Parkour sees jump in popularity in the country

Zhou has been practicing parkour since 2015. "The spirit of parkour is to dedicate yourself to it and enjoy it," Zhou says, adding that parkour has evolved from a hobby into a way of life for him. "I enjoy the sound of the wind in my ears during practice. I will finish faster in the next race."

Yang Xiaoqiang, a 24-year-old participant from Guizhou province, won the skills race and came second in the speed race.

Yang reveals that he had practiced almost every move in the race "at least 1,000 times". Due to the unique terrain of the Tianmen Mountain, he had to undertake more difficult challenges but once again prevailed.

The competition also attracted some renowned sporting figures, including Shang Chunsong, former captain of China's national women's gymnastics team. After Shang started practicing parkour last year, she found similarities between gymnastics and parkour, including strength and body movement.

This is the second time the Tianmen Mountain has hosted a national parkour competition, and this year's competition features new events and new participants, especially children and overseas runners.

As parkour has become a trending sport among Chinese teenagers in recent years, the competition included a children's category, attracting 40 participants aged between 8 and 12.