Orienteering started in the Nordic countries over a hundred years ago. Our CGTN crew followed the Chinese team on the training trail for the upcoming 7th CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, central China. The athletes are aiming for breakthrough results in the Wuhan competition.

Finding their way

"Orienteering is the use of a compass and a map to complete the tasks at all control points marked on the terrain," says coach Tao Dezhou.

The mountainous terrain of southwest China's Kunming provides an ideal playing field. Coach Tao Dezhou takes the team there for extensive training with a highly sophisticated map. He wants his athletes to run through, not around, the woods. He says for the Military World Games, they have to be masters of map reading while endurance and psychology are equally important.

Orienteering has been part of regular military training for the PLA since the 1970s, but not a popular sport in China. The Wuhan Games could help to promote orienteering as a leisure activity for all.

An outdoor sport for all

"Like a jungle demon. I find joy in the running process," says Li Meizhen.

"What attracts me is the spirit of adventure," says Yang Changzhong.

"Your brain must run faster than your feet," says Yang Qian.

"It's definitely a more interesting sport than the marathon," says Zheng Weifeng.

Athletes say orienteering is a life-long hobby, something beyond winning. They hope the sport can make it into the Olympics and the diversity of China's terrain can help put the country in the running.

China will host the first ever Orienteering World Cup at the end of October in and around its southern city Guangzhou. Many say with the growth of this sport in China, so it will be no surprise to see the country host more major events in the future.