
Huanglong Extreme Endurance Race
📍Huanglong Scenic Area, Songpan County, Sichuan
“Where World Natural Heritage meets extreme endurance”
RunEast Rating
The Good
- Well organized
- True high-altitude mountain challenge
The Warning
- Variable mountain weather conditions
About the Race
The Huanglong Extreme Endurance Race started in 2018 and runs through the UNESCO-listed Huanglong Scenic Area in Sichuan Province. The course passes Huanglong's travertine pools, Qicang Valley, and Xuebaoding (5588m), then drops into Songzhou Ancient City and sections of the old Tea Horse Road. High altitude, technical terrain, and long distances make this one of the harder trail races in western China.
| Category(Usually) | Distance | Elevation Gain | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secret Exploration MJTS | 70km | +3,595m | 19 hours |
| Xuebaoding XBD | 50km | +2,442m | 15 hours |
| Tea Horse Ancient Road CMGD | 30km | +1,544m | 9 hours |
| Dream Back to Songzhou MHSZ | 15km | +650m | 5 hours |

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The Experience
- Course: Most of the course sits between 3,000m and 4,000m (10,000–13,000 ft), with exposed ridges and high passes. Some sections cross alpine pastures where yaks and sheep graze. The 70K is the toughest option—runners hit the snowy high point at night.
- Organization: The organizer, ShenXing Company, specializes in high-altitude trail races and takes safety seriously. When rain moves in, they'll reroute sections and add more course marshals.
- Vibe Expect cold, rain, mud, and thin air. But the views make up for it.
UNESCO World Heritage
- Huanglong Scenic Area became a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 1992 for its travertine terraces and colorful mineral pools. The race passes through sections of the park.
- Songpan Ancient Town is about 17km from the scenic area. The town dates back over 2,000 years, though the city walls are reconstructions. Worth a day of wandering if you arrive early.

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Getting There
Fly into Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) Or Tianfu International Airport, then,
- Train 🚄(Recommended): High-speed train from Chengdu to Songpan Station runs about 300km. From there, local transport to Songzhou Ancient City.
- Bus 🚌:Buses run from Chengdu Chadianzi Station to Songpan. Book through the "Sichuan Bus Ticket Network"WeChat platform.
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