The 2024 National Hiking Race is held along the Donghai Greenway in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province on April 21. [Photo/Tide News] 

The 2024 National Hiking Race, also known as the Most Beautiful Zhejiang Hiking Trail Challenge, commenced along the Donghai Greenway in Dinghai district, Zhoushan, Zhejiang province on April 21.

The event attracted over 3,000 hiking enthusiasts from both within and outside the province, converging on the greenway, often referred to as "the natural oxygen bar of China."

The race featured a 5-kilometer leisure route and a competitive route, drawing in 2,500 and 500 sports enthusiasts, respectively.

Participants journeyed through scenic spots such as the Opium War Memorial Park, traversed the Dinghai National Mountaineering Trail, and explored the Donghai Cultural Corridor, immersing themselves in the district's breathtaking cultural and natural landscapes.

Dinghai has made significant strides in constructing appealing public sports spaces to encourage mass participation in sports and promote the idea of "traveling with sporting events." It has hosted a series of influential events, including the World Orienteering Championships, the Donghai Greenway Mountain Half Marathon, and the National Hiking Race, fostering an in-depth integration of leisure sports and tourism.