From June 8 to 9, the 2012 "Red Bull 24-Hour" Plateau Challenge took place at Jiaozi Mountain in Kunming, with an average altitude exceeding 3,000 meters. As the only non-stop high-altitude mountain cross-country race in China, the competition drew 23 outdoor teams from Yunnan, Beijing, Sichuan, Guangdong, and neighboring Vietnam. In the end, despite the adverse weather conditions, 17 teams completed the race within 24 hours, with the experienced Kolumb (Golonbu) Outdoor Team winning with a time of 16 hours, 13 minutes, and 4 seconds.
The race route covered approximately 44 kilometers with an elevation drop of over 2,000 meters. Participants had to complete various challenges in teams within 24 hours, including run-bike alternation, night orienteering, directional trekking, and rock rappelling, along with more entertaining elements such as puzzles and archery.
At 3 p.m. on June 8, the race commenced with the starting gun at the government square of Zhuantang Town, Yunnan Province. The highly anticipated female member of the Golonbu team dashed ahead of the pack, kicking off a 28-kilometer run-bike alternation. Although not extremely long, this 28-kilometer stretch was a continuous uphill climb, with the altitude rising sharply from 1,935 meters to 2,763 meters. The team captain, who has extensive competitive experience, noted that the high-altitude run-bike section with continuous uphill sections was the biggest challenge for them. To address this, they devised a strategy to ensure runners and cyclists did not drift too far apart, staying within sight of each other to maintain a stable team pace. Ultimately, their rich experience and sound strategy enabled them to reach the day’s final checkpoint—the entrance of Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area—at 4:50 p.m., leading the second team by over 20 minutes.
After a mandatory six-hour rest, at 8 a.m. on June 9, participants assembled and set off in light rain. The most challenging part—"ascending the peak of Jiaozi Mountain"—caught even the confident racers off guard due to rain and thick fog. The Golonbu Team, which had ranked first on the first day, started first.
Amidst widespread mountain fog, the athletes faced a 16-kilometer challenge with an elevation drop of 1,100 meters. The stretch from "One-Line Sky" to "Proud Forest" to "Heavenly Lake" proved to be the toughest part of the day. The already narrow and steep ladder path, compounded by fog and showers, drastically reduced visibility and created slippery ground, hindering speed and leaving many with injuries. Despite this, the Golonbu Team managed to scale to the 4,223-meter summit of Jiaozi Mountain in less than two hours, greatly exceeding the expectations of the organizers.
Reflecting on the entire course, a member of the winning team commented: "The first day was relatively easy for us; the hardest and most exhausting part was the One-Line Sky section during the mountain climb on the second day. It was incredibly steep and slippery. Fortunately, Golonbu’s hiking shoes helped a lot. Even though we could only move slowly, they at least enabled us to get through this tough section successfully."
The championship-winning Golonbu Team is an exceptionally experienced racing squad. The team captain explained: "Five or six of our members are highly seasoned athletes who have participated in numerous major international outdoor events, such as the China International Mountain Outdoor Sports Open held in Wulong, Chongqing, and the Leye International Mountain Outdoor Sports Challenge in Baise, Guangxi, consistently ranking among the top two in China. In particular, our female team member Qi Ranran, currently a graduate student at China University of Geosciences, is extremely strong." Speaking about the race, Qi Ranran said she approached it with a mindset of learning and enjoyment. "One of the reasons I love outdoor sports is the chance to take in the beauty of nature. But today, it’s a pity the thick fog blocked the views. We’ll come back to take on the challenge again next time."
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