In the fourth year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanshou era (119 BC,119on this ancient land of Jiuquan, a highly significant battle in China's military history—the Battle of Mobei—took place. In this battle, Huo Qubing led the Han army deep into the Gobi, attacking on multiple fronts, and decisively defeated the Xiongnu9troops. After this victory, the Xiongnu retreated far away, no longer able to invade the Han court. Emperor Wu rewarded Huo Qubing with imperial wine in recognition of his military achievements. Believing that the glory belonged to the entire army and not just himself, Huo Qubing poured the wine into a spring so that all the soldiers could share the drink together. This is how Jiuquan got its name.
More than two thousand years later, another group of brave individuals gathered here, ready to retrace Huo Qubing’s victorious path against the Xiongnu and embark on a new expedition. The fiercest and most grueling "battle" of peacetime—2017the Jiuquan International Gobi Super Marathon—is about to begin. Stay tuned to find out more.
Here,
what awaits you is not beautiful mountains and lakes,
not cheering crowds along the way,
but the remote and desolate Gobi Desert,
biting winds and sandstorms,
undulating sand dunes,
and a long and lonely journey.
50Kilometers of road,
you will be accompanied by solitude,
and run alongside the strongest.
2017Year10Month29Day,
the Jiuquan International Gobi Super Marathon
is waiting for you to take on the challenge.
Jiuquan is the birthplace of Dunhuang art, the cradle of modern aerospace, the origin of China’s petroleum and nuclear industries, a national new energy industry base, and the only comprehensive reform pilot city for service industries in Gansu Province. It is also a national-level e-commerce demonstration base, an outstanding national tourist city, a charming tourism brand city in China, the most internationally influential tourist destination in western China, and one of the most popular cities in the west. It is currently being developed as the Outdoor Sports Capital of Western China (Jiuquan).
Organized by the Chinese Athletics Association, the Gansu Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Jiuquan City, co-hosted by the Jiuquan Municipal Sports Bureau, the People’s Government of Suzhou District of Jiuquan City, and Beijing Pan-China Emerging Sports Industry Co., Ltd., and supported by the Jiuquan Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Press and Publication, the Jiuquan Municipal Tourism Bureau, and executed by the Jiuquan Sports Industry Development Co., Ltd.,2017the Jiuquan International Gobi Super Marathon will be held10Month29in Jiuquan City, Gansu Province.
As an extreme sport“at the top of the food chain”The ultimate ultramarathon kicks off at the top,“Gobi”setting the stage for an intense physical and mental showdown on the first-ever ultramarathon course. Every kilometer, every journey, is a personal breakthrough for the runners. Running the farthest, seeing the most beautiful scenery, and becoming the best version of oneself is perhaps the ultimate dream of every runner. At this time of year, in this place, the world’s finest runners gather to leave their most precious footprints on the Gobi.
2015In the year11of8, the inaugural Jiuquan International Gobi Ultramarathon, as the world’s first ultramarathon event featuring the "Gobi terrain" as its course, commenced in Jiuquan City, Gansu Province—China's (Jiuquan) Western Outdoor Sports Capital. This event, introduced to China for the first time as an "extreme sports professional competition," stood out among the many domestic marathon races.
2016Early in the year, with the approval of the Jiuquan Municipal Government and the Gansu Provincial Sports Bureau, China’s (Jiuquan) Western Outdoor Sports Capital submitted an application to the General Administration of Sport of China to establish a long-term strategic partnership with the Chinese Athletics Association. The goal was to upgrade the race to a100-kilometer event and co-host it for three consecutive years, with plans to apply from2017onward to host either a World Championships or World Cup event.
2016In the year5of26, the Chinese Athletics Association approved the joint hosting of the2016-2018Jiuquan International Gobi Ultramarathon (100-kilometer) event with the Jiuquan Municipal People's Government. Meanwhile, the race received dual certifications: it was officially published on the Chinese Athletics Association’s official website, the "National Marathon and Related Sports Registered Events Calendar of the Chinese Athletics Association," marking,its first official co-hosted certification as a100-kilometer Gobi marathon. Additionally, theIAUinternational official website, the "International Association of Ultrarunners2016Annual Events Calendar," listed the event, representing its first certification of a race held within China.
2017In the year3of20, at the2016Xtep China Marathon Annual Gala hosted by the Chinese Athletics Association, the list of gold, silver, and bronze medal marathon events for that year in China was announced, and awards were presented to the winning events. Good news came in rapid succession for China’s (Jiuquan) Western Outdoor Sports Capital: the2016The list of gold, silver, and bronze medal marathons in China for the year was announced, with awards presented to the winning events. Good news continued to pour in for China (Jiuquan), the capital of outdoor sports in the west.2016Jiuquan International Gobi Ultramarathon (100-kilometer) event was awarded the Bronze Label by the Chinese Athletics Association.
2017In the year10of29, China’s (Jiuquan) Western Outdoor Sports Capital will host the2017Jiuquan International Gobi Ultramarathon. This event is the only officially certified ultramarathon by the Chinese Athletics Association. The organizing committee is currently applying forUTMBpoints race status. It will feature the country’s only Gobi marathon course, with the starting point located at Huacheng Lake Scenic Area in Suzhou District, Jiuquan City. To elevate this event to high standards and actively pursue the opportunity to host a World Championships, the Jiuquan Municipal Government invested this year in constructing a marathon base camp at Huacheng Lake Scenic Area in Suzhou District, which will serve as the future start and finish line, as well as a large public fitness square for outdoor sports.
Huacheng Lake combines the elements of desert Gobi, grassland, mountain peaks, lakes, sand dunes, and Great Wall beacon towers, encapsulating the quintessential landscapes of northwest China in one location, making its natural scenery truly unique. Huacheng Lake can be described as a microcosm of the northwest. The marathon route will pass through Firestone Gorge Beacon Tower, Xintiandun Farm, Tianluocheng, and others, forming a counterclockwise loop through the ancient battlegrounds of the northern deserts.50A 100-kilometer Gobi Desert ultra-marathon on a closed-loop route.1432The highest elevation of the course is1314meters, and the lowest is488meters, with a total ascent of489meters and a total descent of
meters. The course not only traverses the Gobi Desert but also features a variety of complex terrains including Danxia landforms, wetlands, gravel beds, shrublands, and reed marshes, offering a rich taste of the distinctive landscape of western China./This year, the event is divided into two categories: the Men’s and Women’s50and/kilometer Gobi Desert Ultra Challenge; and the Men’s and Women’s10andjqhwzdkilometer Gobi Desert Experience Race. The organizing committee has opened online registration channels via platforms such as “iRanShao,” “Codoon,” “Paonar,” and “MalaMala.” For more details about the event, please contact the organizing committee or follow the official WeChat account: China (Jiuquan) Western Outdoor Sports Capital Official WeChat (WeChat ID:
Organizing Committee of the Event:
Information about the Organizing Committee:
Mr. Hua:0937―2886655
Ms. Dong:010―87162093
Event Email:80582528@qq.com