Every time I watch variety reality shows like Running Man,
I really envy the guests on the show,
who get to eat and play at various scenic spots~
I’ve always hoped that Suzhou would someday,
also have such an event,
allowing everyone to explore Suzhou’s culture and history
just like the stars on the show do while having fun~
Now my wish has come true,
and look,
there’s a group of people
playing this game in the ancient city area~
Suzhou’s version of Running Man: Minions descend on Suzhou to play the “Suzhou Edition” of Running Man
At 8:30 a.m. on June 11, I arrived at the check-in point for the ancient city “Memory” team challenge, located at the stadium on Wusah Road, where many participants had already begun arriving to sign in.
This team challenge is the highlight of the second “Discover Gusu” Walking Festival. Just yesterday (June 10), nearly 6,000 participants braved heavy rain to complete the walking route along the Suzhou Ancient City Moat Fitness Trail.
As the start time drew closer, the stadium was packed with people, all full of confidence and determined to win today’s competition!
The event also attracted popular online influencers to livestream the action, with these ladies sharing the event live with audiences online.
At the starting line, the “Minions” were geared up and smiling as they prepared to take on the challenge.
June 11 also marked the third Customer Service Festival and fifth anniversary celebration of Suzhou Dongwu Life Insurance. Dongwu Life sent 500 participants to join the team challenge. With a whistle from the leaders, the race officially began!
Experience the cultural charm of the ancient city through games
The team challenge is a checkpoint-based group competition. Teams consist of five members, and after selecting a designated area, they participate in interactive games within that zone. Each area hosts 150 teams.
The areas include Changmen, Shantang, Fengmen, Panmen, and the Humble Administrator’s Garden — all carefully selected by the organizing committee. Within each zone, task points are set up where teams must complete assigned challenges. Doesn’t it feel just like a game from a reality TV show?
Teams that complete their tasks can also take group photos at the scenic spots — it’s essentially a one-day tour of the ancient city!
The Suzhou Museum, Suzhou Art Museum, Dinghui Temple, and Taoyuan were all frequented by “Minions.”
Each task point offers a variety of different challenges, including competitive, nostalgic, IQ-test, experiential, and teamwork activities!
Such as classic childhood games like sandbag tossing and ring toss that instantly bring back nostalgic memories.
Searching for staff dressed in traditional costume within the gardens and taking photos with them.
Climbing over sections of the ancient city wall, and more.
Of course, not all the games are easy or simple — many require strength, speed, as well as teamwork and mutual trust.
Since the competition is decided based on the time taken to complete the tasks and return to the starting point, in the final sprint stage, the "Minions" gave it their all and ran with all their might.
See this table full of medals? They’re all prepared for the participants who completed the race.
Here’s a close-up of the medals.
Later, before the awards ceremony, our reporter interviewed some of the winners and found that many of them were from out-of-town Sanfeng Outdoor teams. They were really happy to have placed and felt that coming to Suzhou to participate in such an event was a particularly meaningful experience.
The award-winning participants said, “Today in Suzhou, we played a lot of fun games and saw many beautiful sights. We learned about Suzhou culture, and there were even aspects of it that even locals didn’t know much about. When we go back, we’ll also promote Suzhou culture more!”
Service Carnival
A dedicated service area was also set up at the finish line, and it’s a big one.
For example, after exercising, your energy drains, so functional drinks like Monster were provided on-site to help the finishers recharge. Did you know that Monster Vitamin Fruit-flavored Drinks are an all-around energy boost for life, work, overtime, and studying?
There was also a kids’ team in this event, so to ensure healthier oral environments for both kids and adults, a free dental check-up area was set up on-site—healthy body, healthy teeth.
After the race, shouldn’t you post some photos on social media to show off? What if you have no data? No worries, we’ve got you covered with unlimited mobile data on-site—post whatever you want on social media.
It will be held annually in Suzhou in the future.
Hiking exercises the entire skeletal system, strengthens muscles, mobilizes joints, fortifies bones, and reduces osteoporosis. It’s even beneficial for preventing diabetes and strokes, making it suitable for everyone to participate in.
The prizes are highly practical.
See those small black boxes they’re holding? They’re commemorative OBOX game controllers provided by Century Snail Communications Technology Co., Ltd. For a team, the total value is up to 10,000 yuan. Did you know that Snail Mobile is China’s top virtual network operator brand? It has become the largest in user scale, most comprehensive in product lines, most distinctive in services, and most influential in brand among virtual operators in China through its innovative “communications and gaming integration” business model. I heard they recently launched a “no monthly fee, no package, no rollover” free SIM card—it sounds pretty amazing. I wonder what the format is—would love to try it out.
So what about the second prize?
It’s those yoga-bag-like items they’re holding. Nope, not yoga mats—those are professional outdoor sports equipment sets provided by Longwalker Outdoor, each worth 1,288 yuan.
Of course, we can’t forget the third prize—the elegant bags they’re holding contain dental care kits, each worth 688 yuan. I heard they include electric toothbrushes... even I’m a bit tempted—regretting only being a reporter that day.
The “Discover Gusu” Hiking Festival also attracted many outdoor enthusiasts from across the country, skillfully blending hiking with Suzhou culture and indirectly promoting tourism development.
In the future, the “Discover Gusu” Hiking Festival will be held annually in Suzhou. Those who didn’t sign up this year can look forward to joining next year.