Reporters learned from the Qinghai Provincial Sports Bureau that the 2013 Tour of Qinghai Lake International Road Cycling Race will be extended to Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, with the total prize money increased to $700,000.
Last year, the race achieved a total media value of 250 million yuan and effectively promoted local economic development. At present, the event has helped spur the early development of a new type of cycling tourism in the areas surrounding Qinghai Lake, showing signs of rapid growth. The Tour of Qinghai Lake now ranks first among intercontinental cycling races across the five continents in terms of both route and competition level.
Established in 2002, the Tour of Qinghai Lake has been successfully held for 11 editions to date, with last year marking the first time the race spanned three provinces—Qinghai, Gansu, and Ningxia.