21 participants die in extreme weather during China mountain marathon race

May 24, 2021

Nigel Benton

21 participants in the Yellow River Stone Forest cross-country mountain race have died in north-western China after hail, freezing rain and gales hit the high-altitude track.

Chinese state media has reported that as the middle of the day on Saturday, a mountainous section of the race in Gansu province was hit by extreme weather with temperatures falling sharply, causing it to be halted.

With 172 participants having started the 100-kilometre race, 151 participants were confirmed to be safe, five with minor injuries.

However, rescue headquarters quoted by the official Xinhua News Agency said participants suffered when temperatures plummeted.

The rescue headquarters advised “participants suffered from physical discomfort and loss of temperature due to the sudden drop in air temperature.”

Some runners went missing in the extreme weather around 1pm Saturday, when the race was halted.

Over 1,200 rescuers were dispatched, assisted by thermal-imaging drones, radar detectors and demolition equipment, according to Xinhua.

The operation was made difficult by low night time temperatures and the area's complex terrain.

The runners were racing on an extremely narrow mountain path at an altitude reaching 2,000-3,000 metres.

The course followed by the Yellow River Stone Forest cross-country mountain race is understood to be a relatively established one, having been held four times, according to an account posted online by a participant in the race who quit and managed to make his way to safety.

However, the extreme weather was not expected with runners not dressed for winter-like conditions, many wearing short-sleeved tops.

The competitor said on his WeChat account ‘Wandering about the South’, which has been viewed 100,000 times "I ran 2 kilometres before the starting gun fired to warm up … but the troublesome thing was, after running these 2 kilometres, my body still had not heated up

He later told The Paper that the forecast the day prior to the race did not predict the extreme weather they encountered.

The most difficult section, 24 to 36 kilometres into the track, climbed 1,000 metres. There, he said the path was just a mix of stones and sand, and his fingers grew numb from the cold.

When he finally decided to turn back, he already felt dazed. He said he was able to make it to safety and met rescue crew members.

Those farther along the path, who needed rescue, had fallen off deep into mountain crevices, according to a reporter for state broadcaster CCTV.

Yellow River Stone Forest is famous for its rugged mountain scenery marked by stone stalagmites and pillars, and is used as a location in many Chinese television shows and movies, according to the China Daily.

Image of the Gansu mountains courtesy of the Chinese National Tourism Office.

About the author

Nigel Benton

Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management

Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.

With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.

Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.

In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.

He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).

In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.

As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.

Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.

His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.

His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well as caring for Stella the pug.

Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.

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