Hurricane Heat event draws young warriors to Fun Farm

Participants are seen during the Spartan Kids Hurricane Heat at the Fun Farm on Saturday. Photos by Windy Shao

About 100 enthusiastic young warriors gathered at Fun Farm in Guangming District on Saturday to take part in the exhilarating Spartan Kids’ Hurricane Heat challenge.

Part of the globally acclaimed Spartan Kids Race series, Hurricane Heat made its global debut in Beijing last year, with the Saturday race marking the event’s first appearance in Shenzhen. 

Young players climb over an obstacle during the Spartan Kids Hurricane Heat.

Setting itself apart from traditional obstacle courses, the Hurricane Heat event keeps participants on their toes by withholding specific details, embracing all terrains, and prevailing irrespective of weather conditions — delivering an element of surprise akin to unraveling a mystery box in each race.

Lasting more than four hours, these young warriors were organized into diverse teams, collaborating on tasks set by instructors alongside newfound teammates, fostering teamwork, endurance, and adaptability. The challenge not only tested their physical and mental prowess but also sharpened crucial life skills like teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving. 

Organizers aimed to instill resilience in the young participants through this challenging yet enriching exercise. "It felt like a military drill that lasted for more than four hours for the kids. My child found it so enjoyable that she wanted to participate in more Hurricane Heat challenges in the future," a parent surnamed Chen said.

The Hurricane Heat event is part of the renowned Spartan Kids Race, famous globally for its demanding obstacle courses hosted in over 30 countries and drawing millions of participants annually. Tailored for children aged 4-14, the Kids Race seeks to reconnect young ones with nature, encouraging them to rediscover childhood joy amidst stimulating challenges and adventures.

Since its official introduction in Guangming District in 2021, backed by sports industry policies, the Spartan Race series has emerged as a signature sports event in the district, hosting two to four events annually and attracting over 100,000 participants so far.  Guangming District stands out with its multitude of single-city landing events nationwide.

Saturday marked the beginning of a two-weekend excitement for the Spartan Kids Race at Fun Farm, promising an even more thrilling experience with a redesigned course layout featuring bolder obstacles amidst the scenic farmlands and grasslands.

Young players cooperate to finish a task.

Spanning over 3.8 square kilometers, Fun Farm originally boasted approximately 246.67 hectares of fundamental farmland, making it the largest contiguous high-standard farmland in Shenzhen. It has since been transformed into a contemporary urban leisure agricultural showcase and is now a popular tourist attraction.

This year, Fun Farm, Hongqiao Park, Guangming Farm Grand View Garden, and Jingkou Ancient Village in Guangming District have been recognized as premium spots in a Beautiful Countryside Leisure Tourism Promotion event organized by the Ministry of Agriculture.