Hike to the summit of Beijing, take in the majestic mountains, explore the lush green homeland, and embrace a healthy lifestyle. On the morning of July 18, the press conference for the 4th Beijing International Mountain Hiking Conference, hosted by the Zhongkun Cup, was held in the press briefing room of the Beijing Municipal People's Government Information Office. The registration for the 4th Beijing International Mountain Hiking Conference officially commenced.
This year’s hiking conference is themed “Trek Ancient Trails and Historic Villages, Lead a New Leisure Lifestyle” and “Hike Western Beijing, Enjoy All Seasons.” It is jointly organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, the People’s Government of Mentougou District, the Beijing Sports Federation, and the Beijing International Exchange Association of NGOs. The event will be held on September 14 and 15 in Zhaitang Town, Mentougou District. Starting today, hiking enthusiasts from around the world can visit the official website of the conference (www.bjwalking.com) to browse information and register online with payment. The registration deadline is 24:00 on August 18. A promotional season advocating scientific hiking and healthy exploration has also been launched.
At the press conference, Zhang Zhaohui, Secretary-General of the Beijing Sports Federation, on behalf of the organizing committee, extended a sincere invitation to hiking enthusiasts from home and abroad. Peng Lifeng, Standing Committee Member of the Mentougou District Party Committee and Minister of Propaganda, announced details about the 4th Hiking Conference. Together with Xu Qiang, Secretary-General of the Beijing International Exchange Association of NGOs, he unveiled the mascot for this edition. Five distinctive hiking routes, two days of tightly scheduled competitions, beautiful natural scenery, and the folk culture of Western Beijing will join forces with ten thousand participants to launch an international mountain sports carnival.
A Grand Hiking Event Creates a Premium International Sporting Spectacle
The Beijing International Mountain Hiking Conference is the first and currently the only international mountain sports brand event approved by the Beijing Municipal Government, and it is one of Beijing’s four major international premium sporting events. In May this year, building on the success of the previous three international mountain hiking activities and after a four-year application process, Beijing officially joined the International Hiking Federation, becoming its 25th member city. As a result, the Beijing International Mountain Hiking Conference has become an important stop on the federation’s annual event calendar. This edition not only attracted professional hikers from the International Hiking Federation, the Royal Dutch Hiking Association, and the Israel Long Distance Walking Challenge Foundation, but also gathered over ten thousand hiking enthusiasts including athletes, embassy and consulate officials, and international families from more than 40 countries and regions. The scale of participation and the level of internationalization reached unprecedented heights in the history of the event.
In terms of planning and organization, route and schedule design, service facilities, and marketing and promotion, this edition of the conference aligns with international standards and operates in accordance with professional international sports event protocols. Athletes in the 100-kilometer professional competitive group must be reviewed and approved by the organizing committee before completing online registration and payment. GPS tracking will be used during the race. The competition adopts net timing, allowing participants to start at any time within the designated start period at the official starting point without a unified departure. Timing equipment at both the start and finish lines will automatically record each participant’s race time—this is the only sporting event in China currently using net timing. Participants in the fitness and leisure group can register via the conference’s official website, and each participant’s time will be recorded using a timing chip. All those who complete the race will receive a certificate of completion certified by the International Hiking Federation. Checkpoints and supply stations along the route are staffed with judges, volunteers, and medical personnel to provide participants with route guidance, food and drink supplies, and medical assistance. With comprehensive service support and internationalized operational mechanisms, the Beijing International Mountain Hiking Conference has gradually become a “city business card” for both Mentougou District and Beijing in terms of external exchange.