This was a carnival event that drew attention from all walks of life across the country, a unique and innovative green ecological feast, and an international-scale outdoor sports carnival of unprecedented size and professional caliber. At this moment, over ten thousand domestic and international outdoor enthusiasts gathered in the Wugong Mountain Scenic Area to enjoy nature and immerse themselves in the sounds of the wild.
The picturesque Wugong Mountain Camping Festival
Hiking on the green meadows
The unprecedented grand event of the ten-thousand-person international camping festival
Starting on September 12, hikers from across the country successively arrived at the registration area of the Pingxiang Wugong Mountain Scenic Area. The staff provided round-the-clock reception and tireless service around the clock, deeply touching everyone. That very evening, early arrivals stayed at the foot of Wugong Mountain, getting an early taste of the joy of stargazing and camping.
According to staff at the registration area, this year's camping festival not only attracted 6,500 outdoor enthusiasts from over 30 provinces and cities and 380 outdoor clubs across the country who registered online, but also included overseas hikers from European and American countries such as Italy and Brazil—truly showing that outdoor enthusiasts around the world are one big family. On the day of the event, many others who came out of admiration also eagerly joined in, bringing the total number of participants to over 15,000, making it an unprecedentedly grand occasion.
Leaders delivering speeches at the opening ceremony
An innovative and exciting outdoor sports carnival
On the morning of September 13, the first climbing preliminary contest was thrillingly held at the Wugong Mountain Cultural Park Plaza. The next day, the top 12 male and top 8 female contestants from the preliminaries advanced to the intense finals. After a comprehensive competition of skill, speed, and difficulty, the top five male and top three female winners were ultimately decided. This was followed by the highly popular public experience session, where many onlookers, envious of the athletes' wall-scaling leaps, were eager to give it a try, making the atmosphere especially lively.
Climbing performance by a Brazilian athlete
Early on the morning of September 14, the Wugong Mountain Cultural Park Plaza was bustling with activity as hikers from across the country began arriving. Meanwhile, team members participating in the loaded mountain climbing competition were busily warming up, packing, and weighing their gear, all set for the competition. With the sound of the starting gun, over 120 hikers from more than 30 teams representing clubs in Fujian, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Guangdong set off with loads of no less than 10 kilograms.
Along the way, we saw many team members sweating profusely yet moving swiftly—the weight on their backs did nothing to dampen their enthusiasm. When passing the Hero Slope, a nearly vertical stone stairway jokingly called the “Despair Slope” by hikers, they made light work of it. Throughout the journey, many non-competing hikers actively helped clear the path and made way for participants, vividly demonstrating the spirit of camaraderie among hikers. Signs placed by the organizers and several specially provided medical and logistical support stations were visible along the route, showing thoughtful preparation.
Hikers carrying loads ascending Hero Slope
On the day of the camping festival, a distinctive outdoor fun sports challenge ignited tremendous enthusiasm and attention. On the 1,700-meter expanse of grassland, the cheers and shouts of hikers drowned out even the loud voice of the host. A giant inflatable caterpillar was slowly and laboriously moved forward by eight team members—some pushing forward with effort, some crawling on hands and feet. Though their postures were hilarious, the scene was full of laughter, and the audience was thoroughly entertained in a harmonious atmosphere.
Scene from the outdoor fun sports challenge
The sounds of nature atop the sea of clouds meadow
Most notably, the award ceremony and gala held that evening at the Guanyindang campsite went ahead as scheduled. A grand outdoor entertainment event unfolding on the near 1,700-meter-high alpine meadow had begun. Once everyone had gathered, the humorous opening by a host from Jiangxi Radio officially kicked off the gala. Whether it was dynamic singing and dancing or unique performances, the audience erupted in cheers, with climaxes following one after another, blending the stage and audience into one.
According to staff on-site, many of the evening’s acts were contributed by hikers themselves. Previously, the “I Want to Be on Stage” section on the event’s official website attracted enthusiastic registrations from nearly a hundred clubs across the country. The organizing committee carefully selected 21 distinctive acts, gathering them here—from songs and dances to instrumental and martial arts performances, the variety was astounding and the performances spectacular.
Award ceremony and closing gala site at an altitude of 1,700 meters
Of course, the hikers’ performances, which rivaled those of professionals, were the result of not just innate talent but also hard rehearsals. Among the highly praised group dances “Spring Thunder” and “Ode to the Motherland,” performed by the Happy Journey Club from Hengyang, Hunan—all members over 45 years old—showed great vigor. Their carefully prepared costumes and props, along with repeated rehearsals and outstanding performances, earned unanimous praise from the audience.
This magnificent and mesmerizing “Feast in the Clouds” brought the camping festival to its climax, igniting the passion of the ten thousand attendees. Cheers and jumps filled the air, with mobile phones and flashlights lighting up together. Uniform waves of motion and high spirits turned Wugong Mountain into a true ocean of joy. At the end of the event, many hikers were still reluctant to leave, humming tunes from the stage or dancing to the steps they’d just seen, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction and emotion. It’s believed that everyone left with unforgettable, cherished memories.
Performance members from the Happy Journey Club in Hengyang, Hunan
A truly well-deserved green feast
If this could be called a colorful camping festival, it is even more fitting to label it a green ecological feast. Every visitor here is left with memories of its freshness, purity, greenery, and beauty—and of course, all of this is inseparable from the years of care and protection hikers have shown to the scenic environment and the branding culture that Wugong Mountain has cultivated for itself.
It is understood that the Wugong Mountain International Camping Festival, as an annual major thematic series event of the Wugong Mountain Scenic Area, has now successfully been held for six editions and has garnered increasing attention and favor from outdoor sports enthusiasts and all sectors of society. To achieve a good balance between the sustainable development of the scenic area’s natural resources and the surge in tourist numbers, and to build a green ecological environment for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, the relevant departments have made unremitting efforts over the years, launching a full-scale offensive to create a 5A-level attraction and opening up a new pattern for tourism development. Through infrastructure construction such as roads, cableways, and tourist routes, planning and layout have become more rational. The comprehensive advancement of the “five service area” initiative has led to more complete supporting services. In addition, this camping festival promoted the environmental slogan “Civilized Outdoor, Enjoy Nature,” and truly took substantive measures such as organizing clean mountain activities, waste sorting, and setting up eco-friendly signage.
Public environmental advocacy
We can look forward to the future Wugong Mountain International Camping Festival becoming a premier tourism event in Jiangxi Province, receiving even more support and recognition from all sectors of society. The outdoor brand culture of Wugong Mountain will also penetrate deeper into the hearts of hiking enthusiasts and tourists. Nestled in the corner of Pingxiang, the Wugong Mountain Scenic Area will embrace guests from all over the world with its uniquely vast and welcoming spirit.