11/04/2026
🏔️ 2026 China Trail Running: The 20 Most-Anticipated Races
Published: April 11, 2026 | RunnerReg Editorial
China's trail running scene has exploded in recent years, and 2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting season yet. From the subtropical ridgelines of Guangdong to the high-altitude passes of Sichuan, and from the iconic Great Wall to the bamboo forests of Zhejiang, here are the 20 most-anticipated trail races in and around China this year.
🗓️ The Complete 2026 Calendar
January
1. Guangzhou 100 Ultra Trail (广州100) 📍 Guangdong, China | 📅 January 17–18, 2026 🏃 Distances: 30km, 60km, 100km 📱 Registration: WeChat (Kailas Mini-Program)
One of South China's premier ultra-trail events, the Guangzhou 100 kicks off the year with a challenging course through Guangdong's lush subtropical mountains.
2. HK100 Ultra Marathon 📍 Hong Kong | 📅 January 22–25, 2026 🏃 Distances: 31km, 50km, 100km, 181km (The Grand Sam) 🌐 Registration: hk100ultra.com
The race that put Asian trail running on the global map. The HK100 is a bucket-list event featuring Hong Kong's stunning country parks, rugged coastline, and iconic peaks. The 181km "Grand Sam" variant is one of Asia's most gruelling multi-day challenges.
March
3. Huangshizhai Trail (黄石寨) 📍 Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China | 📅 March 2026 🏃 Distances: 30km, 50km 📱 Registration: WeChat Official Account
Run through the otherworldly sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie — the landscape that inspired the movie Avatar.
4. Chaoyunfeng Trail (朝云峰) 📍 China | 📅 March 21–22, 2026 🏃 Distances: 30km, 50km 📱 Registration: WeChat (Runnar)
A rising star in the Chinese trail calendar, Chaoyunfeng offers technical terrain and stunning cloud-sea views at dawn.
5. Moganshan Bamboo Sea Trail (竹海) 📍 Zhejiang, China | 📅 March 27–29, 2026 🏃 Distances: 20km, 30km, 50km 📱 Registration: WeChat Official Account
Weave through endless bamboo groves in one of China's most picturesque trail settings, just 90 minutes from Shanghai.
April
6. Ultra-Trail Mount Mogan by UTMB (莫干山) 📍 Zhejiang, China | 📅 April 10–12, 2026 🏃 Distances: 20km, 50km, 100km 🌐 Registration: utmb.world
Part of the prestigious UTMB World Series, this race combines Moganshan's misty peaks with world-class race organization. A key qualifier for UTMB Mont-Blanc.
May
7. Weihai 100 Ultra Trail (威海100) 📍 Shandong, China | 📅 May 16–17, 2026 🏃 Distances: 50km, 100km 📱 Registration: WeChat (Runnar)
A spectacular coastal ultra along Shandong's rugged shoreline, where mountain trails meet the sea.
8. Lianzhou 100 Ultra Trail (连州100) 📍 Guangdong, China | 📅 May 23–24, 2026 🏃 Distances: 50km, 100km 📱 Registration: WeChat Official Account
Deep in northern Guangdong, Lianzhou offers remote karst landscapes and a true wilderness experience.
July
9. Huanglong Extreme Endurance (黄龙) 📍 Sichuan, China | 📅 July 2026 🏃 Distance: 100km 📱 Registration: WeChat Official Account
High-altitude racing at its finest — the Huanglong course winds through UNESCO World Heritage terrain, with sections above 4,000m elevation.
10. Chongli 168 Ultra Trail (崇礼168) 📍 Hebei, China | 📅 July 2026 🏃 Distances: 30km to 168km 🌐 Registration: chongli168.com / WeChat
Set in the mountains that hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics, Chongli 168 is one of China's most iconic ultra-distance races with a massive 168km flagship distance.
August
11. UTMB Mont-Blanc 📍 Chamonix, France | 📅 August 24–30, 2026 🏃 Distances: 50km, 100km, 171km 🌐 Registration: utmb.world
The holy grail of trail running. While not in China, UTMB Mont-Blanc is the ultimate goal for thousands of Chinese trail runners who train all year for a slot in Chamonix.
September
12. Ultra-Trail Great Wall by UTMB (长城) 📍 Beijing, China | 📅 September 2026 🏃 Distances: 20km, 50km, 100km 🌐 Registration: utmb.world
Run along one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Wall by UTMB is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combines serious trail racing with incredible history.
October
13. Ultra-Trail Mount Yunmeng by UTMB (云蒙山) 📍 Beijing, China | 📅 October 2026 🏃 Distances: 20km, 50km, 100km 🌐 Registration: utmb.world
Another UTMB World Series event near Beijing, featuring the stunning autumn colours of Mount Yunmeng's forested ridgelines.
14. Kailas Mount Siguniang Ultra Trail (四姑娘山) 📍 Sichuan, China | 📅 October 2026 🏃 Distances: 30km, 50km, 100km 📱 Registration: WeChat (Kailas Mini-Program)
"The Alps of China" — Mount Siguniang's 6,250m peak towers over a course that traverses some of Sichuan's most dramatic high-altitude terrain.
November
15. Kolon Ninghai Trail Challenge (宁海) 📍 Zhejiang, China | 📅 November 13–15, 2026 🏃 Distances: 24.7km, 58.3km, 100.5km 📱 Registration: WeChat (Ninghai Mini-Program)
The 13th edition of this beloved Zhejiang classic. Registration opened April 8, 2026 via the official WeChat account.
16. Tsaigu Tangsi / Mount Kuocang Ultra Trail (柴古唐斯) 📍 Zhejiang, China | 📅 November 2026 🏃 Distances: 50km, 80km, 115km 📱 Registration: WeChat Official Account
One of China's most technically demanding ultras, known for its relentless elevation gain through ancient Kuocang Mountain.
17. TransLantau by UTMB (大屿山) 📍 Hong Kong | 📅 November 2026 🏃 Distances: 25km, 50km, 100km, 129km 🌐 Registration: utmb.world
Lantau Island's wild trails provide the backdrop for this UTMB World Series race, with stunning views of the South China Sea and Hong Kong's iconic skyline.
18. Wumengshan Super Marathon (乌蒙山) 📍 Guizhou, China | 📅 November 27–29, 2026 🏃 Distance: Up to 330km 📱 Registration: WeChat Official Account
China's most extreme multi-day event — a 330km odyssey through the remote Wumeng Mountains of Guizhou. Not for the faint-hearted.
December
19. Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB 📍 Chiang Mai, Thailand | 📅 December 2026 🏃 Distances: 20km to 160km 🌐 Registration: utmb.world
While technically in Thailand, this UTMB World Series event is a favourite year-end destination for Chinese trail runners, set around Thailand's highest peak.
20. Shenzhen 100 Ultra Trail (深圳100) 📍 Guangdong, China | 📅 December 2026 🏃 Distances: 50km, 100km 📱 Registration: WeChat (Runnar)
The year closes with Shenzhen's flagship ultra-trail, a surprisingly wild race on the doorstep of one of the world's most modern cities.
📱 How to Register for Chinese Trail Races
Most Chinese trail races operate exclusively through WeChat Mini-Programs — you won't find standard web registration pages. Here's what you need to do:
Download WeChat (Weixin) on your phone
Search for the race's Official Account using the Chinese characters provided above
Follow the account — registration links are posted as articles a few months before each race
Complete registration through the embedded Mini-Program
For UTMB World Series races (Mount Mogan, Great Wall, Mount Yunmeng, TransLantau, Doi Inthanon), register at utmb.world using a standard web browser.
🌏 The Big Picture
China's trail running community is among the fastest-growing in the world. With the UTMB World Series now featuring four races on Chinese soil (plus Doi Inthanon nearby), the country has firmly established itself as a global trail running destination. Whether you're chasing UTMB qualifying points, seeking high-altitude adventure, or simply want to explore some of the most spectacular landscapes on Earth, China's 2026 trail calendar has something for every runner.
Happy trails! 🏃♂️⛰️
TGR Trail Running HK | RunnerReg
