Huangshan Huizhou Ancient City Trail Run

Huizhou Ancient City 50K race report

By RunEast team

It is a high-reputation race in the country. Here is a quick breakdown of how the 50K course played out.

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Start

Start to CP1 (the ancient city) The course started at Yanghe Gate and ran straight through the old city on ancient flagstones. After passing through the residential areas, it opened up into a runnable path along the Xin'an River, with traditional architecture on one side and green mountains in the distance.

CP1 to CP2 (first real climb) From the aid station we kept following the river trails before hitting the first proper climb, about 300m (roughly 1,000ft). Then a fast descent through the woods, The trail was covered in soft leaf litter, which felt great on the legs.

Canola Fields

CP2 to CP3 (canola fields) More riverbank running, then the big one: over 600m (2,000ft+) of elevation gain up ancient stone steps. It was a grind, but once we crested the mountain there were canola flowers in every direction, just endless yellow.

CP3 to CP4 (mountain villages) From the flower fields we climbed a narrow dirt path up to a mountain village. Running through these old, quiet settlements is one of the things that makes this race different.

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Countryside

CP4 to CP5 (countryside) Mostly runnable country roads, then another dirt climb. The forest floor was soft with leaves again, which made the push uphill easier on the legs.

CP5 to finish (mud) The final section. Farm trails turned into a slick, muddy downhill. Sketchy but fun. It dropped us back into the old city to cross the finish line.

Summary

The Vibe: The classic Huizhou architecture, white walls and dark tiles, is everywhere along the course. Aid stations and villages all have that old-town feel.
The Terrain: The course is fast. It is about 50% hard surface (paved lanes, flagstones, village paths) and 50% dirt trails. Not very technical either, apart from a few muddy sections.
The Scenery: If you go in spring, half the course is surrounded by yellow canola flowers and green tea terraces. It looks like a painting.
Destination: The race is on China's high-speed rail network, and it is right next to Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) and the old villages of Hongcun and Xidi, both UNESCO sites. You could the rest of the week exploring.