“Just another 100k Race”
Two weekends ago, my running buddy Dieter and I thought we were basically trail-running superheroes. Fresh off finishing the grueling Jiuzhaigou 100km Ultra Trail back in June, we felt sharp, confident, and admittedly a little overconfident. So when outdoor brand Kailas invited us to experience the infamous Gongga Shan Glacier Race, widely known as China’s toughest trail race, we foolishly jumped straight into the brutal 100km category. Our mindset was simple: “We’ve done 100km before. How hard can this possibly be?” Spoiler alert: high-altitude mountain glacier terrain humbled us completely.
The entire pre-race experience was absolutely flawless. Kailas delivered incredible support and premium race gear, including professional trail running shoes and a high-performance running vest that easily outclassed our regular equipment. The race venue had an amazing international vibe, packed with dedicated runners from all over the world who traveled long distances to take on Gongga Shan. The site was lively, well-organized, and full of positive energy, with booths, friendly staff, and constant excitement, all of which only boosted our already overinflated pre-race egos. Dieter and I rested thoroughly before the midnight start, fully convinced we were ready to dominate another ultra-marathon.
Gongga 100 Extreme Glacier Trail Challenge: Views
Our overconfidence vs Gongga’s glaciers
Then we reached the first checkpoint, and everything changed…
The smooth asphalt disappeared entirely, replaced by narrow, steep, slippery muddy forest trails that marked the start of the race’s unforgiving core section. What followed was a relentless total climb of roughly 3000 meters, pushing us toward a maximum altitude of 4600 meters. What started as a casual, enjoyable run quickly transformed into an extreme test of physical endurance, mental toughness, and high-altitude resilience, making it crystal clear why this race holds its reputation as China’s most demanding trail challenge.
The terrain shifted dramatically once we passed 4000 meters elevation. The thick, sticky mud vanished, giving way to sharp, jagged rocky ground. The smooth trail disappeared entirely, leaving only uneven boulder fields. We were forced to constantly scramble, climb, and balance over loose rock and massive boulders with no clear path forward. Every single step required focus, strength, and careful footwork.
Gongga 100 Extreme Glacier Trail Challenge: Gear
Conclusion: More Than A Finish Line
Kailas, great gear… but it won’t save you from Gongga
High altitude hit us hard. We had lived and trained at just 1000 meters elevation and completed almost no formal altitude acclimatization. Jumping straight into terrain above 4000 meters completely drained our stamina, and our pace slowed drastically. All around us, countless runners struggled with the relentless ascent and thinning air. Even though sunrise revealed stunning panoramic views of snow-capped Gongga peaks and glaciers, we could rarely stop to admire them. We were racing against strict cutoff times, fully aware that lingering would eliminate us from the race. We kept pushing upward stubbornly all the way to nearly 4500 meters.
The hardest segment by far sat between checkpoint two and three: a brutal 16-kilometer stretch with 1600 meters of vertical gain across two high mountain passes. By mid-morning, the sun blazed intensely, temperatures rose rapidly, and runners everywhere hit their breaking point. Many competitors collapsed on the trail, completely exhausted from altitude fatigue and unrelenting climbing.
Humbling Heights
At around 10 a.m., race officials delivered the inevitable news: we had missed the official cutoff and were disqualified. It was disappointing, yet also weirdly relieving, we would not have to tackle the remaining 70 kilometers of this merciless course. To put the race’s extreme difficulty into perspective: over 300 runners signed up for the 100km division, yet only 100 athletes successfully crossed the finish line. That staggeringly low finish rate perfectly illustrates how unforgiving the Kailas Gongga Glacier Race truly is.
What most people don’t realize is that disqualification was not the end of our suffering. That brutal 16-kilometer boulder and mountain pass section had already taken us 10 hours. Even after being pulled from the race, we still faced an exhausting five-hour evacuation hike. We had no shortcuts, no rescue ride, and no easy path down. We had to continue scrambling over boulders and carefully navigating a rugged river canyon descent all the way back down the mountain pass to reach the evacuation point. We were already completely drained, yet we had no choice but to keep moving over uneven rocky terrain for hours. By the time we finally descended off the mountain, we were utterly exhausted, starving, and incredibly grateful we wouldn’t need to spend a freezing second night on the high mountain.
Even with a DNF (Did Not Finish), Dieter and I have zero regrets. We gave the course absolutely everything we had: we fought through muddy lowland forests, scrambled for hours over high-altitude boulder fields, battled crippling altitude fatigue, and pushed our bodies far beyond our comfort zones. This race taught us a vital ultra-running lesson: low-altitude race experience does not prepare you for brutal high-altitude Gongga glacier terrain.
Despite not finishing, we leave this adventure incredibly thankful. We met countless talented, passionate international runners, shared a brutal mountain challenge with like-minded athletes, and experienced one of China’s most legendary extreme ultra races thanks to Kailas’s generous invitation, professional support, and premium gear. This was never a failure, it was an unforgettable, humbling mountain masterclass.
We’re already planning our redemption run. Next time, we’ll return far better prepared: with dedicated high-altitude training, proper acclimatization, and significantly less pre-race cockiness. Gongga Shan beat us this time, but we’re definitely coming back stronger.
Upcoming Kailas – FUGA trail races schedule
If you’re chasing mountain miles, stunning scenery, and world-class trail racing across China, the Kailas FUGA race series delivers iconic routes for every runner — from first-time trail newbies to hardened ultra-distance athletes. Below is your full lineup of upcoming events, sorted chronologically.
Kailas Siguniang Mountain Ultra-Trail (UTMS) | 10th Edition
Event date: Late October 2026
Venue: Siguniang Mountain, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan
Event categories: Five race distances ranging from 32km up to 98km, built for all skill levels, featuring high-altitude alpine terrain and dramatic mountain views.
Registration: Opens April 2026; limited bibs available.
2026 Kailas FUGA Moganshan Mountain Running Race (10th Anniversary)
Event date: October 23 – 25, 2026
Venue: Yucun, Moganshan, Deqing, Huzhou, Zhejiang
Event categories: 10km, 20km, 30km, 50km, 70km, 100km plus youth 10km category. Famous for lush bamboo forest trails, steep climbs and a massive, vibrant runner community.
Registration: Lottery registration already completed for this iconic 10th anniversary race.
2026 Kailas FUGA · West Lake Qingzhiwu Midwinter Trail Run
Event date: Sunday, Mid‑December 2026
Venue: Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Event categories: Four race options:
West Lake 42km: Classic scenic route weaving through lakes, mountains and ancient temples. Huanglong 30km: Balanced mix of urban start and forest mountain trails. Lingyin 20km: Runs past Lingyin Temple and botanical gardens. Qingqing 10km: Gentle, beginner-friendly trail for new runners
Registration: Opening soon.
Kailas FUGA Shenzhen 100 Mountain Race
Event Date: Late December 2026
Venue: Da’e coastal beaches & mountains, Shenzhen
Event Categories: 10km, 35km, 60km, 100km, 168km
Registration: Live on WeChat, open now.
FUGA Guangzhou 100
Event Date: Mid-January 2027
Venue: Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou Event Categories: 10km, 35km, 60km, 100km
Registration: Lottery application opens November–December 2026 via WeChat.
