China’s trail running boom draws urban runners seeking challenge and escape

SHANGHAI: While climbing Tianma Mountain in Shanghai, 52-year-old Larry Xie looks several paces ahead and takes quick strides “like stepping on hot coals” – a technique that keeps his footing stable. 

For Xie and a growing number of runners in China, the mountains have become a refuge from the pressures of city life.

Trail running is rapidly gaining traction across the country, with the number of events surging as more marathon runners take up the sport. 

There are now about 500 trail running events held annually in China, up from just 65 in 2014, according to a report by fitness platform Joyrun.  

Xie, who has been doing trail running for the past decade, said trail running allows runners to connect with nature and offers a different experience from marathons.

“With marathons, you have to keep running. But with trail running, when you are tired, you can stop and walk for a while," he added. 

"During the uphill sections, you can look at the scenery and you can bring some snacks to refuel."

Last year, Xie endured 41 hours to complete the 174km Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France – one of the toughest mountain ultramarathons in the world.

Global race organiser UTMB Group has about 100,000 regular trail runners from China registered in their database, and estimates the total number of such runners in the country to be around 300,000.

This month, it expanded its footprint with the ultra-trail Mogan in Zhejiang province’s Deqing county – bringing its total number of races in China to five.

UTMB International executive director Florian Lamblin said the strength of its races in China comes from the country's diverse landscapes.  

“When you go to Sichuan, to Fujian, to Guangdong, the territories and the landscapes are very different. So