SHENZHEN, China, March 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 7, 2026, the globally renowned Spartan Race launched its new season in Shenzhen's Bijiashan Park. The Event features a KIDS Race(March 7–8) , followed by the SPRINT, SUPER and HURRICANE HEAT for adults (March 17–18). Additionally, the Tough Mudder Kids event will take place at the same venue on April 18–19, continuously injecting fresh sports energy into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area(GBA).
As the host city of APEC 2026, Shenzhen's introduction of this international sporting event into its urban core vividly embodies APEC's vision of sustainable urban development and high-quality living.
Held annually in over 42 countries and regions worldwide, Spartan Race stages more than 250 events each year, attracting over ten million participants to date. More than just a race, it represents a spirit and a lifestyle.
The recently concluded Kids Race in Shenzhen drew over 6,000 young participants, highlighting the new generation's fearless spirit. For the second consecutive year, Bijiashan Park—strategically located in downtown Shenzhen and seamlessly connected to the international eco-lifestyle hub, UpperHills—serves as the venue. The park is a key node in Shenzhen's "Five Parks Linked" Project and a model example of the innovative "Park + Commercial" urban development concept.
For this event, UpperHills used its "Park + Town + Street + Mall" model to offer one-stop services for Spartan warriors of all ages and their families. After crossing the finish line, participants can walk directly via a skybridge into UpperHills, where they enjoy exclusive Spartan-themed discounts at numerous dining, accommodation, leisure, and retail outlets—including the Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen.
Thanks to its prime location, fashion-forward DNA, and rich cultural-sports programming, UpperHills has become a premier lifestyle and travel destination for residents of the GBA and global visitors alike. From March 27 to April 6, the Flower Show 2026 will be held at Bijiashan Sports Park, while the 2026 International Exotic Plants Show & Sale returns to UpperHills—adding vibrant touches of nature and artistry to the spring season and potentially driving visitor numbers to new highs.
As an iconic Shenzhen landmark and key showcase of GBA culture, UpperHills leverages global cultural, sports, and entertainment events to create integrated, immersive experiences—helping build a high-quality, livable, and vibrant GBA lifestyle circle and showcasing Shenzhen's openness and urban dynamism to the Asia-Pacific as a pioneer demonstration zone.
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UpperHills: 2026 Spartan Race Shenzhen Station Kicks Off, Injecting Greater Bay Area Vitality into APEC
LONDON, March 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lord Ashcroft's collection of Victoria Crosses and George Crosses is to have a new home at the National Army Museum in London.
The collection is the largest of its kind in the world. It has been built up by Lord Ashcroft over the past 40 years and includes nearly 250 VCs and a smaller number of GCs. It was previously housed at the Imperial War Museum, London, which closed the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in September last year after 15 years.
Lord Ashcroft spoke today of his delight at the news: "I am thrilled to have found such a superb location for this unique collection of gallantry medals. I am so pleased that these VCs and GCs, spanning many major wars and conflicts of the past two centuries, will now be enjoyed by the public once again.
"The National Army Museum shares my passion for the decorations themselves and also to tell the incredible stories of bravery that go with them. I look forward to a long and happy partnership with the Museum for many years to come."
Justin Maciejewski, the Director of the National Army Museum, said: "We are honoured to be entrusted with these VCs and GCs from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection. We are grateful to Lord Ashcroft for his continued generosity and commitment in championing these stories of extraordinary courage.
"The National Army Museum shares the history and heritage of our soldiers across the globe and down the centuries. Within that wider narrative, these medals, and the individual acts of extraordinary bravery and valour they represent, form a powerful part of the Army's story."
Chris Finney, a Trustee of the National Army Museum and the Chair of the VC and GC Association, said: "This rare and expansive collection spans centuries of military service, sacrifice, and extraordinary bravery across the Armed Forces.
"We are privileged to be given the opportunity to share these medals—and the inspiring personal stories they represent—with visitors, and online for the wider public, where they can continue to inspire people of all ages for generations to come."
Lord Ashcroft began his collection of VCs in 1986 with the purchase of a single medal group at auction. The VC, instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, is Britain and the Commonwealth's most prestigious decoration for valour in the presence of the enemy. The GC, created by George VI in 1940, is Britain and the Commonwealth's most prestigious decoration for gallantry not in the presence of the enemy and it has been awarded to several civilians for acts of valour.
Lord Ashcroft's VCs and GCs are part of the wider Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection, which includes Special Forces decorations and medals for valour in the skies and at sea. Lord Ashcroft's long passion for gallantry awards was initially inspired by his late father, Eric, who as a young officer took part in the D-Day Landings on June 6 1944.
Lord Ashcroft's collection of VCs includes one of just three VCs and Bars—the equivalent of two VCs—that have been awarded over the past 170 years. This is the medal group awarded to Captain Noel Chavasse VC & Bar, MC, a medical officer who served and was killed during the Great War.
Following the closure of the previous gallery, Lord Ashcroft has made his collection accessible digitally through his website. This new partnership with the National Army Museum will allow the public to visit the collection and be inspired by the remarkable stories they represent.
The VC and GC collection will go on display at the National Army Museum within the next two years. In the meantime, from July onwards some of Lord Ashcroft's medals will go on display at the museum, including pop-up exhibitions.
As the home of the Army's history and heritage, the National Army Museum will be displaying items from the Lord Ashcroft Medal Collection alongside its existing collections of objects, archives and artworks, telling the stories of soldiers and their service—including the origins of the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War.
Lord Ashcroft's VCs and GCs will be shared on a long-term loan with the National Army Museum. Alongside their display, the Museum is planning a programme of exhibitions, educational resources, talks, tours and digital content exploring the human stories of courage behind the decorations.
Further details of the new partnership between Lord Ashcroft and the National Army Museum relating to the display of his VC and GC collection will be released over the coming months.
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National Army Museum
The National Army Museum shares the history and heritage of our soldiers and their service in the Army, across the globe and down the centuries. Through our collections we explore the history of the Army from its origins to the present day. We aim to engage and inspire everyone with the stories of our soldiers and how their service shapes our world; past, present and future.
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Lord Ashcroft's VCs and GCs to have a new home at the National Army Museum
