Hiking festival held in Changchun

Nearly 20,000 athletes and walking enthusiasts showed up on drizzling Sunday to take part in a hiking event in Changchun, Jilin province.

The event, called Changchun City & Jingyuetan-Vasaloppet International Forest Hiking Festival, included a 30km classic race for athletes and 2.5km, 7.5km and 15km races for hiking fans in a national forest park in the capital city of China's Jilin Province.

The Vasaloppet China festival was launched in Changchun in 2003, making China the fourth country to hold the event after Sweden, the United States and Japan.