I. Introduction to Huanglong Race

The Huanglong Extreme Endurance Race features a race route that surrounds the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, “Huanglong” scenic area. The route connects Huanglong, Qicang Gully, Xuebaoding (the main peak of the Minshan Mountains, with an elevation of 5588 meters), Songzhou Ancient City, and the local Tea Horse Ancient Road. It integrates natural landscapes and historical and cultural landmarks such as snow-capped mountains, colorful pools, lakes, waterfalls, forests, canyons, riverbanks, ancient temples, villages, and local customs.

The location of the Huanglong Extreme Endurance Race is Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Songpan County is situated on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, more than 300 kilometers away from Chengdu. The important water resource, the Minjiang River, originates from this region. With a history of over 2300 years, Songpan County and its ancient city have a history of more than 1300 years, dating back to the first year of Wu De during the Tang Dynasty (618 AD). Since the Tang Dynasty, Songzhou has been an important frontier military town and a gateway to the western part of China. Being at the crossroads of various ethnic influences, this historic city has a diverse cultural blend of Tibetan, Qiang, Hui, and Han ethnicities over the centuries.

II. History of the Race

The inaugural Huanglong Extreme Endurance Race was held in 2018, and this year, the 5th edition of the race is scheduled to take place from July 5th to July 7th.

In the years 2018-2019, the “Huanglong-Mounigou-Jiuzhaigou (Tea Horse Ancient Road)” route was recognized as the “Top Ten Boutique Projects in Chinese Sports Tourism” for two consecutive years at the China Sports Tourism Expo.

As 2024 marks the fifth year of the Huanglong Extreme Endurance Race, there are plans to enhance the race’s attractiveness and experiential aspects. To achieve this, there will be optimizations and adjustments to the race categories and routes. New categories, including the MJTS 75km group for exploring hidden areas, the XBD 50km group around Xuebaoding, and the CMGD 30km group along the Tea Horse Ancient Road, will be introduced. These categories are designed to cater to participants with different levels of abilities, providing a diverse and engaging experience for all.