A new year brings new beginnings, and everyone takes a step up. On January 1, 2019, the "China Sports Lottery" 2019 National New Year Hiking and Fitness Event (Guangdong Main Venue) and the Guangdong Famous Mountains (Xiqiao Mountain) Hiking Competition were held at the Xiqiao Mountain Scenic Area in Nanhai District, Foshan City. Thirty thousand participants, including hikers, fitness enthusiasts, citizens, and tourists from across the country, reached the summit of Xiqiao Mountain to celebrate New Year’s Day and welcome the new year.
Four Consecutive Years of New Year Hiking Events
Hiking to enjoy the distant view is a traditional way for the Chinese people to greet the new year, symbolizing good health, career success, and happiness in the coming year. The National New Year Hiking and Fitness Event is the first national fitness activity of the year and has been held continuously for 23 editions, making this the 24th edition. This long-standing event has become one of the key platforms for promoting nationwide fitness, developing sports and leisure industries, and leading a healthy lifestyle in China. This year’s event spanned all 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in the country, with over 100 activity locations. The Xiqiao Mountain Scenic Area in Nanhai District, Foshan City, served as the Guangdong main venue for this year's National New Year Hiking and Fitness Event. This also marks the fourth consecutive year since 2016 that Xiqiao Mountain has hosted the New Year Hiking Event. The activity was also one of the highlights of the 2019 Lingnan New Year Folk Culture Festival in the western three towns of Nanhai District, Foshan.
The "China Sports Lottery" 2019 National New Year Hiking and Fitness Event (Guangdong Main Venue) and the Guangdong Famous Mountains (Xiqiao Mountain) Hiking Competition were organized by the General Administration of Sport of China. The event was co-hosted by the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Sports Lottery Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau, and the Chinese Mountaineering Association. Co-organizers included the Guangdong Provincial Social Sports Center, the Guangdong Fitness Mountaineering Sports Association, the Guangdong Sports Lottery Management Center, the Sports Channel of Guangdong Radio and Television, the Nanhai District Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (Tourism Bureau) of Foshan City, the People’s Government of Xiqiao Town, Nanhai District, Foshan City, and the Office of the Xiqiao Mountain Scenic Area Management Committee.
Leaders and guests in attendance included Mai Liang, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau; Zhang Zhuangwen, Deputy Director of the Provincial Health Qigong Management Office; Zheng Fengling, Deputy Director of the Mass Sports Division of the Provincial Sports Bureau; Qian Jianguo, Head of the Provincial Social Sports Center; Wu Wenge, Deputy Director of the Sports Channel of Guangdong Radio and Television; Li Bin, President of the Guangdong Fitness Mountaineering Sports Association; Li Yan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Nanhai District Committee; Chen Zhaoyi, Deputy Director of the District Party Committee Office and District Government Office; Liang Huayan, Director of the District Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Tourism Bureau; Li Runlai, Deputy Secretary of the Xiqiao Town Party Committee; Xian Liusheng, Party Committee Member and Deputy Town Mayor of Xiqiao Town; Wu Xinyu, Party Committee Member of Xiqiao Town; Pei Zongling and Li Wen, also Party Committee Members of Xiqiao Town.
"The National New Year Hiking and Fitness Event (Guangdong Main Venue) and the Guangdong Famous Mountains (Xiqiao Mountain) Hiking Competition have been held on Xiqiao Mountain for four consecutive years. Along the way, the event has received strong support and active participation from the public and hiking enthusiasts in our province, with the scale and influence growing larger every year," said Zhang Zhuangwen, Deputy Director of the Provincial Health Qigong Management Office. He noted that the event integrates culture, tourism, and sports, aiming to boost the development of mass sports activities throughout the province and promote the integration of national fitness and public health. He expressed hope that the local authorities would continue to expand the event, providing the public with high-quality and diverse sports and tourism offerings.
At 9:30 a.m., the starting gun fired, and the hiking officially began. The route of this hiking competition was thoughtfully designed, covering approximately 10 kilometers in total and passing through major scenic spots on Xiqiao Mountain. It features both picturesque natural landscapes and culturally rich historical sites. Service checkpoints were set up in Yunlu Village and the Shiyanyan Parking Lot. The detailed route is as follows: Xiqiao Mountain North Gate Biyu Square (Start) → Donghu Kou → Shipai Village Footpath → South China Sea Guanyin Scenic Area Main Gate → Grass Skiing Field → Azalea Garden → Peach Blossom Garden → Yunlu Village (4.5Km, Service Checkpoint) → Tea Flower Garden → Square Bamboo Garden → Square Bamboo Parking Lot → Jiulongyan → Donggu Stone → Shiyanyan → Shiyanyan Parking Lot (7.5Km, Service Checkpoint) → Biyun Crossroad → Biyun Hotel Parking Lot → Leafless Well → Cuiyan Scenic Area → Shipai Village Road → Side Gate of Baofeng Temple → Baofeng Temple → South China Sea Guanyin Archway Plaza (10Km, Finish Line)
Low Temperatures Fail to Dampen Citizens’ Hiking Enthusiasm
Participants from across the country, including hikers, fitness enthusiasts, citizens, and tourists, trekked through the forests of Xiqiao Mountain while enjoying its stunning scenery. Despite the cold weather, it did not diminish the enthusiasm of the public for hiking to welcome the new year.
This competition featured both a professional group and a public group, with many local residents from Xiqiao and surrounding areas joining the public group. Mr. Chen, a local from Xiqiao, expressed great pride in hosting such a major sporting event in his hometown. He said that aside from hiking and exercising, participants could also take in the beautiful views of Xiqiao Mountain. He added that these events are excellent and should be held annually.
"Running the whole course felt great," said Chen Bosheng from Nanzhuang, who was the first to cross the finish line. "Hiking on Xiqiao Mountain on the first day of the new year is very meaningful for fitness!"
In recent years, Nanhai District of Foshan City has been committed to advancing the integrated development of culture, sports, and tourism, focusing on building cultural and sports tourism brands. It has continuously developed a series of branded cultural and sports tourism projects, such as the "Huang Feihong Cup" World Chinese Lion King Competition, the Nanhai Dragon Boat Race Invitational, and the National New Year Hiking Event. By leveraging branded sports to enrich tourism experiences and showcase the city’s image, the district has attracted widespread attention and participation from all sectors of society, achieving a win-win in brand building for both sports and tourism.
Wu Xinyu, Party Committee Member of Xiqiao Town, believes that through this event, hikers can not only engage in recreational hiking and fitness but also appreciate the historical and cultural scenery along the way. He stated that the 2019 New Year Hiking Event combines the cultural characteristics of Nanhai Xiqiao with the concept of a healthy and active lifestyle. The event allows the public to participate and enjoy, and he hopes everyone will step into the new year with an optimistic and positive attitude. In 2019, Xiqiao will also host major events such as the CCTV New Year’s Cup Lion King Competition and the 2019 Orienteering World Cup Finals.
Xiqiao Mountain is one of the birthplaces of Lingnan culture, and this hiking competition is a continuation of the Xiqiao Mountain Hiking Events held in 2017 and 2018, which is why this year’s race has garnered even more attention. In the future, Xiqiao will continue to develop more distinctive local fitness activities in forms that resonate with the public, tailored to local cultural characteristics, encouraging more people to get active and lead healthy lives.