On June 9, 2018, the China Fitness Famous Mountains · 6th Jinfo Mountain Mountaineering Race was held at Jinfo Mountain, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Nearly 1,700 mountaineering and fitness enthusiasts from across the country, along with tourists from France and other places, gathered together to celebrate this mass fitness sports tourism event. This was the 33rd national event of the China Famous Mountains Race since its inception and the fourth time it was held at Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing.
The mountaineering race was jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association and the Chinese Scenic Spots Association; co-hosted by the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau, the Chongqing Urban Management Committee, the Chongqing Municipal Tourism Development Commission, the People's Government of Nanchuan District, Chongqing, and the Chongqing Tourism Investment Group; and co-organized by the Nanchuan District Sports Bureau, the Nanchuan District Tourism Development Commission, the Jinfo Mountain Management Committee of Nanchuan District, and Chongqing Shanshui Urban Tourism Development Co., Ltd. It was exclusively operated by Shizhi Sports. That morning, leaders, guests, media, and athletes all gathered at the opening ceremony, collectively igniting the passionate atmosphere of national mountain climbing and fitness.
According to Wang Jiabin, Secretary-General of the China Famous Mountains Race Organizing Committee, the competition was divided into three categories: speed group, family doubles group, and fitness group. The speed group race covered a total distance of about 14 kilometers, with the route from the West Gate of the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area to Qianniuping. The course was both scenic and challenging. This speed group attracted a gathering of top athletes, with well-known domestic runners such as Li Zicheng, Wang Guolong, Gao Yongning, and Zheng Wenrong participating. The level of competition was intense, both in skill and competitiveness, and in the end, Li Zicheng from Zhejiang and Zheng Wenrong from Yunnan won the first places in the men’s and women’s speed groups, respectively.
After the speed group set off, the athletes led the way, running the entire course. Soon after, the fitness group also dashed off at the sound of the starting gun, striving forward with vigor. The family group and fitness group races covered a total distance of about 5 kilometers, with the route from the West Gate of the Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area to the cable car lower station. The course was less challenging than the speed group’s but combined competitiveness with entertainment, perfectly merging fitness activities with leisure tourism. Participants in the family and fitness groups encouraged and helped one another during the climb, cheering each other on as they scaled the heights. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy. By around 12 noon, the entire race had concluded successfully.
It is understood that the China Famous Mountains Race aims to promote mass fitness by combining professional-level competitions with public sports activities. It fosters the integration of sports and tourism, helping establish Jinfo Mountain as a nationally recognized fitness destination, while also enhancing its reputation and fame. Over four consecutive years, the event has continuously built the Jinfo Mountain mountaineering race brand and accelerated the development of Nanchuan as an “industrial-strong district, famous tourism city, and ecological garden.”
In recent years, under the careful guidance of higher authorities, Nanchuan District’s sports work has conscientiously implemented the National Fitness Regulations, the State Council and municipal government’s National Fitness Plan (2016–2020), and the Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Development of the Sports Industry and Promoting Sports Consumption. There have been upgrades in sports facilities, a boom in group activities, steady progress in competitive sports, deep advancement in sports-for-all initiatives, and significant growth in the sports industry, marking substantial progress in the overall development of sports in the district.
In addition, Nanchuan boasts unique tourism resources, including the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and national 5A-level tourist attraction Jinfo Mountain, as well as well-known resorts such as the Twelve Golden Flowers Grand View Garden, Shenlong Gorge, and Shanwangping. With superior ecology and appeal in all four seasons, it is highly favored by tourists. Nanchuan District has become one of the first cities selected for the second season of the TV show "Charming China Cities" due to its captivating tourism and cultural charm. The hosting of the China Famous Mountains Race in Nanchuan provided numerous visitors with an excellent opportunity to experience Jinfo culture and feel the charm of Nanchuan through activities such as mountain fitness, sightseeing, gourmet tasting, and cultural exchange. At the same time, various promotional methods showcased this Charming China City comprehensively to audiences across the nation and around the world, allowing more people to learn about and yearn to visit Nanchuan.
The China Famous Mountains Race has created a comprehensive leisure sports platform integrating elements of sports, tourism, culture, and ecology for the general public. Let’s look forward to even more exciting events to come.
(Text: Zhang Wei, Dong Jiawen, Nanchuan District Sports Bureau / Photos: Wang Jiabin, Wang Hongquan)