Video and photos by Liu Xudong unless otherwise stated

This weekend, Bijia Hill Park in Futian District became a proving ground of grit and determination as the 2026 Spartan Race season launched its China Series opener. Nearly 4,000 competitors descended upon the urban wilderness Saturday and Sunday to test their limits across two distances — the 5km Sprint and the 10km Super — transforming the park into a battlefield of endurance.

At the 2026 Spartan Race China Series opener at Bijia Hill Park on Saturday, athletes brace themselves at the starting line, awaiting the signal.

For Marius Cimpian, a Romanian P.E. teacher who has become a fixture on the international Spartan circuit, the race represented another chapter in a journey that has taken him from China to courses worldwide.

"I love sports. I love Spartan. So here I am," said Cimpian, whose passion for the discipline was on full display.

With a precise spear throw, a clean jump over the mud pit, and one final push over the last obstacle, Cimpian crossed the finish line at 10:22 a.m. Saturday. Clocking 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 1 second — more than five minutes ahead of the runner-up — he claimed victory in the men's 45-49 age group. Over 10 kilometers of rugged terrain and 25 obstacles, he embodied the Spartan spirit of relentless determination.

Romanian P.E. teacher Marius Cimpian (2nd L) celebrates with raised arms before the start of the 2026 Spartan Race China Series opener at Bijia Hill Park in Shenzhen on Saturday.

"Spartan races are meant to keep you healthy, fit, and happy," said Cimpian. "Today, I can say I was at 95%, not 100%. So I need to keep pushing, I need to keep training, I need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable."

Far from satisfied with his performance, Cimpian is already plotting his path to improvement. "I need to do more stairs. There were stairs here that accounted for maybe 40 to 50 floors," he noted.

For Cimpian, the Spartan Race is more than a competition — it's a celebration of fitness as a way of life. "It's not that you train for one or two weeks for it. You come run, and then you run. You train every day — you're going to the gym, you're swimming, you're doing whatever you do. And then there's a race. Oh! Let's celebrate our fitness, let's celebrate. What do we need to improve on? What do we want to improve on? And keep this as a lifestyle."

Participants in the 2026 Spartan Race China Series run along a trail in Bijia Hill Park as spectators watch from a bench on Saturday.

He reserved special praise for the venue. "Bijia Hill Park is one of the most amazing places for the race. I haven't been everywhere, but I've been to many places for Spartan in China," he said. "It gives you the ability to set up races which are easy. And also for those who are considered elite, it is challenging."

The event also drew Chinese high jump star Zhang Guowei, whose personal best of 2.38 meters stands just one centimeter shy of the national record. "Running on the slope feels great, and running in the forest is very comfortable," said Zhang, before adding with a grin: "I suggest extending the sprint distance in the Spartan race to 100 meters — that would create more opportunities for me."

Chinese high jumper Zhang Guowei speaks to local media after competing in the 2026 Spartan Race China Series opener at Bijia Hill Park on Saturday. Chen Siqi

According to Fang Ziyu, director of Spartan Race events, Shenzhen's selection as the China Series opener reflects the dynamism of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. What sets Bijia Hill Park apart, he explained, are its distinctive uphill and downhill sections that challenge even seasoned athletes.

The event marked the second time Spartan Race has been held at Bijia Hill Park, a venue uniquely connected to the international business hub UpperHills — offering participants the rare experience of transitioning from urban sophistication to wilderness warfare in moments.

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