As the 2023 Wanfenglin Half Marathon commenced, members of the China Storyteller Partnerships Tour of Amazing Guizhou embarked on their journey to explore the picturesque Xingyi city located in the Qianxi’nan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture.

Over 10,000 participants from around the world joined the marathon on 10 September, which was named in honor of the remarkable Wanfenglin scenic area. This region, characterized by its dense and unusually-shaped karst peaks spanning hundreds of kilometers, offers stunning views of the city, villages, farmland, and canyons, earning it a place among the six most beautiful peak forests in China according to Chinese National Geography.

Wanfenglin is not only abundant in natural beauty, but also rich in the cultural heritage of the Bouyei ethnic group. The area is home to the national intangible cultural heritage site, Bayin Zuochang, a Bouyei band where members play eight different instruments while singing. The Bouyei brocade design gained international recognition at this year’s China International Fashion Week in Beijing earlier in September.

The prefecture capital, Xingyi, boasts China’s largest man-made lake and fifth-largest freshwater lake, Wanfeng Lake. Spanning 176 square kilometers and holding 10.26 billion cubic meters of water, the lake was created by the Tianshengqiao I Hydropower Station Dam, a major national hydro power project situated at the junction of Guizhou, Yunnan provinces, and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Wanfeng Lake is becoming a haven for water sports enthusiasts and outdoor lovers, offering activities like wild fishing, speed boating, yachting, kayaking, and more, all surrounded by karst peaks and ethnic villages, as reported by
China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS.

Xingyi holds the permanent title of International Conference of Mountain Tourism and Outdoor Sports venue, with this year’s conference began on 15 September and featuring the Wanfenglin marathon event.

Established during the China Internet Media Forum in April, the China Storyteller Partnerships aim to create a superior internet platform and support international content creators in crafting high-quality narratives about China’s accomplishments and practices.

Photo:
China Daily