As China's rising middle class picks up running as a hobby, marathons and trail races have exploded in popularity over the past years. The mountain race was held at the Yellow River Stone Forest, a toursit destination known for its imposing jagged rock formations in China's Gansu province. To qualify for entry, runners need to have completed two full marathons or one trail race longer than 50 kilometers (31 miles) in the past year. According to the Chinese Athletic Association , 481 trail races were held in 2019 -- more than one quarterof all long-distance running events. Trail races are often held in far-flung parts of the country that lag behind in development and resources.

Source: CNN May 29, 2021 00:11 UTC