On June 10, to commemorate the first National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day and the 65th anniversary of Chairman Mao Zedong’s call to “Develop sports and build up the people’s health,” the World Natural Heritage site — Chongqing Jinfo Mountain — hosted the “2017 China Fitness Mountains & Fifth Jinfo Mountain Mountaineering Race.”
That morning, despite light rain, it did not deter more than 1,600 enthusiastic participants from across the country. This was the 28th national event held since the launch of the China Famous Mountains Race and the third time it was held at Chongqing Jinfo Mountain. Leaders and guests from the organizing bodies — the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Chinese Society of Landscape Architecture — as well as the executive organizers — the Chongqing Municipal Sports Bureau, Chongqing Municipal Gardening Bureau, Chongqing Municipal Tourism Bureau, the People’s Government of Nanchuan District, Chongqing, and Chongqing Tourism Investment Group — and the exclusive operator, Shizhi Sports, attended the opening ceremony. Partners such as TUTU Outdoor, Dunbar Column Backpacks, Majiajie Food, and Subaru also participated in the event. The new season of the China Famous Mountains Race garnered widespread attention from hiking enthusiasts, and the event ignited a fervent atmosphere of national fitness through mountain climbing.
The Jinfo Mountain Mountaineering Race featured three categories: Speed, Family, and Fitness. Among them, the Speed category was the most challenging, with steeper slopes and longer distances compared to other race locations, offering a higher level of difficulty. After fierce competition, male participants Li Zicheng, Jia Erenjia, and Zhu Jiali, along with female participants Zheng Wenrong, Li Wenjie, and Zhang Hongfen, won the top three spots in the men’s and women’s speed categories, respectively.
The race venue — Jinfo Mountain Scenic Area — is known as a “natural botanical exhibition hall” for its unique natural landscapes and diverse rare flora and fauna, boasting breathtaking scenery. The race route connected scenic spots such as Bitan Yougu (Emerald Pool Valley), Shuangye Bridge (Frost Leaf Bridge), Wanbu Youdao Ting (Ten Thousand Steps Trail Pavilion), Jin Gui Chao Yang (Golden Turtle Facing the Sun), Jiu Lian Bao Ding (Nine Lotus Precious Summit), Jinfo Temple, and Qian Niu Ping (Cowherd Flat). Thousands of athletes were able to fully experience Jinfo Mountain’s distinctive karst landforms and pristine natural ecology during the hike, while also soaking in the unique charm of a World Natural Heritage site and enjoying an exceptional sports + travel experience.
In addition to the competitive events, the China Fitness Mountains Race also organized a variety of fun cultural and entertainment activities, such as “Climb Famous Mountains, Seek Treasures,” “Collect Stamps, Win Prizes,” and “A Taste of Jinfo Mountain.” These integrated conventional elements with interactive trail experiences rooted in local culture, highlighting the unique characteristics of each host destination to great acclaim from participants.
Internationally renowned karst experts have commented that Jinfo Mountain’s plateau evolution and karst tableland development are unique and irreplaceable within the South China Karst heritage project. Its cave systems and forest ecosystems reflect the processes of Earth, geomorphological, and ecological evolution, holding significant natural and cultural value.
The 2017 National Cultural and Natural Heritage Day — China Fitness Mountains & Fifth Jinfo Mountain Mountaineering Race — provided participating athletes with the opportunity to hike and compete within a World Natural Heritage site. Through the influence of the event, it promoted the achievements of China’s cultural and natural heritage endeavors, further advancing the protection of ecological nature and historical culture. It also raised and strengthened public awareness, support, and participation in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, encouraging more people to join efforts in environmental and natural cultural conservation, promote the sustainable development of scenic areas, and carry forward the value and spirit of China’s natural heritage.
The China Fitness Mountains Mountaineering Race pioneered outdoor mountaineering events in China’s scenic areas. Held annually at famous mountains across the country, it integrates the natural landscapes and historical culture of these destinations, effectively promoting nationwide fitness activities. The race series showcases the vigorous development of China’s sports industry. As the China Fitness Mountains Race continues to explore the potential of sports tourism, it will upgrade the “sports + travel” model, creating a comprehensive leisure sports platform that combines elements of sports, travel, culture, and ecology for the general public.