Today's news: The three-day Golden Valley Manor · 2017 China Mountain Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Convention came to a successful close with the final competitive event — the Rock Climbing League. From September 1st to 3rd, over 7,000 outdoor sports enthusiasts gathered in Taojiang, joining local residents to celebrate this grand outdoor event.
Li Wenmao, Director of the New Projects Department at the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China; Su Jianquan, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhou Guangzheng, Director of the Social Sports Guidance Service Center of the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau; Hu Li’an, Standing Committee Member of the Yiyang Municipal Committee and Head of the Publicity Department; Liu Guolong, Vice Mayor of the Yiyang Municipal People’s Government; Zhang Jinlong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Yiyang Foreign Affairs, Overseas Chinese Affairs and Tourism Bureau; Guo Jinguang, Deputy Director of the Yiyang Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau; Huang Jin, Deputy Secretary and County Governor of Taojiang County; Chen Wanjun, Deputy Secretary of Taojiang County; Li Zhibin, Chairman of the Taojiang County CPPCC; Zhang Biao, Chairman of Hunan Yufeng Sports Culture Co., Ltd.; Wang Guoguang, General Manager of Taojiang County Jinjiang Real Estate Co., Ltd.; Olympic Champion Wang Mingjuan; World Champion Luo Dan; Mount Everest Climber Hero Wang Hongming; Mount Everest Climber Hero Zhang Xiaofan; and other leaders and guests attended the event.
Themed "Sports in Yiyang, Orienteering in Taojiang", the Golden Valley Manor · 2017 China (Taojiang) Mountain Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Convention provided a platform for elite outdoor athletes nationwide to showcase their talents. It upheld the organic integration of sports, tourism, and business, striving to create high-quality outdoor sports projects with Taojiang characteristics that reflect the area’s charm. It strongly promoted the development of the county’s sports and leisure tourism industry, contributing to comprehensive, multi-channel, and in-depth external promotion of Taojiang. The event further advanced the creation of Taojiang as a national all-for-one tourism demonstration county, fully showcasing the local customs and economic achievements of Taojiang.
The Micro Marathon League was divided into two groups: one suitable for most athletes with a 5km route, and another professional group with a 10km micro marathon. Both routes started at Jinpen Square, passing through Golden Valley Manor, Jinpen Avenue, and Niutanhe Bridge. With wide asphalt roads and cheering citizens, athletes experienced the prosperity brought by Taojiang’s urban development and the warmth of its people. Guan Yousheng from Guizhou won first place in the men’s professional 10km category with a time of 28 minutes, 22.863 seconds; Yin Xiaoyu from Guangxi claimed first in the women’s group with an impressive time of 33 minutes, 58.982 seconds. The Zijiang Hiking Challenge is one of the most patience-testing extreme sports, covering approximately 40km along the Zijiang River. The route passed through Shutang Old Street, Xiunv Mountain, Xiunv Lake National Wetland Park, Riverside Scenic Belt, Taxue Road Scenic Belt, and Gushan Road Scenic Belt. The entire 40km course featured stunning scenery and attracted over 2,000 participants. To ensure athlete safety, the event set up eight supply stations along the way and deployed support vehicles. Taojiang is known as the hometown of orienteering, and the Fun Orienteering Race attracted more than 600 participants. This team-based yet cooperative event tested both coordination and decision-making skills. Finding checkpoints and checking in, the fastest team completed the race in just 26 minutes and 51 seconds. While daytime competitions were thrilling, evening activities were equally vibrant, turning Jinpen Square into a sea of joy. At the Music Carnival Evening, artists delivered spectacular performances. As night cooled, numerous tents were pitched across the square, where visitors enjoyed stargazing and the fun of camping.
On September 3rd, the highly anticipated Bicycle League and Rock Climbing League took place. The Bicycle League started from the county town and finished at the summit of Fúqiū Mountain, covering a distance of about 14.19km. This extremely challenging route tested both stamina and endurance. In 2015, the provincial mountain cross-country cycling race was also held on this route. With picturesque and thrilling scenery, the track received unanimous praise from participants. The Rock Climbing League held at Taohu Lake stood out from traditional events by starting not on flat ground but on platforms built over the lake. A slight misstep could send athletes tumbling into the water, adding an extra layer of thrill and excitement. During the event, major central, provincial, municipal, and county media outlets deployed skilled teams, and with the participation and attention of netizens online and visitors on-site, they showcased Taojiang’s ecological beauty, cultural charm, and local customs from multiple perspectives. Abundant fruits and snacks were available at the start and end points of the hiking course and at each supply station, while the official designated drinking water Pure Joy and the official designated beverage Powerade were provided throughout the course.
The China Mountain Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Convention is a sports and leisure event 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 to promote all-for-one tourism and national fitness. The convention features fixed events such as the Micro Marathon League, hiking and trekking, bicycle league, camping festival, music carnival evening, fun carnival, and local specialty programs. Since 2014, nearly 14 events have been successfully held across Hunan Province, attracting nearly one million participants and reaching hundreds of millions of people. In 2017, the China Mountain Outdoor Fitness and Leisure Convention expanded nationwide, with subsequent events held in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu from September 15th to 17th, and at Changsha’s Heimifeng from October 27th to 29th.