This year's World Military Games will take place in central China's Wuhan city on October 18. Competitors in one up-and-coming survival sport are gearing up to brave the wild. Orienteering, which pits participants against the great outdoors, is becoming increasingly popular in many countries. What exactly is this sport?

The aim of orienteering is to survive and excel in the wild. Athletes move from point to point armed with a map and compass. These two items are the only help they have to navigate themselves out of this natural maze.

Orienteering is a sport of "smart running", which requires not just speed but also the skills of navigation. Athletes have to check in at every control point marked on the terrain. A chip is tagged onto their digital wristband, recording the time they arrive at each destination.For runners to claim victory, relying on speed is not enough. The key to victory also lies in their mastery of map reading.

The sport's history dates back to Sweden in the late 19th century. It was originally designed by the military but soon expanded to become a popular civilian sport in many Nordic countries.

As competition in this year's Military World Games in Wuhan, orienteering promises to challenge the endurance and speed of soldiers. But, it will also test their nerves and reflexes in the face of an emergency. In a race against the clock, competitors will need to muster all their physical and mental capabilities as they strive for glory.

(Wang Hao, Chen Fangting, Wang Yushen, Daniel Alan Bey, and Victor Ning have also contributed to the story.)