Last Saturday, the spring edition of the West Lake Mountain Running Race, held annually in Hangzhou for over a decade, took place. More than 430 running enthusiasts braved the light spring rain to take on the 25-kilometer experience course and the 42-kilometer full mountain trail.
Known for its unique scenery of the West Lake mountain range, this year marks the first time the West Lake Mountain Running Race has introduced a spring edition alongside its traditional autumn event. Renowned for its stunning landscapes and strict participant limits, the West Lake Mountain Running Race has long been dubbed the “limited-edition most beautiful trail run.” It attracts numerous runners from both China and abroad every year, with race spots selling out almost instantly. This year, the race launched its spring edition for the first time. While the race route remains within the West Lake mountain area, the course distance has been extended from the previous 26 kilometers to a full 42-kilometer category and a 25-kilometer experience category.
The full course route started at the Huanglong Sports Center and wound through the West Lake mountain range, passing landmarks such as Beigaofeng (North Peak), Shilin Ridge, Feilai Peak, Wushan Mountain, Wulongtan, Yunqi, Songcheng, and Yangmeiling—areas that embody the essence of the pristine beauty surrounding West Lake. “Out of the more than 30 people who ran the full course, 185 tackled the 42-kilometer route, three-quarters of whom were from outside Hangzhou, coming from places like Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi. Among them were more than 20 foreigners. There were also quite a few college students participating this year because they’re the most active online and managed to grab spots the fastest,” explained the race organizer.
With a time of 4 hours, 27 minutes, and 27 seconds, Gu Bing, a junior at East China Jiaotong University, claimed victory in the Hangzhou Mountain Marathon. A sports science major specializing in athletic training, Gu has taken part in various marathons across China and has run 100-kilometer races three times in the past two years. Prior to the race, Gu knew the prize for winning was just a pair of running shoes worth a little over a thousand yuan. The highest single cash prize he’s ever won was 20,000 yuan. “I really didn’t come for the prize. I saw a lot of photos and links about the race online and got excited,” he said.