On June 2, 2025, the Belt and Road Diplomats' Cycling Series (Xuanzhou Station) was grandly held in Guquan Town, Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City, Anhui Province. More than 800 participants including diplomatic envoys from 16 countries such as Ecuador, Mongolia, Nepal, France, and Pakistan, overseas students, as well as domestic and international cyclists and cycling enthusiasts gathered in Xuanzhou. Using the beautiful landscape as the racecourse and millennium-old culture as the backdrop, they jointly launched a grand event of sports and cultural exchange titled “Ride in Xuanzhou · Freely Seeking the Wind.”

The event at Anhui Xuanzhou Station was jointly organized by the Cycling and Fencing Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Cycling Association, and the People’s Government of Xuanzhou District, Xuancheng City. It was the second stop of this year’s cycling series.

The competition featured four categories: Envoys to China Group, Men’s Road Elite Group, Men’s Road Masters Group, and Women’s Road Group. Despite the light continuous rain on the day of the race, the enthusiasm of participants and spectators was undiminished. After an exciting, fierce yet joyful competition, Mendita Carlos, Defense Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador, won the Envoys to China Group championship. Ye Kaichuan of the bross-cenit team took the Men’s Road Elite Group championship, Liu Qiang of the Nanjing Infinite team won the Men’s Road Masters Group championship, and Jin Zhanglin of the Shaoxing NPCC-Super Rabbit team claimed the Women’s Road Group championship.

“The scenery here is beautiful, but I was focused on the race and didn’t have time to fully appreciate it. Later, I hope to ride another lap to enjoy this beautiful scenery,” said Mendita Carlos after winning the Envoys to China Group championship. Many participants expressed that the race felt like an immersive travel experience.

“The activities designed for diplomats are rich and varied, allowing participation in both sports and cultural and business exchanges. There are several more stops in this year’s series, and my colleagues and I look forward to being invited again,” said Tuya, Political Counselor of the Mongolian Embassy in China, praising the event’s content and format and expressing a wish to continue participating in future stops.

“This race was really interesting, with breathtaking scenery along the way and a strong sense of experience. Thanks to Xuanzhou for the invitation, which allowed me to learn more about China beyond my studies,” said Afrasiyab, a student from Pakistan, excitedly after the race.

The successful hosting of the 2025 Belt and Road Diplomats' Cycling Series provided a high-level competitive exchange platform for numerous cycling enthusiasts from the Yangtze River Delta and surrounding areas, injecting new vitality into Xuanzhou District’s economic development and cultural dissemination.

During the event, envoys from 16 countries, as well as representatives of overseas students, conducted in-depth visits to frontline industries in Xuanzhou. They inspected enterprises such as Xuancheng Liquor (Xuanjiu) Group, Luxshare Precision, Xuanyang Power Supply, and Jit(Jieai) New Materials, gaining insight into regional industrial development dynamics and jointly opening a new window of “sports empowering cultural tourism and opening up connectivity along the Silk Road.”

Source: anhuinews.com