Performers beat drums to mark the start of the 22nd Fitness-for-All Festival in Qidong, a county-level city in Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, at the city’s Broadcasting and Television Square, on Feb 16. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

The 22nd Fitness-for-All Festival in Qidong started with an opening ceremony held at the Broadcasting and Television Square in the county-level city, Nantong, East China’s Jiangsu province, on Feb 16. 

At the ceremony a hiking competition was also announced. As Jiang Ping, director of the county-level city’s publicity department inaugurated the festival, more than 3,000 fitness enthusiasts from 50 teams walked briskly to the destination point 3 kilometers away from the starting point. 

Before the hiking race, participants were engaged in learning qigong, a Chinese breathing exercise.

Jiang Ping, director of Qidong’s publicity department, announces the start of the 22nd Fitness-for-All Festival in Qidong, at the city’s Broadcasting and Television Square, on Feb 16. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]

Local residents in Qidong take part in a hike, which was organized on the same day marking the opening of Qidong Fitness-for-All Festival, on Feb 16. [Photo/Wechat account of Qidong Daily]

Participants at the hike are engaged in learning qigong, a Chinese breathing exercise. [Photo/WeChat account of Qidong Daily]