Yading is famous for its three mountain peaks that are blanketed by snow all year round as well as the lush alpine meadows that flank its blue rivers and lakes. Photos by Yang Feiyue/China Daily and provided to China Daily

Running and hiking enthusiasts heat up local tourism in Yading, Sichuan province, Yang Feiyue reports.

An international cross-country running event has put Yading on the map of tourists worldwide and brought significant changes to the lives of locals.

Held during the recent Labor Day holiday, the cross-country running event was a joint effort between the local government, Chinese company Migu Run and Italy-based International Skyrunning Federation. The event attracted more than 1,000 participants from 25 countries and regions.

"The number of participants who had signed up was more than what we expected," says Li Panpan, who works for the event organizers.

The event featured two race routes measuring 46 and 29 kilometers as well as climbing and hiking experiences that took place between 2,900 and 5,000 meters above sea level.

Casal Mir Oscar from Andorra won the 29-km race in three hours, six minutes and 26 seconds. Holly Page from the UK was the first female runner to complete the race in three hours, 32 minutes and four seconds. Chinese contestants Jiaer Renjia and Yao Miao topped the 46-km run for the men's and women's categories respectively.

For many of the contestants, winning wasn't on the agenda - they were content to just take in the magnificent scenes of nature. Chen Xia from Beijing, who opted for the 29-km race and a 10-km hike on the side, was one such individual.

Visitors hire horses and donkeys as transport.

A recent international cross-country running event attracted more than 1,000 participants from 25 countries and regions.

"It was fun to experience nature and the local Tibetan cultural elements, as well as interact with other runners from different parts of the world along the way," says Chen, who finished her race in eight hours and 30 minutes.

"The azaleas in the valley were in full bloom and rain and snow were coming down when I was ascending to 4,700 meters above sea level," Chen recalls. "I wanted to cry when I reached the finish point."

Known for its virgin landscapes that boast stunning scenes of nature, Yading is located in Shangri-La town, Daocheng county, Sichuan province's Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

The nature reserve is famous for its three mountain peaks that are blanketed by snow all year round as well as the lush alpine meadows that flank its blue rivers and lakes. While the mountain terrain may be rough, colorful prayer flags and local Tibetans leading their mules add a touch of charm to the landscape. One of the popular tourist attractions here is the golden-roofed Chonggu Monastery that is set against a backdrop of a snowy mountain peak and a pristine blue sky.

The cross-country race has helped to promote Yading around the globe, says Huang Xiaodong, deputy director of the Yading scenic spot. He noted that daily tourist numbers this year so far have grown by more than 80 percent compared with last year. During the National Day holiday in October, the scenic spot reached its daily maximum capacity of 16,000 people. About 750,000 people visited Yading in 2017.

The booming tourism sector in the nature reserve has inherently improved the lives of those living within. According to Huang, about one third of the population in Shangri-La town are directly involved in the industry, offering various services and products to tourists. Each of the 3,000 residents of Shangri-La town could make more than 20,000 yuan a year ($3,153).

A recent international cross-country running event attracted more than 1,000 participants from 25 countries and regions.

A recent international cross-country running event attracted more than 1,000 participants from 25 countries and regions.

At the Luorong Pasture, which is located at the starting point of the trek into the Yading scenic spot, Tenzin manages horses and donkeys that visitors hire as transport. Tenzin says that he receives as many as 100 customers a day and gets to keep about 85 percent of the 305-yuan fee. The rest of the fee goes to the management of the scenic spot.

This job has allowed Tenzin to earn 70,000 yuan a year, which is much more than the income he earned from growing mushrooms and other types of farming work.

Before the tourism boom took place, Yongzin Lhamo led a simple life raising pigs and growing her own food. Life was all about making ends meet. After turning one of her homes into a guesthouse, her quality of life has improved considerably, with yearly earnings exceeding 500,000 yuan.

According to Huang, residents who run such businesses could earn an average of 300,000 yuan per year.

Local authorities are now expecting tourist numbers to break the 1 million mark this year, citing improved tourism infrastructure. For example, more roads have been paved and medical services have been increased to bolster safety measures at higher altitudes.

There are several flights connecting Yading to cities such Chengdu in Sichuan province and Chongqing, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Xi'an in Shaanxi province and Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province.

Presently, the 46-km and 29-km routes in Yading have yet to be open to the public. But the cableway would be developed in the future to allow visitors to experience what professional runners go through during their race.