Yading scenic spot offers tracks running 29 kilometers through sprawling mountains and forests, giving those walking or running on them the chance not only to lap up the pristine nature but also to test theirphysical strength.[Photo/China Daily]

In a scenic spot that literally takes your breath away, the competitive juices run.

Skin baked dry and hard by the sun, dark purple lips and the lilt of Tibetan in the air: It was late April, and it was these sights and sounds that greeted us even before we had fully come to terms with a couple of other welcoming presents: the weather and altitude sickness.

We had just arrived at Daocheng Yading Airport, the world's highest civilian airport, 4,411 meters above sea level, which had just been blanketed by snow, something that seemed incongruous for us who had been in balmy Beijing, where short sleeved seemed to be all the go the day before.

We changed into our down and wind jackets before getting out of the aircraft, and some of the passengers immediately felt the effects of altitude stress.

An hour earlier we had been soaking up or merely tolerating the hustle and bustle of Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and here the dark brown, snowcapped mountains reclining on the horizon could not have presented a starker contrast.

Yading is in Daocheng county, Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, in Sichuan and well known for its virgin natural environment and spectacular scenery.

The three crowning glories of it all are the Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong and Xianuo Duoji peaks, each about 6,000 meters above sea level, blanketed by dazzling white snow, and with blue-watered rivers, lakes and lush alpine meadows all contributing to the majestic tapestry.

"We worship these three peaks, regarding them as having been given to us by Buddha," a local guide told us.

One of the main reasons for our visit was much more earthbound: the first ever event in China put on by Skyrunning, an organization that puts on cross-country running events around the globe. For this event more than 70 professional runners from 22 countries and regions, including Iran, Italy, Mexico, Nepal and the US, had flown in to savor what this out-of-the-way venue had to offer.

Most of them were among the top 100 cross-country runners worldwide, the organizers say.

The organization's name refers to the interface between the earth and the sky, and Yading was regarded as ideal venue for the event, given its superb mountain tracks. The organization places a premium on putting runners in touch with nature.

It has staged more than 200 events in more than 50 countries, and it says they attracted more than 30,000 participants.

The tracks used in Yading ran 29 kilometers through sprawling mountains and forests, giving those walking or running on them the chance not only to lap up the pristine nature but also test their physical strength.

In fact, the rigors of the altitude left some of us breathless as we merely negotiated a couple of flights of stairs.

Ruth Croft, a professional cross-country runner from New Zealand, said: "It actually reminds me a bit of Nepal, but then it's amazing as you go up the trail here, you see the change in the trees and they're really bright and orange."

Croft and winners of several international running events, such as the 2015 Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in the French Alps, were among the several professionals invited to offer their opinions and advice on preparations for the Skyrun event.

Yading scenic spot offers tracks running 29 kilometers through sprawling mountains and forests, giving those walking or running on them the chance not only to lap up the pristine nature but also to test theirphysical strength.[Photo / China Daily]

"If you come from sea level it's very hard to prepare for this competition, but you can get here a bit early (a few days), and try to get a little bit used to the elevation," Croft says.

"As you are going up, getting high up to 4,600 meters, you just have to be really aware of yourself, just not push it, and take your time."

The event started off in Shangri-la town, part of Yading. The road was smooth at the beginning before turning sharply upward to 2,900 meters. Then, runners had to descend along a 3.5-kilometer mud track to 2,800 meters, where the real excitement began.

After passing Chitu river, runners came across a small village, and then ran 12 kilometers through forest and a rugged botanical zone along glaciers and rivers. The thrilling river track then gave way to a two-kilometer highway, when the Chonggu Temple suddenly appeared.

The most difficult part came in the final 4 kilometers where runners had to climb to 4,700 meters and double back to the temple to finish the race.

"The final section consists of icy slag and gravel and is extremely slippery," says Wei Xueyan, from Beijing, who is in her 30s, and who finished the race in seven hours and 45 minutes, ranking 14th in the women's group.

But those who reached the top of the climb were more than amply recompensed with the spectacular view.

"I felt so small when I reached the top right near the snow-capped peak, and it's amazing to see Marnyi stones carved with Tibetan words lying around there," Wei says.

Wei caught the cross-country running bug early last year as she did some running in mountainous areas while she was staying in her hometown in Yunnan province.

"Cross-country running is so much more interesting because the landscape never ceases to change, and you can stop and take photos."

Her running photos have become popular in her WeChat friends circle, which, in turn, has fueled her enthusiasm for cross-country running.

The Yading event impressed her, and what was particularly noticeable were the variations in track conditions, ranging from gravel to green moss, she said. Some roads were very soft, covered with thick leaves and mud, and some inclines had a gradient of 60 degrees, presenting a stiff challenge.

"It was particularly enjoyable to run along the narrow stone track along the edge of a mountain, with the river bubbling along right under your feet. The tracks featuring golden yellow leaves lying around were breathtaking."

Locals added to the event's charm, she says.

"The Tibetan people were so friendly, offering homemade food to runners who passed their houses. Men and children clapped and cheered us, which was a powerful stimulant to keep us going till the end."

Wei says she is also looking forward to similar cross-country events in Yumen, Gansu province, in September and Huangshan, Anhui, in January.

Yading scenic spot offers tracks running 29 kilometers through sprawling mountains and forests, giving those walking or running on them the chance not only to lap up the pristine nature but also to test theirphysical strength.[Photo / China Daily]

"I want to keep running and use it to teach my two daughters the value of persistence."

The pristine natural scenery is also drawing many tourists from far and wide.

"The number of tourists coming here in April rose by a nearly 70 percent," says He Rui, deputy head of the Yading scenic spot.

Easier transport, including the opening of an airport in Yading in 2013 and better roads linking the town to Kangding in Sichuan province have fueled the growth in tourism boom, he says, adding that most visitors travel there by car.

Last year, more than 400,000 tourists visited the scenic spot.

"Most come for the hiking and enjoy the high altitude and the different kind of scenery that this offers."

In an effort to lure tourists the local authority has offered a concession that allows visitors to spread their visit to the area over two days, being admitted free the second day and paying 40 percent less for bus transport to the scenic spot on the second day.

The pyramid-shaped snow mountain, lake, meadow, multi-layered forest are a sure-fire draw for nature lovers, especially photographers, He says.

If you go

Fly to Chengdu and then transfer to Daocheng Yading Airport.