The 2025 National Urban Linkage Relay Race of the China National Fitness Walking (Running) Competition (Nanxi Station, Sichuan) will officially start on March 29 in Nanxi District, Yibin City.

As one of the important linkage cities of this event, Nanxi is a historical and cultural city and a model of ecological livability in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It has a well-preserved group of ancient city walls from the Ming Dynasty, the red landmark of Zhu De's Former Residence, as well as natural scenic spots such as Qidong Lake Wetland and Yingzhou Pavilion on the Heart Island. Relying on the ecological resources of the Yangtze River and its thousand-year cultural heritage, Nanxi District will create a comprehensive sports event that integrates national fitness, cultural and tourism experiences, and urban brand promotion.

The 2025 National Urban Linkage Relay Race of the China National Fitness Walking (Running) Competition is jointly participated by the People's Government of Chongming District, Shanghai, the People's Government of Sanya City, Hainan Province, the Social Sports Guidance Center of Chongqing City, the Administrative Committee of Wansheng Economic and Technological Development Zone, Chongqing City, the People's Government of Fengdu County, Chongqing City, the People's Government of Kaizhou District, Chongqing City, the People's Government of Fuding City, Fujian Province, the Social Sports Guidance and Service Center of Hunan Province, the People's Government of Qiyang City, Hunan Province, the People's Government of Guangshan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province, the Social Sports Guidance Center of Anhui Province, the People's Government of Yeji District, Lu'an City, Anhui Province, the People's Government of Jixi County, Anhui Province, the Social Sports Guidance Center of Sichuan Province, the People's Government of Nanxi District, Yibin City, Sichuan Province, the People's Government of Shehong City, Suining City, Sichuan Province, the People's Government of Chuanshan District, Suining City, Sichuan Province, the People's Government of Daying County, Suining City, Sichuan Province, and the People's Government of Anju District, Suining City, Sichuan Province, forming a collaborative mechanism of "one city hosting the event with multiple cities in linkage". As an important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River and a historical and cultural city, Nanxi participates in the linkage with the "Ecological Track along the Yangtze River" as the core highlight. Through resource sharing and mutual learning of experiences, it further promotes the innovation of the "Sports + Culture and Tourism" model and injects new impetus into the national fitness cause.

This event sets up two major groups with a total scale of 5,000 people. The route of the 5-kilometer fitness walking experience group (2,000 people) starts and ends at Xianyuan Square, and goes along Beibin Road through the Nanxi Xianyuan Yangtze River Bridge and the fitness trail of Binjiang Ecological Sports Park, showing the urban style of "half the city is mountains and waters, and half the city is poetry". The route of the 21-kilometer fitness walking (running) challenge group (3,000 people) extends to areas such as the Binjiang Greenway, Changjiang Village, and Happy Rural Park, passing through historical and cultural landmarks such as Piaohai Tower. Participants can closely feel the unique charm of Nanxi where "humanities and ecology coexist".

Nanxi District has a history of over 1,500 years of city construction and is a "city of humanities" with the most well-preserved ancient city walls in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River so far. As an "ecological city", Nanxi has a 36-kilometer waterfront line close to the Yangtze River. Herons are flying gracefully in Qidong Lake Wetland, and the Heart Island of Yingzhou Pavilion is lush with bamboos and trees. In addition, Nanxi has hosted national-level auto cross-country races, college volleyball games and other events for many consecutive years. It has built a standardized cultural and sports center and Binjiang Sports Park, and the upsurge of national fitness continues to heat up, continuously injecting surging impetus into urban development and demonstrating a vigorous development trend. Currently, Nanxi District is promoting the event preparation work with high standards: actively preparing around aspects such as track safety assurance, medical emergency response, and transportation connection services to ensure a professional and humanized event experience for participants. At the same time, as an important participating unit in the national urban linkage relay race, Nanxi District will deepen cooperation with other linkage cities, share the experience in ecological track design, and jointly promote the integration projects of culture, sports and tourism.

It is reported that this event is sponsored by the Social Sports Guidance Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, undertaken by the Social Sports Guidance Center of Sichuan Province and the People's Government of Nanxi District, Yibin City, co-organized by the Education and Sports Bureau of Nanxi District, Yibin City, and executed by Shanghai Yixing Sports Development Co., Ltd. (Text/Photos: Education and Sports Bureau of Nanxi District)