In early June, with the fragrance of lotus carried by the breeze, the 32°C temperature by the shores of Dongting Lake ignited the unique fervor of summer.
On the morning of June 16, the "National Fitness, Healthy China" 2018 China (Junshan) Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Conference grandly opened at the Dongting Lake Happy World in Junshan District, Yueyang City. The event was jointly organized by the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau, and the Hunan Provincial Tourism Development Commission. The conference featured four competitive events: a 10KM league, a hiking endurance walk, a cycling league, and a drone competition, attracting over 6,000 outdoor sports enthusiasts from across the country.
At 8:30 AM, the opening ceremony kicked off at the Dongting Lake Happy World, the largest amusement project in northern Hunan and a new attraction in Junshan District’s all-for-one tourism initiative. Xie Sheng, Secretary of the Junshan District Committee of Yueyang City, Hunan Province, delivered a welcome speech; Su Jianquan, Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau, announced the start of the event; and Li Yong, Deputy Secretary of the Junshan District Committee and District Chief, presided over the ceremony.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Yan Jin’an, Vice Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association; Gong Tiejun, Director of the Office of the Hunan Provincial Tourism Development Commission; Wang Huang, Director of the Office of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau; Fu Liming, Director of the Mass Sports Department of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhou Guangzheng, Director of the Hunan Provincial Social Sports Guidance Service Center; Li Wei, Vice Mayor of Yueyang Municipal People's Government; Fang Zhengqi, Vice Chairman of the Yueyang Municipal Committee of the CPPCC and Director of the Yueyang Tourism Development and Foreign Affairs & Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee; Wang Dehua, Director of the Yueyang Education and Sports Bureau; Bai Zaixing, Deputy Secretary of the Junshan District Committee of the CPC; Zhou Zhihui, Deputy District Chief of Junshan District; Chen Xuezheng, Chairman of Yueyang Jinsheng Amusement Company; Zhang Biao, Chairman of Yufeng Sports; and Olympic champion Wang Mingjuan.
Guarding the Emerald Waters, Meeting Ecological Junshan
At 9:05 AM, with the sound of the starting gun, 500 cyclists shot off like arrows from the Dongting Lake Happy World, cycling along the Dongting Dyke all the way to the finish line at the Wild Lotus World. At 9:30 AM, participants in the 10KM league and the hiking endurance walk gathered and, led by Olympic weightlifting champion Wang Mingjuan, headed eastward up the dyke, crossed the Dongting Lake Bridge, and finally arrived at the Hualong Wetland. On April 25, Xi Jinping visited Yueyang, Hunan, inspecting the Hualong Wharf in Junshan District, located along the Yangtze River. Hualong Wharf, situated on the main channel of the Yangtze River, was once an illegal sand and stone terminal that occupied prime waterfront land, with piles of sand and stones and constant wastewater discharge causing severe ecological damage. Now, after the demolition of the terminal and restoration of the surrounding ecology, it has been completely revitalized. With the spring breeze greening the land, the area is now teeming with life — a vivid embodiment of the General Secretary’s strategic vision of “ecology first, green development” taking root in the land of Hunan. The event made full use of the unique characteristics of the East Dongting Lake wetlands, utilizing them in diverse forms to tell compelling stories of the integration of “ecology, greenery, leisure, sports, tourism, and culture,” reinforcing environmental concepts and advocating healthy, low-carbon travel.
National Fitness, Healthy China
The hiking endurance walkers set off along the Dongting Dyke, embarking on their 32KM trek. Lining both sides of the dyke were vast expanses of reeds, and under the sun, the distant Dongting Lake shimmered brilliantly, reflecting dazzling silver light. As they approached the finish line at the Junshan Wild Lotus World, a vast expanse of open water suddenly came into view. Unlike the surging white waves of Dongting Lake, here lay a sea of green. Endless layers of lotus leaves stretched out as far as the eye could see, dotted with bright blossoms, interspersed across the boundless lake surface. Alongside the swaying willows on the shore and the gently rocking boats on the water, a captivating ink-painting-like scene unfolded. It is reported that the Junshan Wild Lotus World is currently the largest known contiguous natural wild lotus scenic area in Asia, covering an area of over 10,000 mu, with a water surface of more than 7,000 mu and approximately 5,000 mu of wild lotus. In 2009, it was named the “Hometown of China’s Wild Lotus” by the China Wild Plant Conservation Association.
Notably, the participants in the 5KM fun run were amateur runners from various walks of life. Though not at the level of professional athletes, every one of them persevered to complete the course, enjoying the joy of running amid the beautiful ecological surroundings of Dongting Lake — where water meets greenery and islands reflect on the lake — embodying a positive and healthy attitude toward life.
The competitions in the cycling league and 10KM events were exceptionally intense. After fierce racing, rider Hu Ziyun from Team Chaoyang Tire, wearing bib number K009, was the first to cross the finish line in the men’s elite group of the cycling league, winning the championship with a time of 46:06. Yuan Wei from Changsha Clockwise Cycling Team, wearing bib number Y011, claimed the women’s title with a time of 51:04. In the 10KM league, Zeng Wenbo from Loudi was the first to reach the finish line, securing the men’s championship with a time of 42:02, while Li Meitong from Liaoning Province won the women’s title with a time of 52:44. Zeng Wenbo, the 10KM champion, can be called a loyal “fan” of the China Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Conference, having participated in nearly every event since 2014. Regrettably absent from last year’s Junshan stop, he registered early this year and achieved excellent results. He said: “Although it’s only 10KM, the weather in Junshan today was really intense. Running in high temperatures is a major challenge for athletes, but fortunately there were ample measures for heat prevention along the route, with plenty of drinks and water provided. More importantly, the stunning scenery of Dongting Lake kept me uplifted throughout. As long as you persevere, you will surely reap rewards.”
Multiple Events Combine to Release Summer Passion
The drone competition was a major highlight of the event, with the beautiful scenery of Junshan offering plenty of creative opportunities for drone pilots. Mr. Liu, a drone photography enthusiast from Changsha who has participated in two previous conferences, was extremely excited to join this year’s drone competition. He said: “I’ve been into drones since 2014, and I joined another event last year. Junshan District has vast landscapes and beautiful scenery, which are even more suitable for drone filming, producing more stunning and captivating footage.”
It is reported that in the evening at the Wild Lotus World, there will also be a music carnival party and a camping gala. The popular lucky draw segment “Shake to Win Big Prizes” will continue, with abundant prizes up for grabs. After the party, outdoor sports enthusiasts can camp at the Wild Lotus World, drifting off to sleep amidst the serene fragrance of lotus blossoms.
It is reported that this event is the third stop of the 2018 China Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Conference. In today’s era of promoting national fitness and vigorously developing mass sports, the hosting of this event allows more citizens to participate widely in physical fitness activities, inspiring a positive spirit and enjoying the health and happiness brought by sports.