Xinhua News Agency, Huangshan, Anhui, Nov. 18 (Zhang Qifei & Wu Lan) — A total of 3,000 hiking enthusiasts, including 170 foreign athletes from 56 countries such as Russia, the United States, Germany, Australia, South Korea, and India, participated in the 9th China Huangshan International Mountaineering Festival held in Huangshan on the 18th.
Since the registration for this mountaineering festival began on October 15, it has attracted attention from hiking enthusiasts around the world. A total of 3,000 participants from over 50 countries, including Russia, the United States, and Germany, signed up for the event, setting a record for the highest number of participants in the history of the festival. Among them, athletes from 56 countries took part, making it the most internationally diverse edition of the festival to date.
On the day of the event, the “Beautiful China Starts from Huangshan” — China Huangshan Mountaineering Festival, started at the multifunctional square at the south gate of Huangshan Scenic Area, passed through Yungu Temple in Huangshan, and finished at the North Sea Square at an altitude of over 1,600 meters, covering a total distance of about 12 kilometers. Both team and individual awards were presented.
The mountaineering festival featured various categories, including an international group, as well as domestic youth, senior, university, and Huangshan city groups. After a challenging climb, Italian athlete Romak won the men’s title in the international group with a time of 1 hour, 30 minutes, and 18 seconds, while American athlete Guoer claimed the women’s title in the international group with a time of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 54 seconds.
The China Huangshan International Mountaineering Festival, now in its ninth edition since 2005, was led off this year by Ms. Lü Xiuzhi, the women’s 20-kilometer race walk champion of the 12th National Games in 2013. (End)