In the early autumn of 2011 in the Alps, the mountains were shrouded in mist and the trails were wet and rugged. At that time Chinese trail running was still in its infancy, and very few athletes set foot in the world's top trail races.
When the vast majority of Chinese runners still didn't know what UTMB was, two names that would have deep significance for Chinese trail running appeared on the CCC entry list: Yun Yanqiao and Xing Ruling — the earliest known Chinese entrants in that category.
At the time Yun Yanqiao had just left university and, newly into the workforce, he carried a pure love of trail running and traveled alone to race in Europe.
In his first challenge on an international 100-kilometer course, he ran steadily throughout, overcoming high-altitude hypoxia, unfamiliar foreign trail conditions, and large day-night temperature swings, and ultimately finished in 12:07:40, placing 14th overall.
Xing Ruling, who raced the same year, had worked as a nurse in a township hospital for nearly thirty years; the shift work never dulled her passion for running. As one of the country's early trail running enthusiasts, relying on years of built-up endurance and steely will, she finished in 16:55:51, placing 28th among 207 female entrants.
That year, the two of them accomplished one thing together: they drew the first mark for Chinese trail running on the CCC map.
In 2012 another Chinese female runner picked up the baton from Xing Ruling. Chen Chunyan, who had already made a name for herself in multiple outdoor disciplines, finished 14th among women in 14:14:59, moving Chinese female runners up significantly in the CCC rankings.
In the following years Chinese participation in the CCC gradually increased. By 2017 there were 67 Chinese entrants in the CCC. Yan Longfei finished in 12:27:11, 33rd overall, becoming the top Chinese finisher that year.
From two people in 2011 to 67 in 2017, Chinese trail running completed a quiet but steady expansion in the CCC field.
Chinese Strength Reaches the Top Podium
Standing on the Highest Podium
In 2018, Chamonix's finish line was ignited by two Chinese trail runners.That year the CCC had 2,147 starters. After the start Qi Min's strategy was to take the lead early; he held the lead for more than nine hours and was in front for 90 kilometers of the race.But at the final checkpoint, British runner Thomas Evans, who had been 10 minutes behind, chased back up and passed him by 12 seconds on the clock. In the end, Qi Min finished second in the men's race in 10:50:07. He became the first Chinese male to stand on the CCC podium.On the women's side, 22-year-old Yao Miao made a stunning debut — it was her first UTMB. She crossed the line with a commanding 30-minute lead over the runner-up, winning the women's title in 11:57:46 and slashing the course record by a full 15 minutes. She became the youngest champion in CCC history and the first Asian woman to win the race.This girl who came out of the mountains of Guizhou only put on running shoes for the first time at 14, but with a brilliant victory she told the world: Chinese trail running is no longer here to “participate” — it's here to “win.”Over seven years of deep engagement in the CCC, Chinese trail runners made the leap from “participating in races” to “competing for championships.” That leap was not just a matter of a dozen places; it was a leap in overall strength of Chinese trail running and it broke the long-standing monopoly of European and American athletes on the event's podium.Beyond the Champions
More Chinese Names Shine in Chamonix
In 2019 Shen Jiasheng won the Hong Kong 100 in 10:22:02; prior to that his five 100-kilometer races had all ended in victory. That year he also attempted the CCC for the first time, running a steady race and standing out in a field packed with talent.Up to CP5 Shen Jiasheng had been leading; although he was later overtaken, he ultimately finished fifth in 11:12:01. That placing was already impressive at the time, but he was clearly not satisfied.Behind him, Zhang Zhenlong finished ninth in 11:35:48; Zhao Jiaju was eleventh in 11:47:50.In 2022 Shen Jiasheng returned to the CCC, finishing fourth in 10:29:21 — one place better. Moving from fifth to fourth may seem small, but it's more like a signal: on this Alpine 100-kilometer course he was becoming increasingly familiar and increasingly strong.In 2023 Shen Jiasheng ran UTMB for the fourth time and his third CCC 100 km. In 10:22:30 he finished as runner-up, losing out to a British runner by just 8 minutes and 5 seconds among 1,650 starters.This result not only reset the best course result for a Chinese runner that he held, but also equaled Qi Min's highest Chinese placing in the category from 2018. From fifth to fourth to runner-up, Shen Jiasheng keeps evolving.After crossing the line he picked up his young son and embraced his wife as the lights of Chamonix shone on the family. The young man who five years earlier ran alone in the Alps is now a husband, a father, and one of the most consistent flags for Chinese trail running in the CCC.Since then more Chinese names have continued to emerge in the CCC.In 2024 Zhang Huohua stayed steady in the top five throughout and finished fifth; Tang Jingyan overcame the previous year's injury troubles and returned to the course, finishing sixth among women in 13:10:44.In the 2025 CCC, Tang Jingyan finished ninth among women in 12:42:54. "Big Demon King" Chi Lingjie made her CCC debut and placed 18th in the women's field. Although they didn't reach the podium, they remain an undeniable force among Chinese women in the category.On the men's side, Meng Guangfu took sixth in 10:31:36, claiming the top Asian spot.To Be Continued
Who Will Be Next?
This year, Yao Miao will return to the CCC after an eight-year absence. After dominating the OCC for two consecutive years (back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025), she has chosen to come back to this familiar 100-kilometer course.She made her name here in 2018 — what kind of performance will she give us this year?The Chinese story in the CCC differs from that in UTMB. In the CCC, it took just seven years from Yun Yanqiao and Xing Ruling's “first steps onto the stage” in 2011 to Qi Min and Yao Miao standing on the podium together in 2018. Along with Shen Jiasheng's strong performances, this reflects the rapid rise in China's overall trail running level over the past decade-plus; those who arrived later stood on the shoulders of their predecessors.Today the CCC podium is no longer the exclusive domain of European and American athletes; Chinese names have appeared there multiple times. Who will be the next this year? A first men's champion, or a repeat women's winner?
