Over 1,000 athletes join Taizhou triathlon festival at Qinhu Lake

Triathletes swim in Qinhu Lake in Jiangyan district, Taizhou, Jiangsu. [Photo/WeChat account: wtz0523]

Five triathlon events were held simultaneously on May 30 at the Qinhu Lake Tourism Resort in Jiangyan district, Taizhou, attracting 1,018 athletes from 20 countries and regions, including China, Russia, Germany and Canada.

Participants ride along the Qinhu Avenue. [Photo/WeChat account: wtz0523]

The event reached a record level of participation this year, with 233 professional athletes and 785 amateur competitors taking part. Among them were 148 young triathletes, highlighting the event's commitment to both elite competition and grassroots sports development.

The event includes a 5 km road race around Qinhu Lake. [Photo/WeChat account: wtz0523]

Participants completed a course consisting of a 0.75-kilometer swim in Qinhu Lake, a 20-kilometer cycling segment along Qinhu Avenue, and a 5-kilometer run on roads circling the lake. The route passed through some of the area's most scenic locations, including the Qinhu National Wetland Park, offering competitors a unique opportunity to experience the region's ecological beauty.

For many athletes, the appeal of the event extended beyond sport. Chen Rongheng, from Fujian province and competing for the third time, said the event combines athletics with tourism, allowing participants to enjoy local attractions and cuisine after the race. A first-time competitor from Germany also praised the area's natural environment and warm hospitality, noting that the waterside scenery and local culture left a lasting impression.

Eleven-year-old Li Zhaoru from Fujian, one of the youth competitors, said sharing the course with some of China's top professional triathletes was a valuable learning experience and an inspiration for her future development in the sport.