Xiangxi Hosts Its First National-level Sports Competition

The China (Shibadong) Mountain Cross-country Challenge kicked off at the Shibadong Village on November 3, 2024. The race was organized by the Mountaineering Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Mountaineering Association, and the Sports Bureau of Hunan Province. It was the first national sports event held in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

The race was divided into three categories: 10km race for the Red Inheritance group, 24km race for the Red Reinforcement group, and 42km race for the Red Revitalization group. More than 1,000 participants from 15 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Liaoning attended.

As the place where the idea of "targeted poverty alleviation" was first put forward, Shibadong Village provided an ideal venue for this mountain cross-country challenge race, thanks to its unique natural scenery, profound cultural heritage of the Miao people, and rich historical legacy. The track wound through picturesque Miao villages, enabling the competitors to experience the local ethnic culture while racing.

The Shibadong Village is a "red or revolutionary landmark of the new era", witnessing booming culture and tourism industrial development. In order to further popularize the red tourism brand, Huayuan County has actively explored "sports plus" culture and tourism new forms, hosting competitions to promote tourism and integrating sports with tourism. Its sports consumer market has expanded, winning such honorary titles as Advanced Collective at the National Minority Traditional Sports Games and Advanced Collective for Provincial Traditional Minority Sports Work.