On the morning of April 21, the second 10,000-person mountain climbing fitness event in Jiulongpo District was held on the Jiufengshan Mountain Hiking Trail in Jinfeng Town. Thirty-seven teams from government agencies, military units, enterprises, and other organizations across the district, comprising nearly 400 participants, competed at the main venue. Additionally, more than 2,000 mountain hiking enthusiasts took part in experience and interactive activities.
At 9:00 a.m., Hu Qiming, Standing Committee Member of the Jiulongpo District Committee and Head of the Propaganda Department, announced the opening of the mountain climbing event. With the sound of a whistle, hundreds of athletes dashed from the starting line, racing toward the mountaintop...
At 9:15, on the other side of the track, Hu Qiming, Zeng Rong, Rong Rong, Sui Jingling, and over 2,000 members of the public hiked together to enjoy the view from above.
"Keep it up, everyone—enjoy the beautiful scenery at the top!" Hu Qiming encouraged the crowd, adding that more such hiking trails should be built to provide more fitness opportunities for residents.
Tu Zerong, a 55-year-old villager from Hailan Village, picked wild vegetables along the trail as she climbed. She said it was her first time hiking with so many people, and she felt great—she was determined to reach the summit.
On the other side of the Jiufengshan Mountain Hiking Trail, an intense competition was underway. At 9 minutes, 33 seconds, and 28 milliseconds, contestant No. 48 became the first to cross the finish line in the men’s Group B category of the 5-kilometer fitness hike. Applause erupted from both sides of the track—the 5-kilometer race had been completed in just 18 minutes and 28 seconds.
"Regular training is even tougher than this," said contestant No. 48, Xie Shuang from the district's fire brigade. He explained that he runs 3,000 meters every morning, and every other day he does weighted running with a 30–40-pound load...
His hard work paid off with outstanding results—Xie Shuang was the first to cross the finish line. The six firefighters from the district’s fire brigade competing in the 5-kilometer hike (men’s Group B) also secured the top six positions in the event.
"Ten years ago, my stamina was very poor—I always felt listless throughout the day," said Jiao Yunhu, 56, from the district’s procuratorate, who finished third among many younger competitors in the men’s Group A 4-kilometer hike and still looked energetic and glowing after completing the course.
He shared that in 2001, he was diagnosed with diabetes, which greatly affected his energy and physical strength. That’s when he began exercising regularly—he used to run daily from Nanping to Danzishi. At first, he felt chest discomfort after running, so he switched to practicing Tai Chi and now exercises for at least one hour every morning. Over time, his stamina and mental state have improved significantly, and events like this mountain hike feel relatively easy. "Now I don’t even need to wear a sweater in winter, and I feel great," said Jiao Yunhu.
Wu Xiaoxia, a participant from the district public security bureau, also reaped the benefits of regular exercise. A few days before the event, she had lost her voice from mediating a public dispute, but she still finished second in the women’s Group A 2-kilometer hike and felt great afterward—she even ran an extra kilometer uphill.
In the end, the district’s fire brigade won both the men’s and women’s team championships. Zhang Shirong from Jinfeng Town claimed first place in the women’s Group A 2-kilometer hike with a time of 12 minutes and 46 seconds; Xu Xiaochun from the district finance bureau won the women’s Group B 4-kilometer hike with a time of 24 minutes and 29 seconds; Yu Wei from the district social security bureau took first in the men’s Group A 4-kilometer hike with a time of 21 minutes and 29 seconds; and Xie Shuang from the fire brigade won the men’s Group B 5-kilometer hike with a time of 18 minutes and 28 seconds.
On the same day, nine sub-venues across the eight western towns and Huayan Town each organized 2,000 participants for public mountain climbing fitness activities.
Side Story: No Worries About Selling Crops
"Two more bunches of shepherd’s purse, please." By the roadside near the main venue, mountain climbing participants who had just finished the race gathered to buy wild vegetables. Bai Genbi, a villager from Jiu Feng Village, quickly handed over two bundles of shepherd’s purse with a big smile. "One yuan per bundle—no need to weigh."
On the afternoon of the 20th, Bai Genbi, who lives near the main venue, noticed that platforms were being set up at the foot of Jiufeng Mountain. After finding out that a mountain climbing competition would be held the next day, she saw a business opportunity. Excited, she grabbed her basket and headed out to dig for shepherd’s purse.
Early on the 21st, she brought a basket full of shepherd’s purse and water dropwort to the area near the main venue. "City folks love these—during the pear blossom festival, I sold over 100 bundles in a single day," she told reporters with a smile. In her free time, she often visits the Jiufeng Mountain area because various festivals are frequently held there. With so many events, there’s no worry about selling crops—they’re usually sold out right at the doorstep.