The 2024 Xiangxi Aizhai Bridge High-altitude Triathlon Challenge kicked off at the Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area in Jishou City on September 22, attracting 300 participants from all over the country. In this competition, the cross-country running was combined with high-altitude entertainment projects for the first time, allowing participants to run in the picturesque canyon and experience thrilling excitement between towering cliffs and the cloud bridge.
The high-altitude triathlon consists of A Walk in the Clouds, High Bridge Matrix, and Via Ferrata.
With a distance of 16 kilometers, the course of the cross-country running passes through famous local tourist attractions such as Dehang Miao Village, Yuquan Creek, Tianwen Viewing Platform, and Aizhai Bridge. Among them, Aizhai Bridge, the steel truss suspension bridge with the largest span between canyons in the world, has been rated as one of the “Top Ten Most Beautiful Bridges in China” by the China Highway and Transportation Society.
“This competition is a brand new event tailored to local tourism resources and characteristics,” said an official of Jishou City. It is the first time for the city to hold the triathlon challenge, aiming to involve more people in fitness, and promote the high-quality development of the tourism industry.
Jishou City is the core area of the national-level Wuling Mountain Area (Xiangxi) Tujia and Miao Cultural and Ecological Protection Zone. The city has been listed as one of the “Top 100 Tourism Counties in China” for four consecutive years, and Aizhai Wonders Tourist Area has been recognized as one of the “Top 100 5A Scenic Areas for Brand Communication in China” for three consecutive years.
In recent years, Jishou City has vigorously developed mass sports undertakings, enhanced the core competitiveness of competitive sports, and improved the popularity of characteristic event brands such as the Aizhai Bridge marathon and bicycle race, promoting the integrated development of sports and tourism.
According to statistics, from January to August 2024, Jishou City received a total of 14.028 million tourists and achieved tourism revenue of 13.914 billion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 7.62% and 9.41% respectively.
Chinese source: hunantoday
