On August 23, the 2026 "Dian Zhong Trail Run: Conquering Laoye Mountain" kicked off at Shicui Valley in Yunnan Dianzhong New Area, with more than 720 trail running enthusiasts participating. This was the first large-scale mountain trail race held by Dianzhong New Area, aiming to use the event as a bridge to drive sports-led tourism and promote the deep integration of culture, sports, and tourism.

The race featured three categories: a 9 km Trail Discovery, a 24 km Ridge Traverse, and a 38 km Peak Conquest. The course makes use of Laoye Mountain's terrain resources, winding through forests and linking pristine trails, gentle slopes, and scenic high points, catering to both competitive athletes and recreational runners. The 38 km category has a cumulative elevation gain of about 2,163 meters, with rocky sections near the summit; finishers can earn 2 ITRA points.

Participants included both local residents and elite runners. Wang Xuequan, a 24 km runner from Adi Community, said, "The race was at my doorstep, so I signed up as soon as registration opened." Jiang Xianghong, a 38 km runner, won first place in the women's 25 km category at the Liupanshui Trail Race last month and said the course was very challenging. Duan Dongjie, a former provincial marathon athlete, said trail running had greater elevation changes, higher altitude, and more variable weather than marathons, requiring stronger technique and endurance. Hou Anqi, a 9 km runner, said the course offered rich experiences and a high climb-to-distance ratio, and that enjoying the mountains and experiencing the course was her biggest takeaway.

For race support, Dabanqiao Subdistrict organized more than 120 staff members and volunteers. Medical teams were on standby throughout the event, and public security, forestry and grassland, and fire departments were stationed along the route. Water, sports drinks, fruit, and other supplies were available on the course.

The race pack had distinctive Yunnan features. In view of Laoye Mountain's main peak at 2,730 meters above sea level, it included notoginseng and rhodiola tablets to aid altitude adaptation, energy gels, salt capsules, a portable oxygen canister, and other items. The finisher pack also included a headlamp, among other gifts.

The course wound through the mountain forests as runners pushed their physical limits. At the finish area, volunteers placed medals around the necks of every athlete crossing the line. Laoye Mountain gained new vitality from the runners' footsteps.

Drawing on Laoye Mountain's unique terrain resources and rich cultural heritage, Dabanqiao Subdistrict is exploring a "sports plus cultural tourism" integration path, turning the "traffic" generated by sports events into "retention" for cultural tourism, and building "Conquering Laoye Mountain" into a signature outdoor sports event for Dianzhong New Area.

The event was hosted by the Dianzhong New Area Airport-adjacent Advanced Manufacturing Development Bureau, the Social Affairs Administration Bureau, and the Dabanqiao Subdistrict Office.

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(Editors: Jennifer, Flynn)