy, harmonious, and beautiful Fusong.

At the opening ceremony, Wang Haiying, Deputy Secretary of the Fusong County Party Committee and County Magistrate, delivered an enthusiastic speech. She noted that in recent years, Fusong has fully implemented the national strategy of fitness for all, integrating sports, culture, and tourism, leading to the vigorous and parallel development of various initiatives. The hosting of this international half marathon in Fusong serves as both a review of the county’s achievements in sports and a concentrated showcase of its urban charm and influence.

▲Wang Haiying, Deputy Secretary of the Fusong County Party Committee and County Magistrate

Wang Haiying stated that they would spare no effort to provide the best services for the event. She hoped that the athletes participating in this race would demonstrate style, level, and friendship through perseverance and sweat, fully enjoying the passion in the vast forest sea and experiencing the uniquely charming primitive landscape of Changbai Mountain.

▲Wang Chaofan, General Manager and Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Jilin Luneng Manjiang Eco-Tourism Development Co., Ltd.

Wang Chaofan, General Manager and Deputy Party Committee Secretary of Jilin Luneng Manjiang Eco-Tourism Development Co., Ltd., delivered a congratulatory speech. He expressed the hope that the successful hosting of this event would better showcase to friends across the country the beautiful natural scenery, rich cultural atmosphere, and distinctive resort experiences of Changbai Mountain Luneng Shengdi. Taking this event as an opportunity, Changbai Mountain Luneng Shengdi will plan further for the development of sports tourism at a new starting point, aiming to create an international-level eco-tourism resort demonstration area and provide visitors with memorable resort experiences.

▲Zhou Jie, Vice County Magistrate of Fusong

Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets; so are snowy mountains and icy plains. As the venue for this event—Changbai Mountain Luneng Shengdi—is an international-level ice and snow tourism industry project developed by the Fusong County Party Committee and County Government. Located in Manjiang Town, Fusong County, it lies to the east of Changbai Mountain at the confluence of three rivers, built against the mountains and beside the water. With ecological symbiosis as its core concept, it interprets the three major cultural elements of Changbai: “ice and snow,” “folklore,” and “forest.” The project constructs three functional theme areas: four-season sports, the original Changbai countryside, and the voice of the forest, striving to create an international-level eco-tourism resort demonstration area integrating leisure, entertainment, ecological protection, and cultural tourism. The already operational Wangchangbai Boutique Hotel, Maplewood Cabin Hotel, and Changbai Mountain Original Countryside Inn feature unique architectural characteristics that break away from the monotonous models of tourist accommodations, upgrading the concept of ice and snow holidays.

At 9:00 a.m., Wang Haiying announced the start of the race, and all guests sounded the starting horn, officially kicking off the 2018 Changbai Mountain International Half Marathon. Over 8,000 participants confidently stepped onto the track, embarking on a green running journey. They were spirited and full of morale, sprinting toward their dreams with all their might. The wide track and comfortable natural environment left a deep impression on the athletes, who praised Fusong’s natural scenery. Xiao Jing, a participant from Tianjin, said, “The journey was lined with green mountains and clear waters, blooming flowers, and enchanting scenery. The views along the way were stunningly beautiful!”

On the track, athletes were full of passion and fought hard; outside the track, spectators were enthusiastic, cheering loudly. In their own ways, they fully enjoyed the endless fun brought by this sporting spectacle and also demonstrated Fusong’s urban image with civility and enthusiasm. Zhang Haiyan from Fusong continuously took photos with her phone and waved a red flag to cheer on the athletes. “It’s my first time participating in such a grand marathon in my hometown, and I’m very excited and proud. I hope the athletes give their best and achieve great results.”

The busy figures of volunteers and their smiling faces reflected the extraordinary charm of the marathon, becoming another beautiful sight on the track. During the race, participants could receive energy supplies such as drinking water and beverages at any hydration station. Volunteers carefully opened the bottle caps for the athletes and maintained smiles throughout while cheering them on.

During the event, the organizing committee also arranged medical stations and deployed ambulances to follow the route, providing medical services at any time. Security personnel and facilities were deployed to ensure the safe operation of the race. The traffic management department implemented humane temporary traffic control adjustments to minimize the impact on travel. Staff in security, traffic, medical care, communications, and other sectors worked silently behind the scenes, offering comprehensive support and services to the athletes, becoming a “bonus point” in the hearts of many participants.

Where there is sports, there is happiness; where there is joy, there is beauty. After fierce competition, the men’s champion of the half marathon was awarded to Tai Yunlong from Liaoning, with a time of 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 13 seconds. The women’s champion was Hao Xiaofan from Jiangsu, finishing in 1 hour, 26 minutes, and 10 seconds. The top ten male and female finishers in the half marathon all received prizes and medals. Leaders present awarded prizes to the winning athletes and the top six male and female half marathon finishers from Fusong.

In recent years, the Fusong County Party Committee and County Government have attached great importance to the development of cultural and sports activities. They have successively hosted a series of high-end events and activities such as the National Walking Conference Changbai Mountain Station, the National Cross-Country Skiing Championships, and the FIS Cross-Country Skiing China Tour. These efforts have transformed Fusong’s lucid waters and lush mountains, as well as its snowy landscapes, into grand stages for athletes, allowing participants to experience regional cultural characteristics to the fullest and fully appreciate the charm of sports. Building on this event, Fusong will once again ignite a wave of national fitness, making sports and exercise a lifestyle and a key choice for health among the people of the ginseng homeland.

The organization of this event not only promoted the vigorous development of mass sports activities and national fitness campaigns in Fusong but also drew more attention to the area through the marathon. Through sports, participants experienced the unique charm of Changbai Mountain’s natural scenery and the profound cultural heritage, further advancing the integration and mutual progress of sports, culture, and tourism. This has continuously enhanced Fusong’s visibility and influence both domestically and internationally.

Running through the ginseng countryside of Fusong, every place is a view. Demonstrating the vitality of sports with passion and speed, interpreting the spirit of modern-day Fusong through action, and measuring the charm of rural revitalization in Fusong with every step ... Although this event has concluded, the vitality brought by the marathon will surely become a new driving force for Fusong’s accelerated progress.

                                                                               Reporter: Sun Dan, He Shaodong, Xu Yongwei

(Disclaimer: The content of this article is published or reprinted by this website as corporate promotional information, representing only the author’s personal views and not related to this website. It is for reader reference only, and readers are advised to verify the relevant content themselves.)