On the afternoon of March 1, the press conference for the 2013 Yulong, Yunnan National Highland Mountain Race Challenge — the first of its kind in China — was held in the meeting room of the General Administration of Sport of China. Mountain racing is an emerging sport introduced in recent years by the Chinese Mountaineering Association in response to the development trends of modern mountaineering. In mid-April, this event will make its national debut on China’s Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The competition is jointly organized by the Chinese Mountaineering Association, the Yunnan Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Lijiang City, and hosted by the CPC Yulong Naxi Autonomous County Committee and the People’s Government of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, with support from the Lijiang Municipal Sports Bureau and the Yulong Naxi Autonomous County Sports Commission.
According to Li Zhixin, Director of the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, hosting the mountain racing event in Yunnan not only serves as strong promotion for the sport itself but also provides a great opportunity to introduce Yulong and promote Naxi culture to people across the country. Yunnan is a province rich in mountainous resources in China, offering fertile ground for the survival and development of mountain sports. This competition is also a new initiative to leverage Yunnan’s abundant mountain resources and regional advantages.
Mountain racing, also known as mountain running, is a sport that showcases running ability in natural mountain environments and has been practiced internationally for over 20 years. The sport has relatively simple requirements for venue conditions and offers broad accessibility and high entertainment value, making it one of the ideal forms of mass fitness activities. Currently, the Mountaineering Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China is responsible for the nationwide promotion and management of the mountain racing program.
Since 2009, mountain racing competitions have been held in places such as Zhejiang, Heilongjiang, and Guizhou. This event, scheduled for mid-April, will be the first national-level mountain racing competition held in a highland region. The race route is located at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Yunnan. The starting point is in Yuhu Village, Baisha Township — the largest and most culturally representative Naxi village. The longest route is the men’s vertical kilometer race, spanning 20 kilometers with an accumulated elevation gain of about 2,000 meters. The women’s vertical kilometer course is 17 kilometers long with an elevation gain of approximately 1,500 meters. The hill climb race is 5 kilometers with an elevation gain of around 700 meters.
It is reported that the competition will last two days, with a total prize purse of 100,000 RMB. Athletes will compete in high-altitude areas ranging from 2,700 to 3,400 meters above sea level. The event includes five categories: men’s and women’s divisions for both the vertical kilometer and hill climb races, as well as a team category. The team category consists of five members with a male-to-female ratio of 3:2. Participants are required to have good physical fitness and some basic mountaineering experience, and registration will be open to the public. The equipment needed for the competition is relatively simple and suitable for all types of participants, including a backpack with a capacity of over 20 liters, a hydration bladder of more than 0.75 liters, a windbreaker, mountain trail running shoes, hiking or sportswear (preferably long-sleeved shirts and pants), a hiking helmet, trekking poles, sunglasses, fingerless gloves, knee pads, and elbow pads.
According to the technical officials of the event, the mountain racing competition tests athletes’ strategic planning and tactical execution, particularly in the efficient allocation of energy during ascent and descent sections. The route design also takes into full consideration the proportion of various terrain types — such as climbs, descents, flat sections, and aid stations — to ensure an exciting and competitive race while maintaining safety.