On June 5th, the press conference for "The Road of Discovery · Exploring Getu" —— the 2016 Global Elite Jungle Crossing Challenge was held ceremoniously in the Golden Hall of the Bird’s Nest. Guests from institutions such as Fudan University School of Management, Renmin University of China Business School, Shandong University Business School, Peking University...Guanghua School of Management,...the University of Texas at Arlington, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, University of Science and Technology Beijing Business School, City University of Hong Kong Business School, and other global universities; veteran “Tubao” participants who joined the previous two editions; as well as guests from various sectors and journalists, witnessed the thrilling unveiling of the competition philosophy, route, and related rules for Tubao 3.
As an outdoor cross-country running event that has been successfully held twice, "The Road of Discovery · Exploring Getu" —— the Global Elite Jungle Crossing Challenge was founded in 2014. With the core philosophy of "Crossing the Mystical Land, Discovering Yourself," the event is hosted by the People's Government of Ziyun Miao and Buyi Autonomous County, organized by Qianbaidu Communication Group, and exclusively planned and operated by the professional sports event company MySports. The third edition of the event (hereinafter referred to as Tubao 3) will take place from August 17th to 21st, 2016, in the Getu River basin of Ziyun Miao and Buyi Autonomous County, Anshun City, Guizhou Province, which boasts some of the world’s most stunning karst landscapes. Tubao 3 will continue the multi-day team race format of the previous two editions. Participants will form their own teams or be assigned by the organizing committee to compete in a three-day, 101.75-kilometer crossing challenge, vying for both team and individual awards.
Peak Dialogue Focuses on the Healthy Development of Cross-Country Running
With the growing popularity of cross-country running in China and the explosive increase in events over the past two years, while to some extent satisfying runners’ desires to explore nature and push their limits, negative news regarding participant experience and the organization and services of events have often appeared in the media. Therefore, at this press conference, a peak dialogue titled "How to Satisfy Runners’ Ambitions" brought together seven figures from various fields, including Cai Yingyuan, General Manager of the Outdoor Sports Division of LeSports; Ren Hongwei, Standing Committee Member of the Ziyun Autonomous County Committee and Minister of the County Propaganda Department; Shen Nr, EMBA from Fudan University School of Management; Zhang Lin, Vice President of Nielsen Greater China; Wang Feng, Chairman of the Holy Flame Group and Founding President of the Jingying Outdoor Club of Renmin University EMBA; Xu Jie’er, a well-known Taiwanese entertainer and cross-country running enthusiast; and Ma Demin, a promoter of cross-country running and General Manager of Beijing Sino International Culture Communication Co., Ltd.
The guests engaged in insightful discussions and shared perspectives on topics such as the diverse physical and mental needs of runners in cross-country races, the criteria by which runners judge the value of participating in such events, how to establish standards for the positioning, scale, and various aspects of cross-country races, and how to continuously improve event quality in terms of operation and service. They also used the "Road of Discovery" event as an example to share their views on better promoting cross-country running and fostering its healthy development.
The Fun-Running Concept Leads to the Upgrade of the Road of Discovery
Compared to the previous edition, Tubao 3 has moderately reduced the race length and difficulty while ensuring that the challenge and experience remain uncompromised. A set of straightforward comparative data illustrates this: Tubao 2 had a total distance of 105 kilometers and an accumulated elevation gain of over 4,000 meters; Tubao 3 covers 101.75 kilometers with a cumulative elevation gain of 3,782 meters. Speaking about this change, Mr. Liang Fangyong, Chief Judge of Tubao 3 and one of the course designers, explained that the reduction in length and difficulty is intended to allow participants to run more freely and enjoyably.
According to the race route released by the organizing committee, the first day of Tubao 3 covers 35.65 kilometers with an elevation gain of 1,500 meters, making it the most challenging segment of the three-day race. The second day’s route is 29.6 kilometers with 1,473 meters of elevation gain, the easiest of the three days, while the final day spans 36.5 kilometers with 755 meters of climbing.
Regarding the rationale behind the course and stage design, Chen Liang, the Event Director of MySports, the exclusive operating planning agency for the event, explained: “Our event philosophy is very clear — we aim to provide all participants with an in-depth experience of outdoor fun-running. Therefore, our course and stage design are based on a reasonable distribution according to the participants' physical conditions. On the first day, participants will have ample energy and will still be full of curiosity about a new environment, so we’ve designed a more challenging first day. We’ve also incorporated Getu’s most iconic natural attraction, the Swallow Cave, and the cultural site of the cave-dwelling Miao tribe into the route. This allows participants to fully experience Getu’s landmark natural and cultural sites while testing their limits with full energy. On the second day, we’ve significantly reduced both the distance and climbing, partly considering the energy expenditure from the first day and also aiming to give participants space to connect with nature, themselves, and others. Although the difficulty and distance are lower, the second day offers a rich and enjoyable experience. The route passes through a 10,000-mu vineyard at an altitude of 1,220 meters, and our campsite for the second night is located nearby, atop a mountain, offering a view of Getu’s beautiful night scenery and starry sky. Paired with a whole roasted lamb and various fun camp activities, it ensures participants can forget the fatigue of consecutive days of racing and freely enjoy the outdoor experience of sleeping under the stars. The final day is the last push to determine rankings, so after a day of rest, participants will undoubtedly go all out. The final day’s route is the longest in distance but has the lowest elevation gain. We want participants to run with total freedom and give their all. Of course, at the start of the third day, we’ve deliberately added a bit of difficulty — participants will descend continuously from an altitude of 1,176 meters down to 754 meters.”
Yang Jichuan, Chairman of Qianbaidu Communication Agency, the event organizer, said in an interview: “If Tubao 1 and Tubao 2 were about exploration and validation through practice, then Tubao 3 has formed a more distinctive personality and unique brand style for our discovery events. We hope that everyone who participates in the Discovery events can engage in a dialogue between themselves, others, and nature within picturesque, mystical surroundings, and discover the most authentic version of themselves while running.”
High-Quality Support to Ensure Runner Safety
Interestingly, at this press conference, the organizing committee creatively released a set of data regarding the organization and service support for Tubao 2. This included the total consumption of meat, vegetables, and fruit by participants during the event, as well as the numbers of volunteers, vehicles, special police, rescue personnel, and medical staff involved in the event’s service support. The first public release of this data created a small sensation on-site.
According to participants who took part in both Tubao 1 and Tubao 2, the organizing committee of the Road of Discovery has placed great emphasis on service and safety since the first edition, and the overall service and safety systems of the event can be considered top-tier.
Yang Zhi, Secretary-General of the Road of Discovery Organizing Committee, said: “During the organization of the event, the organizing committee treats safety and volunteer service as two core pillars, building a complete system and standards around these areas. The government and operating companies communicate closely, allocate resources reasonably, and ensure that every step is strictly carried out according to standards and procedures. Contingency plans for emergencies are also in place. For Tubao 3, we will maintain this system as always. In short, we hope that while prioritizing safety, participants can enjoy high-quality services and support in a challenging and rewarding race.”
Cross-Sector Collaboration Propels the Road of Discovery Forward
After two years of accumulation and refinement, the Road of Discovery event has gradually matured. Liu Qing, Secretary-General of the China Extreme Sports Association, which has been in in-depth cooperation with the event’s exclusive planning operator, MySports, also expressed her intention to further deepen collaboration with MySports. The two parties will create a series of more participatory and engaging extreme sports events and activities, jointly shaping a bright future for China’s extreme sports scene.
In addition to the Extreme Sports Association, two celebrity entertainers also established deeper ties with the Road of Discovery at this press conference. One is the versatile Taiwanese celebrity and cross-country running enthusiast Xu Jie’er, known online as the “Running Woman,” who was appointed as the Chief Promotional Ambassador for the Road of Discovery. The other is the renowned director, actor, and outdoor sports enthusiast Xiong Xinxin, who participated in the full courses of both Tubao 1 and Tubao 2. At this press conference, he was awarded the honorary title of Meritorious Participant of the Road of Discovery by the organizing committee.
Furthermore, as the Discovery events continue to grow, more partners are joining in. The professional outdoor brand Kailas (凯乐石), having been the sole designated equipment sponsor for Tubao 2, once again becomes the exclusive gear partner for Tubao 3. At this...press conference...Kailas...also collaborated with veterans from Shandong University Business School, Fudan University School of Management, Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, and Renmin University Business School, along with professional...models, to present...a refreshing...and cool...equipment showcase.... Among the event’s partners, we also saw domestic and international brands such as Red Bull Vitamin Drink, ZhiXingHeYi Travel, Migu ShanPao, Wang Juncheng Purple Clay Art Museum, German timing system SportIdent, Canadian bicycle brand NORCO, and Japanese tech product Karei Strong, as well as lifestyle brands like Yang Zhanggui, Ushi Butler, Shihan Spring, and Jiang Rong French Wine Club.
The Road of Discovery Helps Ziyun Tourism Reach New Heights
At the press conference, the promotional video for the event, "Through the Mysterious Land, Discover Yourself," was met with widespread admiration upon its screening. The video showcased the stunningly pristine natural landscapes of the Ziyun Guizhou River basin, interwoven with dynamic scenes of athletes traversing the area and challenging themselves—painting a perfect picture of harmony between humans and nature. Many attendees were left in awe, noting that such a course could truly be called a hidden paradise on Earth. Yang Yang from the Business School of Shandong University remarked, “Just the breathtaking scenery of Ziyun alone makes it worth experiencing the feeling of running through a painting.”
It is understood that Ziyun boasts abundant tourism resources and unique ethnic and folk culture. The region features peculiar peak forests, deep canyons, grand karst caves, crisscrossing underground rivers, magical color-changing lakes, and the nation’s only surviving primeval forest known as the “Blind Valley.” It is also home to the world’s last cave-dwelling tribe—the Zhongdong villagers—the world’s largest colored karst cave—the Miao Hall—the world’s highest ancient riverbed site—the Chuanshang Cave—the world’s most mysterious Miao heroic epic—the King Yalu, and the world’s most unique free solo rock climbing—the Spider Men, among other natural tourism resources. The area has been hailed as the “World Capital of Rock Climbing and Outdoor Sports Paradise,” the “Hometown of King Yalu,” the “Land of Karst Caves,” the “Home of Chinese Folk Culture and Arts,” and the “Home of Chinese Folk Acrobatic Culture and Arts,” among other titles.
At this press conference,Wu Xiaomin, Deputy County Head of the Ziyun Autonomous County People's Government; Wei Chao Fu, Director of the Guizhou Ziyun Autonomous County Guizhou River Management Office; and Wang Kaijun, Deputy General Manager of the Guizhou Ziyun Autonomous County Tourism Ecological Development and Construction Co., Ltd., made a special trip from Guizhou. In an interview, Deputy County Head Wu Xiaomin explained that although Ziyun remains underdeveloped economically—with 90,200 people still living below the poverty line—the countryside is lush with greenery, and small buildings dot the hillsides nestled within nature. The local people enjoy an oxygen-rich life surrounded by green mountains and clear waters. Through the vigorous promotion of the “1+N” town-village linkage model, implementation of the “Six Action Plans,” and advancement of the “Four in the Countryside · Beautiful Village” initiative alongside relocation programs for poverty alleviation, rural agricultural populations will achieve localized urbanization. They will live in the countryside while enjoying a uniquely urban lifestyle. Currently, Ziyun is making full use of its rich natural resources, combined with cultural attractions and unique ethnic customs, with the Guizhou River Scenic Area as the leading force, to promote integrated tourism models combining rural tourism, agri-tourism, sports tourism, and cultural tourism. The goal is to create a comprehensive, all-region tourism map for Ziyun, upgrade the county’s transportation infrastructure, and develop a distinctive upgraded tourism experience integrating sightseeing, leisure, entertainment, vacation, and outdoor sports.
It is understood that the 2016 Global Elite Jungle Crossing Challenge is a key component of the 2016 “Discover Ziyun” series of events. Following this, the Ziyun Autonomous County will also host a series of activities including the “June 6” Buyi Ethnic Festival, a friendly basketball match featuring star players from the United States, Lithuania, and two other countries, the Guizhou International Rock Climbing Festival, a mountain outdoor sports and leisure competition, and a thousand-person hike along the Guizhou River—all aimed at helping the outside world further engage with, understand, promote, recommend, build, and develop Ziyun.
