Bamian Mountain hill climb officially began on the first racing day. More than 800 riders from 27 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China, as well as from Morocco, Spain, Mongolia, and Vietnam, gathered in Liye to race along the high-altitude course at over 1,000 meters, competing in a thrilling test of speed and endurance.

The event was hosted by the Hunan Provincial Administration of Sport and organized by the Longshan County People's Government. The rider lineup was highly competitive: four international riders raced alongside a strong contingent of domestic counterparts with team-racing experience. Among the participants were also retired stars who had competed internationally, as well as a number of China's top amateur riders. This set the stage for a thrilling high-level contest full of highlights.

The event consisted of two races—an 18.5-km hill climb race on August 23 and a 37.2-km road race on August 24, and featured five categories, namely men's road elite, men's road open, women's road, men's MTB group, and women's MTB.

The 18.5-km hill climb race course is fully paved, starting at the Liye Qin Slips Museum and winding uphill to the finish at the parking lot atop Bamian Mountain. With a total elevation gain of 1,178 meters and a relentless series of steep slopes and sharp bends, the course challenged riders' stamina management and bike-handling skills to the limit. Along the track, the riders passed by the museum, cloud-shrouded peaks, and alpine grasslands, where breathtaking natural scenery met rich cultural heritage. Riders were striving to surge ahead, while immersing themselves in the stunning landscapes from a view of "Cycling on the Clouds" — truly "riding through scenery, traveling within a painting."

Following a hard-fought race, the winners in the five categories were unveiled. Hu Jiuming claimed the men's road elite title, Chen Xiangyuan topped the men's road open, Li Si prevailed in the women's road race, Yang Qianbin took the men's MTB crown, and Guo Yuxuan won the women's MTB group.

"Today's hill climb course was really tough, but the scenery along the track was stunning — especially the sea of clouds. And it was a rare opportunity to race alongside so many top-tier riders," said a participant from Hubei after the race.

Beyond the thrilling race, the event offered a rich array of activities that showcased Liye's unique charm. On the evening of August 22, the Bamian Mountain College Student Starry Sky Music Festival took place as scheduled, with melodies echoing across the mountaintop. The following evening, riders gathered together for a traditional Tujia Long Table Banquet, where they enjoyed authentic local dishes and shared their cycling stories, getting fully immersed in Liye's culture and hospitality.

Now in its seventh year, this high-level cycling event has been continuously advancing the integrated development of sports, cultural tourism, and rural revitalization. By tapping into local assets, such as the Liye Qin slips culture, the alpine grasslands of Bamian Mountain, and the Tujia folk customs at Rebala Scenic Area, the event has stimulated the regional cultural tourism market, upgraded local homestays and rural leisure offerings, and turned ecological resources and cultural heritage into drivers of rural revitalization.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Official Website of CCTV