From countryside trails to coastal landscapes, Maoming has woven orienteering into its way of life.
On October 19, the Baiqiao Service Area in Gaozhou of Maoming hosted a public orienteering event as part of the 2025 Maoming Orienteering Circuit. Thousands participated in the run through forest trails and coastal paths, celebrating both outdoor sports and the city's transformation.
The event site of the 2025 Maoming Orienteering Circuit (Baiqiao Stop)
The sport's popularity has surged since orienteering was included in the 15th National Games earlier this year. Soon after, China's national sports authority and the Maoming government signed an agreement to establish the city as the country's "Capital of Orienteering."
International visitors flocked to Maoming for the 15th National Games orienteering finals.
With 1,300 square kilometers of mountains, 182 kilometers of coastline, and vast wetlands, Maoming offers ideal natural conditions. Once known as an "Oil City," it has shifted toward green and sustainable development.
"Maoming didn't simply choose orienteering — its landscapes and transformation made the sport a natural fit," said an official from the Maoming Culture, Radio, Tourism, and Sports Bureau.
The change is evident in the Open-Pit Mine Ecological Park (露天矿生态公园), where an industrial site has been transformed into "Haoxinhu Lake (好心湖)." The 40-kilometer lakeside ring road has become a popular route for cycling and hiking. Air quality now exceeds 97.5% "excellent days," while over 280 hectares of restored mangroves in Shuidong Bay (水东湾) form a thriving "sea forest."
Outdoor sports are boosting local tourism and industry. During the May Day holiday, orienteering events in Genzi Town drew over 170,000 visitors, helping local farmers sell fresh lychees. The sport is also integrating with technology, as drones are used for mapping and event monitoring — linking sports, innovation, and tourism.
The Open-Pit Mine Ecological Park has become a popular destination for recreation and fitness.
Maoming's commitment to green growth and active living is reshaping its identity — from an industrial past to a future defined by sports, sustainability and vitality.
Reporter/Photo: Zhou Liang
Editor: Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
