CHONGQING — As the morning mist enveloped the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, Chongqing Raffles City, a landmark in Southwest China's Chongqing, was already bustling with activity.

More than 400 participants were ready to take on a challenge, climbing 1,178 steps across 42 floors to reach the top.

The 2025 Raffles City Chongqing Vertical Challenge held on Nov 8 transformed a skyscraper into a racecourse, offering runners the opportunity to experience the city's charm.

"This is my first vertical marathon, and it feels completely different from running on flat ground," said Li Xiaotong. "It tests our cardiovascular endurance, explosive power and willpower — all at once."

According to the organizers, the participants included fitness enthusiasts and visitors, ranging in age from 18 to 60.

"The vertical challenge not only strengthens the body, but also allows me to experience Chongqing's urban landscape from a new perspective," said Zheng Chang from Xi'an in Shaanxi province.

In recent years, Chongqing has promoted the integration of sports and tourism, leveraging its mountainous terrain to create new sporting scenarios amid skyscrapers, valleys and riverbanks. Competitions, including high-rise climbs, subway stair races and mountain trail running, serve as platforms to showcase the city's landscape.

The Hongyancun Vertical Marathon fully exploits Chongqing's hilly terrain. Held in Hongyancun Subway Station, the deepest in China and the second deepest in the world, the race covers 860 steps, climbing 141 meters from the underground station to the surface, equivalent to ascending 39 floors.

The transit hub has been transformed into a sports venue, accessible to the public via a QR code. Kira, an international student at Chongqing University, said, "Running a vertical marathon in the subway allows me to better understand Chongqing and experience the rhythm of life in this city."

Data shows that from 2021 to 2025, Chongqing's per capita sports consumption grew at an average annual rate of 21.6 percent.

In the first three quarters this year, the city hosted 978 district-level or higher sports events, drawing around 2.16 million participants and 340 million spectators, and indirectly generating over 12.4 billion yuan ($1.74 billion) in consumption.

The mountains and gorges of Wushan bring sports into the natural landscape. The 2025 Yangtze River Three Gorges (Wushan) Ultra Trail was recently held in Wushan county, with around 3,500 runners gathering along the Yangtze River. The race featured 60 kilometers, 25 km and 5 km categories, reaching a maximum altitude of 1,587 meters with a total ascent of nearly 3,400 meters. Participants traversed scenic points along the Three Gorges Ridge, experiencing the gorge scenery while running.

The Wushan Ultra Trail has been held for eight consecutive years. Integrated with local autumn leaf festivals, tourism and cultural industries, the race has attracted nearly 20,000 runners from around the world.

"Rather than racing, I enjoy the journey," said Wu Yalan from Chengdu in Sichuan province. "The gorges, autumn foliage and urban backdrop create layers of visual impact, it's breathtaking."

Xinhua