June 12–14, 2026, the Gongga Ring International Trail Challenge will be held in Kangding City, Ganzi Prefecture.

The Gongga Ring International Trail Challenge has been held since 2015. After the fifth edition in 2019 it was paused; now, after a seven-year wait, the legendary course is restarting.

Above Kangding, beneath Gongga, the king of the Shu mountains. Registration for this year's race opened on April 27.

How to register: Gongga Ring International Trail Challenge official WeChat public account.

The 2026 Gongga Ring International Trail Challenge is a high-altitude event, with a minimum elevation of 2,512 meters and a maximum elevation of 4,560 meters.

The race features four categories: an 8 km course up Paoma Mountain, an 18 km course behind Nanwu Temple, a 30 km course outside Kangding, and a 50 km course below Zheduo Mountain.

A total of 1,000 slots; registration closes when full.

Paomashan 8 km category: actual distance approximately 8.2 km, cumulative ascent about 470 m, cumulative descent about 470 m, start elevation approx. 2,512 m, finish elevation approx. 2,512 m, highest elevation approx. 2,906 m. Cut-off time: 3 hours.

Behind Nanwu Temple 18 km category:Actual distance approximately 18 km, cumulative ascent approx. 1,816 m, cumulative descent approx. 1,816 m, start/finish elevation approx. 2,512 m, highest elevation approx. 3,682 m. Cut-off time: 6 hours.

Outside Kangding 30 km category:Actual distance approximately 29.3 km, cumulative ascent approx. 2,512 m, cumulative descent approx. 2,512 m, start/finish elevation approx. 2,512 m, highest elevation approx. 4,143 m. Cut-off time: 10 hours.

Zheduo Mountain — 50 km category：Actual distanceapproximately 52.6 km, cumulative ascent approximately 4,237 m, cumulative descent approximately 4,237 m, start elevation approximately 2,512 m, highest elevation approximately 4,560 m. Cut-off time: 15.5 hours.

Note：Detailed data are subject to the race manual published before the event.

Age requirements: participants must have been born between June 12, 1963 and June 12, 2008 (i.e., aged 18 to 63).

Health certificate: At race check-in participants must submit a health certificate: a paper or electronic medical examination report issued by a hospital or professional medical institution within the past year (June 12, 2025 — June 12, 2026), including at minimum an electrocardiogram.

Health risk exclusion clause：

Participants with the following health risks are strictly prohibited from participating; this mainly includes the following conditions and physical statuses：

1. Circulatory system diseases: congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, myocarditis, and other organic heart diseases;

2. Cardiovascular abnormalities: coronary artery disease, severe arrhythmias;

3. Metabolic diseases: uncontrolled hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes with abnormal blood glucose;

4. Respiratory diseases: asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases;

5. Special physiological conditions: pregnant women;

6. Poor physical condition: anyone who has been intoxicated within 24 hours before the race or has slept less than 4 hours;

7. Infectious diseases: patients in the acute or incubation period of infection;

8. Patients recovering from major surgery;

9. Altitude maladaptation: history of acute mountain sickness or other high-altitude intolerance;

10. Other contraindications: diseases deemed unsuitable for strenuous exercise by a professional medical institution.

After meeting the above basic requirements, entrants for each category must also meet the following criteria:

Eligibility for the Paomashan Upper 8 km category requires meeting any of the following conditions:

1. Athletes registered in Ganzi Prefecture must upload their ID card; ID information will be used as the official record;

2. Athletes who have successfully registered for any of the other three categories of this event:

Athletes in the 18 km group behind Namosi Temple, the 30 km group outside Kangding, and the 50 km group below Zheduo Mountain may register for the Paomashan Upper 8 km category as an acclimation run. Separate registration will open after the main registration closes. Spots are limited and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and participants will not receive duplicate materials for this category;

Eligibility for the 18 km group behind Namosi Temple requires meeting any of the following conditions:

1. In the past year (from 2025 to present) participated in domestic or international high-altitude trail running races of 20 km or longer, with an average altitude above 3000 m, and obtained a finisher's certificate;

2. In the past year (2025 to present) participated in domestic or international trail running events of 30 km or longer, and obtained a proof of completion;

Participants in the Kangding outskirts 30 km category must meet one of the following conditions:

1. In the past year (2025 to present) participated in domestic or international high-altitude trail events of 30 km or longer, with an average altitude above 3000 meters, and obtained a proof of completion;

2. In the past year (2025 to present) participated in domestic or international running trail events of 50 km or longer, and obtained a proof of completion;

Participants in the 50 km group at the foot of Zheduo Mountain must meet one of the following conditions:

1. In the past year (2025 to present) participated in domestic or international high-altitude trail running events of 50 km or longer, with an average altitude above 3000 meters, and obtained a proof of completion;

2. In the past year (2025 to present) participated in one 70 km or longer trail event and obtained a proof of completion.

Seven years of waiting—will you make the journey to Gongga?