Enthusiastic walkers in their thousands flocked to the Taohua (peach blossom) Valley Scenic Spot on Mount Tai on May 6 to join in brisk annual early-summer hiking on the magnificent mountain.

Having gathered at the tourist reception center of the Taohua Valley Scenic Spot, 3,000 hikers from across the country set off on the ten-kilometer-long trek.

Participants wait at the start line for the annual hiking event on May 6 at Taohua (peach blossom) Valley Scenic Spot on Mount Tai. [Photo by Liu Xiaodong/WeChat account: hi taishan]

The participants of all ages came from different walks of life. Some of them took part in the event with the whole family, like 61-year-old Su Ronghong, a Tai'an local who came with her sister, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter aged three.

"I have a great passion for taking all kinds of fitness activities, and I participate in the city's Mount Tai climbing events and marathons. Exercise is beneficial to health," said Su.

"This time I got the whole family involved in the worthwhile hiking and I want them to exercise more outside work hours."

A morning view of the lake of the Taohua (peach blossom) Valley Scenic Spot. [Photo by Zhang Jie/mount-tai.com.cn]

Jointly organized by the Shandong provincial bureau of sports, the Tai'an municipal government, the Tai'an municipal bureau of sports and the Mount Tai Management Committee, the event was the start of the city's month-long fitness campaign, which involves a variety of sports activities with the aim of enriching the life and fitness levels of local residents.

More than 3,000 enthusiastic walkers take part in the brisk walk in early summer on the magnificent Mount Tai of Tai'an city. [Photo by Liu Xiaodong/WeChat account: hi taishan]