Exploring China through Sport
On October 20, the 2026 “Laihua Cup” Campus Orienteering Competition for International Students from Universities in Beijing took place at China University of Geosciences (Beijing). The School of International Education and Exchange at Beijing Sport University (BSU) organized two teams to participate. Joining international students from universities across the capital, BSU participants experienced the excitement of orienteering through running and teamwork, showcasing their energy and enthusiasm.
PART 1 | Two Teams, One Shared Journey
Organized by the International Student Affairs Research Branch of the Beijing Association of Higher Education and hosted by China University of Geosciences (Beijing), the competition provided a platform for international students across Beijing to connect through sport.
BSU’s two teams, “Six Friends on a Journey” and “Lightning Pioneers,” set off to take on the challenges of campus orienteering and strengthen friendships along the way.
Six Friends on a Journey: Han Rui, Zheng Jukang, Tu Yuchen, Tan Jiayao, You Weili, and Liu Zhiqing
Lightning Pioneers: Cao Dingke, Sun Yuwei, Fu Yongen, Chen Qiaoyue, Pei Shishun, and Ruan Shiyuanshi
PART 2 | Following the Map, Moving Together
01 | Fun Challenges and Teamwork
A single map opened the door to an adventure. Teams were required to locate checkpoints in a designated order. They could check in only after all team members had arrived and completed the assigned task together.
From identifying directions and planning routes to locating checkpoints and confirming tasks, every step depended on communication and cooperation. Team members gathered around their maps to discuss their next move and looked out for one another as they progressed. Each checkpoint added to their exploration of the campus while strengthening their coordination.
Alongside the orienteering course, the competition featured bonus activities, including a jump-rope relay, charades, a shuttlecock-balancing relay, and a quiz on general knowledge about China, bringing together sport, learning, and fun.
During the shuttlecock-balancing relay, participants carefully controlled their pace and balance while carrying a shuttlecock on a badminton racket, seeking the right combination of speed and stability. Other interactive challenges brought teammates together to exchange ideas and solve problems, turning each attempt into an exercise in cooperation.
Focused expressions, quick footsteps, and encouraging smiles captured the spirit of the event. BSU students embraced each challenge with enthusiasm and experienced the joy of achieving shared goals through teamwork.
02 | Building Friendship through Sport
The competition also served as a setting for exchange. It brought students beyond their own campus to meet international students from other universities, deepen mutual understanding through shared participation, and build connections through sport.
The event left participants with more than memories of running. It also offered moments of discussion over maps, trust during relays, and smiles after completing tasks. Sport created a bridge between young people from different cultural backgrounds, allowing friendships to grow through shared experiences.
The School of International Education and Exchange will continue to draw on BSU’s strengths in sport to create more opportunities for international students to engage with others and learn through practice, supporting their growth through physical activity and mutual understanding through exchange.
The competition was also a lively opportunity to learn more about China. At the event hosted by China University of Geosciences (Beijing), BSU’s “Six Friends on a Journey”—Han Rui, Zheng Jukang, Tu Yuchen, Tan Jiayao, You Weili, and Liu Zhiqing—took to the course with determination. Through perseverance and teamwork, they stood out among teams from universities across the capital and secured third place.
The experience left more than the sweat of a final sprint. It also created memories of teammates supporting one another along the course and sharing the joy of finishing. Running across the landscape offered both a physical challenge and an opportunity to explore China and gain a closer understanding of its society. Through sport, BSU students strengthened their fitness while deepening their understanding of contemporary China.
Beijing Sport University remains committed to integrating sports participation with education about China. Drawing on its sporting strengths, the university will continue to create opportunities for students to explore beyond campus and engage with society, helping them build determination through sport and deepen their connection with China through firsthand experience.
