In 2025 — the Year of the National Games — movement never stops. Inspired by the spirit of the 15th National Games and the deep-rooted Healthy China initiative, Zhouning County turned its mountains and rivers into a grand stage, proudly hosting the Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate Hiking Challenge on December 27.

Under the theme Tracing Winter’s Landscape Scroll, Walking the Ancient Path of Historical Poetry, the event featured a meticulously designed 12-kilometer route that offers a seamless journey through Zhouning’s dual winter wonders.

The journey began at the thousand-year-old Liyuxi, where participants strolling along cobblestone alleys, watching golden carp glide beneath the surface, and savoring the quiet nostalgia of ancestral traditions. They then ascended Xianfeng Mountain, where the Silver Ancient Trail reveals the rare southern spectacle of rime frost and sea of clouds — like stepping into a living ink-wash painting.

The route culminated at Jiulongji Waterfall, acclaimed as the “Number One Waterfall in East China.” Nine tiers of cascading water tumble through a sea of crimson maple leaves, where fiery red maples meet soaring white torrents, and mist refracts prismatic light into a breathtaking visual symphony.