Trail races in remote parts of China make expats ambassadors for their area, and pay them for the pleasure
The faces on the starting line have become familiar for overseas runners invited to race in obscure parts of China to help promote tourism. Another group of runners, Africans on short-term visas, are in it for the money
At the Chongqing North railway station in western China, we’re stocking up on snacks at FamilyMart on a Saturday afternoon ahead of a mountain marathon. We’re not sure what food to expect at this weekend’s race, as messages tick into the dedicated mountain marathon WeChat group.
Some runners are worried they might not make the train, some arrive from Shanghai and others from Beijing. Others want to know what platform the train departs from, while others wonder what the weather forecast for the day of the race will be like.
Cassie Ren from Hey Running in Beijing, China’s capital, is already at the race location, and she reassures us all: “There is a bus waiting for you at the station, there will be food tonight, I have your bib numbers and most importantly; the scenery here is stunning.”
Apart from being passionate about trail races and marathons, the people in this group have one other thing in common: they are all foreigners who have been invited to participate in the 2018 China Mountain Marathon series race – the Tenglong Cave Cup in Lichuan, Hubei. Organisers will cover the registration fees, travel expenses and accommodation – provided that the runners complete the race.
Ren was right. The scenic area of Tenglong Cave is breathtaking. Even at night when our bus finally makes it there. As we make our way to the canteen through the village of Bai Que Shan, we become the instant attraction and the first selfie requests arrive. Waiguoren (foreigners) are not a common sight here in rural Hubei.