Global athletes converge in Guizhou for high-bridge extreme sports invitational

Athletes from 19 countries compete in the invitational. [Photo/Official website of Anshun government]

The 2026 International High-Bridge Extreme Sports Invitational Tournament (Balinghe Bridge) and the Huangguoshu Balinghe Bridge BASE Jump Invitational Tournament kicked off on Oct 18 in Anshun, Southwest China's Guizhou province.

Thirty-two BASE jumpers from 19 countries, including China, the United States, Argentina, Japan, and South Korea, gathered at the Balinghe Bridge, before hurling themselves off the 370-meter-high span.

The Huangguoshu Balinghe Bridge BASE Jump Invitational Tournament has been running since 2013 and is now in its 10th edition. Capitalizing on the bridge's unique karst canyon topography and well-established low-altitude sports infrastructure, this year's event features a high-bridge accuracy competition.

Athletes leap from the Balinghe Bridge. [Photo/Official website of Anshun government]

Set within a 40 by 60-meter landing zone featuring a tighter 20 by 20-meter target area, the contest tests athletes' bodily control, flight stability, and landing precision, delivering a tournament that is as professionally demanding as it is visually spectacular.

The event showcases how Anshun is using its distinctive bridges and dramatic canyon landscapes to attract extreme sports enthusiasts and tourists, while promoting Guizhou as a destination for BASE jumping and other adventure sports.

Organizers also hope the competition will attract more visitors to Anshun and boost spending at local hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions, turning the area into a popular regional tourist destination.