Luoma Lake Swim.
Lake Loop Cycling.
Luoma Lake Kayaking.
The "2013 'Canal Culture City Cup' China (Suqian 'Luoma Lake') Eco-Four Open" professional group, both full courses of the two-swim event, and the two-swim relay event concluded successfully. After fierce competition, the "Beijing BH Elite Team," led by top outdoor extreme athlete Liang Hong, fully leveraged their strengths in water events and team coordination in the lake loop cycling, finishing the overall championship with a time of 4 hours, 5 minutes, and 13 seconds. The "Luzhou Medical College Triathlon Team" completed the race in 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 43 seconds to take second place, while the third-place finisher was the "Mugeda – China University of Geosciences (Beijing) Outdoor Team" with a time of 4 hours, 21 minutes, and 36 seconds.
On August 18, 2013, top outdoor athletes from teams such as China University of Geosciences took on the challenge of the Suqian Luoma Lake "Eco-Four" adventure, covering a total of 58 kilometers: a 2km swim across Luoma Lake, a 10km kayak around Luoma Lake, a 38km loop cycling course around the lake, and an 8km cross-country run through the forest park. The route design seamlessly connected the most pristine Luoma Lake, the Lakeside New District, and the urban forest park, allowing participants to experience the area’s superior ecological environment while showcasing the sport’s strong visual appeal, entertainment value, and competitive spirit through the four-discipline challenge.
Riding the Waves of Luoma Lake, Experiencing Canal Culture – A Record of the Suqian Luoma Lake Eco-Four Event
"Faster! They’re catching up behind you, carry him on your back!" A female team member from China University of Geosciences (Beijing) shouted as she ran, glancing back to direct her teammate. A male runner stumbled but was dragged, supported, and half-carried to the finish line. This scene unfolded during the 2013 Jiangsu Suqian "Canal Culture City Cup" China Suqian Luoma Lake Eco-Four Open. Despite a slight breeze, the near 40-degree Celsius heat did not dampen the enthusiasm of 20 high-level international and domestic mountain outdoor professional teams and over 500 amateur outdoor sports enthusiasts taking part in the "Eco-Four Open."
After the race, Beijing BH Elite Team captain Liang Hong expressed confidence in the day’s competition. He said the first two events—"Luoma Lake Swim" and "Luoma Lake Kayak"—were disciplines his team excelled in, and he was confident they could pull far ahead of the competition from the start. Reflecting afterward, Liang noted, "The intensity and difficulty of this race weren’t extremely high. Although kayaking and swimming are our strengths, the scorching heat during the lake loop cycling made it feel like racing in a steam room—the asphalt seemed to be melting under our tires. There were moments we nearly suffered heatstroke, so at every water station, we guzzled multiple bottles and even stuffed ice cubes in our clothes to beat the heat. Thankfully, thanks to the team’s unity and mutual encouragement, all four of us crossed the finish line together." He added that although the conditions were tough—and despite the high water quality, the lake water was too warm, and the weather unbearably hot—there were many times they wanted to quit. But it wasn’t until crossing the finish line that they realized they had succeeded, completing China’s original "Eco-Four Open" challenge.
Notably, the Luzhou Medical College Triathlon Team, which came in second, finished just over ten minutes behind the leaders. They had been significantly behind at the start. Team captain Mao Shukai explained after the race, "We paddled too fast. Cycling, swimming, and running are our strengths because all our members regularly compete in triathlons and rarely do kayaking. But everyone worked together, and we planned to catch up as much as possible in the cycling leg—we really pushed hard—but we only caught sight of the leaders during the running stage, and still couldn’t close the gap." He added, "Although we didn’t win the championship, the race helped train our team, improve coordination, and was very rewarding."
On the evening of August 17, the Suqian Municipal People's Government held a press conference attended by Vice Mayor Shen Haibin, Director of the Suqian Sports Bureau Zang Guangfu, Secretary-General of the Suqian Municipal Government Ge Xiangyu, Director of the Suqian Municipal Government Information Office Liu Yang, and Director of the Lakeside New District Management Committee Zhao Chang. Vice Mayor Shen Haibin expressed hope that the "Eco-Four" event could become a unique brand for Suqian’s Luoma Lake. He highlighted that the "Luoma Lake Swim" and "Luoma Lake Kayak" were particularly exciting, as these events were originally designed based on the area’s unique natural advantages. He noted the moderate intensity of the events, recalling how participants—along with celebrity guests—chatted and enjoyed the scenery during the first day’s trial event without even feeling tired. Suqian’s leaders emphasized that Suqian is a place with distinct characteristics in ecological construction and civilization, notably represented by Luoma Lake and Hongze Lake. This original "Eco-Four Open" aligns well with public interest and features low barriers to participation. While improving physical health and bringing joy, it also helps participants deeply understand the importance of ecological development, inspiring them to contribute to environmental protection and building an eco-friendly home in various ways.
Liu Jianxin, President of Jiangsu Canal Culture City Investment and Development Co., Ltd., shared with reporters that the company is grounded in global canal culture, using cultural and tourism industries as platforms. The Canal Culture City primarily centers around two scenic areas—East Lake and West Lake—where the essence of the canal is concentrated, symbolizing the canal’s cultural heritage and sharing it with the world. The decision to collaborate with the "Eco-Four Open" was driven by the opportunity presented by this original domestic competition. The company’s projects include eco-leisure, tourism and vacation, sports exhibitions, and cultural creativity, aiming to create a beloved, healthy, and livable destination. Liu concluded that the company has the capability and confidence to continue hosting the "Eco-Four Open" and, leveraging its sports experience tourism initiatives, elevate the event to an international level.
Dr. Zhang Jian, the planner of this event and China’s foremost long-distance swimmer, explained that the competition events and route were designed to encompass and highlight the most exquisite, distinctive local culture and pristine natural beauty of Suqian’s Luoma Lake. Participants, while enduring a challenging journey, can admire the surrounding skyscrapers and the vibrancy of modern city life, while also experiencing some of the toughest water and land sports—enjoying the intense contrast between physical endurance and mental exhilaration.