Beautiful mountains, beautiful waters, and great sports — higher, stronger, and more extreme: China · Fengjie Three Gorges Summit International Extreme Sports Festival Kicks Off on Mid-Autumn Festival
“When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky.” The annual Mid-Autumn Festival is here again. In this crisp autumn season, climbing to the “Three Gorges Summit” to enjoy the scenic beauty of the Three Gorges is simply delightful. This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival at the “Three Gorges Summit” brings not only breathtaking views, a full moon, and specialty mooncakes, but also one major event you absolutely need to know about —
2018 “Three Gorges Summit” CHINA X
The 31-day extreme sports season will kick off with a two-day cycling challenge. The first day’s “Three Gorges Summit” cycling race and the second day’s China’s first urban downhill competition are set to ignite the “sports + tourism” atmosphere in Fengjie. Meanwhile, the cycling challenge will also serve as a key event of the 2nd “China · Baidi City” International Poetry Festival, joining forces with the poetry festival to enhance the city’s vibe.
So, what are the highlights of this opening cycling challenge? Let me walk you through them one by one—
[Upgraded Course · Higher, Stronger, More Extreme]
This cycling challenge is also the fourth stop of the 2018 season of the Chinese Cycling Association (中自联). With its rugged terrain, stunning scenery, and the boundary-pushing “Three Gorges Summit” course, the poetic city of Fengjie has firmly established itself as the undisputed “Queen Stage” of every CCA season.
The nearly 60-kilometer course takes riders past the Kuimen Bridge and Baidi City, all the way to the Three Gorges Summit, offering breathtaking views along the way. As the Queen Stage, the difficulty of the route is just as legendary as the scenery—over the final 20 kilometers, the elevation climbs continuously by more than 1,000 meters, with gradients that peak at nearly 20%, culminating in the summit of the “Three Gorges Summit.”
The last 3 kilometers before reaching the “Three Gorges Summit” are known as the “Extreme Slope.” With its unprecedented steepness and sharp turns, it’s hard to find a comparable course anywhere else in China. The ruggedness of the “Three Gorges Summit” is vividly on display here.
[Crowning a New Champion · China’s First Urban Downhill Race]
Urban downhill racing is an exhilarating sport where riders navigate staircases, backyards, and even rooftops, weaving through the cityscape.
In a 3D-magic, mountainous city like Chongqing, the streets are filled with huge elevation drops, winding slopes, and heart-stopping sharp turns—making urban downhill racing a sport seemingly tailor-made for the city.
The urban downhill craze has swept into China, and the 2018 “Three Gorges Summit” CHINA X
Dozens of riders will compete here all day to vie for the title of China’s first urban downhill race champion. Who will be crowned the king of China’s first urban downhill race? Stay tuned with CCL to find out!
[Know Thyself and Know Thy Enemy, and You Will Never Lose]
A year ago, Hu Tiantian made a solo break of 25 kilometers here, crossing the finish line first and becoming an overnight sensation. Climbing phenom Shi Wentong and magical sprinter Hu Zhichao also delivered outstanding performances here, drawing widespread attention from the media and cycling fans.
Now, the “Summit of the Three Gorges” is set ablaze once again, with climbers gearing up and eager to compete—whether to defend their rankings or stage a comeback. The strategic significance of this battle is more crucial than ever.
Foreign riders Hu Tiantian and Shi Wentong have secured new contracts, while Hu Zhichao, who had a miraculous performance last season, and Wu Yunfei, a strong climber from the Sentike Xinyuanhong team, remain with their original squads. Will a new king emerge on the “Summit of the Three Gorges”? That remains the biggest highlight of this race.
The lineup for the urban downhill race is equally eye-catching. Within just two hours of opening registration, all 50 spots were filled instantly. Leading the pack is renowned Taiwanese downhill rider Jiang Sihan, joined by top riders such as Xiao Cong, Ye Zhengwu, and Tang Mengqi. What kind of energy will these downhill legends bring to Fengjie? We can’t wait to see!
[Unlock the Bounty Mode・Cash Prizes Galore]
One of the biggest highlights for riders in this event is that both race days feature bounty mode, with generous cash prizes up for grabs!
On the first day, the “Summit of the Three Gorges” Cycling Challenge continues the long-standing tradition of the China Cycling Association, offering a champion’s prize of up to 8,000 yuan. The following day’s urban downhill race, a pioneering event in China, also awards the champion 8,000 yuan. The total prize pool for the entire event amounts to a whopping 310,000 yuan.
For the second day’s urban downhill race, out of the 50 available spots, cash prizes will be awarded to the top 30 riders—a fantastic piece of news for participants.
The honest and dedicated people of Fengjie, along with the region’s powerful athletes; the tourist landmarks of Kuimen, Baidi City, and the Summit of the Three Gorges have transformed into elite racing circuits. The passion of the league and the cultural heritage of Fengjie blend together, propelling the upgrade of the “Summit of the Three Gorges” tourism brand and establishing Fengjie’s all-for-one tourism demonstration zone as a golden namecard of supreme geography, breathtaking scenery, and rich culture.