Yangcheng International Mountain Walking Festival Witnessing the New Green Action of the City

　With bouquets of flowers, Yangcheng in May is embracing a colorful early summer. On the morning of the May 25th, the 10th Huayuan Cup Beijing International Mountain Walking Festival Jincheng·Yangcheng Station and the 4th China Yangcheng International Walking Festival, held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspection of Yangcheng and the “Seeing the New Green” meeting, were launched, pushing Yangcheng cultural tourism festival activities to a climax.

　　With the theme of “Seeing the New Green Leisure Yangcheng”, the walking festival had 3 routes of 9 km, 12 km and 18 km respectively and attracted a total of nearly 10,000 Chinese and foreign walkers. The walkers from 35 countries including Russia, Britain, Ukraine, Brazil, Afghanistan, Mexico and India and a phalanx of nearly 1,000 walkers from various provinces and cities becoming a highlight of the event.

　　The activity kicked off with the magnificent national anthem. The launching ceremony was presided over by Zhu Huijie, vice secretary of the Yangcheng County Committee of the Communist Party of China. Shi Xiaolin, deputy secretary of the CPC Yangcheng County Committee and county chief, delivered a speech. Mr. Shi delivered a warm and sincere speech. On behalf of the County Party Committee and the County Government, and on behalf of the 400,000 villagers in the county, he extended a warm welcome to friends from all walks of life from afar and made a brief introduction to “Leisure Yangcheng, Health Resort”. As a guest speaker, Xu Qiang, secretary general of Beijing NGO, fully affirmed that the Yangcheng Walking Festival was a concrete manifestation of the general secretary's idea of “Clear waters and green mountains are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver” and expressed that he would continue to support Yangcheng in running the event to make outstanding achievements, and actively carry out international activities in the walking field in conjunction with Shanxi Province. Under the grand announcement of Dou Sanma, secretary of the Yangcheng County Committee of the Communist Party of China, a team of nearly 10,000 people, with colorful flags and shouting slogans, walked with vigorous steps in the picturesque scenery along the banks of Runhu Lake, blooming with passion and vitality of health and beauty.

　　Wu Zhiyong, deputy director of Beijing Mentougou District Sports Bureau, Yang Jing, official technical representative of the International Hiking Federation, Xu Huilong, deputy general manager of Huayuan Group, and relevant leaders of Shanxi Province and cities, leaders of the four leading groups of Yangcheng County and Party Committee secretaries and (township) mayors of 17 villages and towns in the county attended the launching ceremony.

　　Reporters from major news media including People's Daily Overseas Network, People's Network, China News Network, CCTV, Shanxi TV Station, People's Daily, Shanxi Daily and Taihang Daily followed and reported on the walking festival.