On April 26, 2026, the 30 km category of the Dujuan Flower Sea Yangchun Jilongding Trail Race fired the starting gun. It was the third stop of this year’s Salomon Golden League China series, continuing the competitive tone from last weekend’s Huangyan Jiufeng Trail Masters.

Elite trail runners were set to contest a 30.1 km course with approximately 1,482 m of cumulative ascent.

Last year Fan Banglin and Chi Lingjie set the men's and women's course records on this route, 2:31:23 and 3:08:29, respectively.

This year Fan Banglin returns to compete. At the last Nine Peaks Trail Masters he withdrew, so he’s expected to bounce back at this event. But his rivals are strong, including Guan Yousheng, Yang Chunlong, Zhao Hu, Luo Tao, Shi Yueyuedu, Shi Aiai and others — who will take the title remains uncertain.

On the women's side, defending champion Chi Lingjie is also entered — can she win for a second straight year? Her main rival Xiong Binbin will be looking to shake off the disappointment of withdrawing from the previous Huangyan Nine Peaks Masters. In addition, Lei Yan and Zhang Ting also bring solid credentials.

At 7:00 AM, the elite field started first.

Although today's daytime high exceeded 30°C, the temperature at the morning start was still fairly cool (and the humidity was lower than last year). Because the distance from the start at Huangjiang Primary School to CP1 (Second Parking Lot) is 13.6 km with 952 m of ascent, a mandatory hydration point was set at the 4 km water-channel section.

After the start, Yang Chunlong and the men's leading group set a fast pace.

1:08:34 — Fan Banglin was the first to reach CP1, quickly resupplied and departed. Yang Chunlong was second. Guan Yousheng passed third in 1:09:00, and Luo Tao was fourth in 1:10:32.

In the women's race, Xiong Binbin held first, Zhang Ting second, Chi Lingjie third, Lei Yan fourth, and Luo Qiong fifth.

After leaving CP1, there's a steep climb: 3 kilometers with 382 meters of ascent.

This section passes through a rhododendron forest with beautiful scenery, but runners will face the challenge of high heat and humidity.

Fan Banglin continued to maintain his lead, looking strong both on the uphills and downhills. Yang Chunlong and Guan Yousheng arrived at CP2, the Millennium Rhododendron Forest, together, but Guan Yousheng left first, moving up to second; Yang Chunlong was third, Luo Tao fourth, and Zhao Hu fifth.

The race is already past the halfway point — how much could still change?

On the women's side, Xiong Binbin remains in first place, but Chi Lingjie has moved up to second, Lei Yan is third, and Chang Miaomiao is fourth.

As the sun beat down, the weather grew increasingly muggy, and the runners now faced a stretch that was almost entirely downhill — it was time to put their downhill skills to the test.

Fan Banglin continued to hold the lead, reaching CP3 Stone House in 1 hour 50 minutes 59 seconds, and his chances of defending the title are growing. Guan Yousheng is in second, just over a minute back, while Yang Chunlong sits third.

On the women's side, Chi Lingjie moved up to first by overtaking Xiong Binbin on the downhill; Xiong is second and Zhang Ting third, but the gaps between the three are not large.

In the end Fan Banglin picked up the pace, ultimately breaking the course record he held with a time of 2 hours 21 minutes 42 seconds, improving the previous mark by 11 minutes. In this year's three Golden League stops, he has already claimed two victories.

Guan Yousheng finished second, with a time of 2:23:57.

Yang Chunlong finished third in 2 hours 28 minutes 14 seconds. Luo Tao was fourth in 2 hours 28 minutes 25 seconds. All three times were also close to surpassing the previous course record.

Chi Lingjie won in 2:52:22, significantly smashing the course record and improving the previous mark by 16 minutes.

Xiong Binbin took second in 2:55:03, also faster than the previous course record. Zhang Ting finished third in 2:57:17. The top three all finished under three hours.