Mountaineering points competition kicks off to promote national fitness

As the national fitness strategy deepens and the construction of a healthy China accelerates, hiking and mountaineering have become key trends, symbolizing the public's pursuit of health and the spirit of the times.

In response to the growing demand for sports and culture, the Huaqing Palace Scenic Area in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, one of China's first 5A-level tourist attractions, has embraced current trends and innovatively launched the "Huaqing Palace Lishan Annual Mountaineering Points Competition".

The event adopts an innovative "year-round cycle + points incentive" model, creating a year-long, regular mountaineering competition that invites hiking enthusiasts from across the country to participate.

Participants can enjoy the stunning scenery of Lishan Mountain and the cultural heritage of the prosperous Tang Dynasty (618-907) while having fun with sports and competing for generous rewards. The competition offers a grand cash prize of 100,000 yuan ($14,070) as the top annual reward.

As the starting gun fired, thousands of contestants began their journey from Wangjingmen, passing key points along the way to the Beacon Tower finish line. Footsteps, laughter, and birdsong created a lively "mountain climbing symphony".

Along the route, staff dressed in Tang attire greeted participants with traditional Tang rituals. Tang-style dances and float parades were held in rotation, while traditional sports like cuju (an ancient Chinese ball game) and touhu (arrow throwing) were available for everyone to try. The journey was a showcase of Tang dynasty elegance and charm.

Each check-in point features historical insights into Lishan culture, blending images and text to bring the concept of "one step, one point, one step, one lesson" to life. This makes the mountaineering journey not only a physical challenge but also a rich cultural and scenic experience.

This competition moves beyond the traditional one-time schedule, introducing an innovative year-round points system. Over the course of the year, participants can earn points by taking part in multiple mountaineering events, completing themed challenges, and answering questions on history and culture.

The competition offers a range of rewards, including monthly, quarterly, and annual prizes, creating a fitness platform that keeps participants engaged and motivated.

According to the organizers, the top 20 monthly point leaders will receive cash rewards from 500 to 2,000 yuan, while the "King of Mountaineering", the top player in the annual rankings, will win a cash prize of 100,000 yuan.

The First Huaqing Palace Lishan Annual Mountaineering Points Competition is an innovative fusion of "cultural tourism + sports," aligning with the "Healthy China" and "Building a Thriving Socialist Culture" strategies.

Gao Jie, secretary of the Party committee and chairman of Shaanxi Huaqing Palace Cultural Tourism Co Ltd, explained that Huaqing Palace has integrated over 60 Tang-inspired performances with mountaineering events, creating a new platform for national fitness.

Huaqing Palace will build on this event to integrate Lishan’s ecology and Tang Dynasty culture, launching more activities like "mountaineering + culture" and "mountaineering + education". These initiatives aim to create a win-win situation between national fitness and ecological tourism, driving the high-quality development of local cultural, sports, and tourism industries.