Taizhou's highline challenge joins national cultural program

Participants compete during a highline challenge. [Photo/Tide News]

China's Ministry of Commerce and five other government departments recently issued an action plan on cultural exports, with the 10th Shenxianju Highline Challenge in Zhejiang included on the list of key programs.

This marks the first time a project from Taizhou in China's Zhejiang province has been included in a national cultural export initiative.

Shenxianju Scenic Area in Taizhou has been closely linked with slackline sports since 2014. Known for its vast rhyolite landforms, cliffs, peaks, and streams, the site provides ideal natural conditions for outdoor competitions. The first highline challenge in 2014 introduced the sport to China, establishing Shenxianju as the birthplace of domestic slackline.

Over the past decade, the event has become one of China's top slackline competitions. In 2015, the event opened to international athletes, and in 2016, the International Slackline Association designated Shenxianju as China's first international promotion base. By 2017, the contest reached world-class scale, featuring Guinness World Record attempts, and from 2018, the site also hosted the national slackline championship.

From 2019 to 2024, the event introduced new highlights each year, blending sport with tourism and attracting significant visitor interest. This year's 10th edition will feature enhanced professional standards and stronger visual elements, inviting participants and spectators worldwide to experience the fusion of slackline sport and Shenxianju's mountain scenery.