The West Lake and Qiantang River in Hangzhou, one calm and the other rising and falling, are both sports destinations where one can run in the mountains and rivers or swim in the waves..
Therefore, in addition to the official sports events held in sports stadiums, Hangzhou’s popular sports have more regional characteristics..
Since the completion of the West Lake Ring Road in the 1920s and 1930s, the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Education Museum has organized people to participate in a race around the lake since 1932..
The route starts from the north gate of the People’s Education Museum (now Hubin Park), extends Shengtang Road, Beishan Street (or Baidi), Sudi, Jingsi, Changqiao, Qingbo Gate, Yongjin Gate, and finally returns to the People’s Education Museum, with a total distance of about 10000 meters..
The 360 degree scenic view of West Lake, with no blind spots throughout the entire journey, not only attracts Hangzhou runners, but also long-distance running enthusiasts from other places to participate..
The best record for the 1935 lake race was 35 minutes 46.6 seconds, set by Wang Zhenglin from the private Shanghai High School athletics team. Since then, this sport has continued to this day and is the predecessor of the Hangzhou International Marathon, which has run through the scenery and you..
However, this “most beautiful marathon” also has a “beautiful annoyance”, that is, when running over the Six Bridges of Suti, the athlete’s steady rhythm is completely disrupted for six consecutive ups and downs, and even some professional athletes feel “beautiful” after running. So now the Hangzhou Ma route has avoided the Su embankment and is running towards the Qiantang River..
“Riding the Tide” is synonymous with the pioneering spirit of Zhejiang people who bravely stand at the forefront of the tide, and it is also an ancient sports event on the Qiantang River. The Qiantang River has always been turbulent and unpredictable, with its tides dominating the world. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang came here, he saw “the water waves were evil” and had to cross them, which shows that “making tides” on the Qiantang River requires great courage..
At 9:00 am on August 5, 1934, more than 50000 Hangzhou residents gathered at the “Zhejiang First Wharf” in the Three Corridor Temple on the banks of the Qiantang River, waiting for “trendsetters” to cross the Qiantang River from the Xixing Wharf on the opposite bank. This is the Changfeng Swimming Club and Changfeng Swimming Team organized by amateur swimming enthusiasts in Hangzhou, together with the Shanghai Youth Swimming Team, launching the Cross Qiantang River Performance Competition..
24 “trendsetters” were racing on the river surface for over 1600 meters, chasing each other and competing fiercely..
It is worth mentioning that many swimmers are teenagers, and the youngest is Shen Jixing, who is 13 years old at Hangzhou High School Affiliated Primary School. These young warriors were fearless of wind and waves, bravely moving forward, and ultimately not only successfully crossed the river, but also achieved good rankings..
The microwaves of West Lake and the giant waves of Qianjiang River constitute the beauty of Hangzhou, and the integration and development of sports make it more vibrant and colorful..
International competitions follow one after another.
Various trendy movements are also on the rise with enthusiasm.