Yading is a scenic spot that literally takes your breath away and gets the competitive juices flowing

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 me even before I 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 at 4,411 meters above sea level, which had just been blanketed by snow, something that seemed incongruous for those of us who had been in balmy Beijing the previous day.

Yading scenic spot offers tracks running 29 kilometers through sprawling mountains and forests, giving those walking or running the chance not only to experience pristine nature, but also to test their physical strength. Wei Xueyan / For China Daily

We changed into our down 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, the capital of Sichuan province, and here the dark-brown, snowcapped mountains reclining on the horizon could not have presented a starker contrast.

Yading is in Sichuan's Daocheng county, part of the Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, which is known for its virgin natural environment and spectacular scenery.

Its three crowning glories are the Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong and Xianuo Duoji peaks, each of which are about 6,000 meters high, blanketed by dazzling white snow, with blue-water rivers and lakes and lush alpine meadows.

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

One of the main reasons for our visit was much more earthbound: the first-ever event in China by Skyrunning, an organization that arranges cross-country running events around the globe. For this run more than 70 professional runners from 22 countries and regions, including Iran, Italy, Mexico, Nepal and the United States, had flown in to savor what this remote venue had to offer. Most were among the top 100 cross-country runners worldwide, organizers say.

Skyrunning refers to the interface between the Earth and the sky, and Yading was regarded as ideal 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, attracting more than 30,000 participants.

The tracks used in Yading run 29 kilometers through sprawling mountains and forests, giving those walking or running on them the chance not only to experience 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, says: "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 (the leaves) are really bright and orange."

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

"If you come from sea level, it's very hard to prepare for this competition, but you can get here a bit early and try to get a little bit used to the elevation," Croft says. "As you're going up, getting up to 4,600 meters, you just have to be really aware of yourself. Just don't 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-km 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 km through forest and a rugged botanical zone that features glaciers and rivers. The thrilling river track then gave way to a 2-km highway, which is when Chonggu Temple suddenly appeared.

The most difficult part came in the final 4 km, 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 it is extremely slippery," says Wei Xueyan, a Beijing runner in her 30s who finished the race in 7 hours and 45 minutes, ranking 14th in the women's group.

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.

She caught the cross-country bug early last year after 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 photos have become popular among her friends online, which in turn has fueled her enthusiasm for running.

The Yading event was impressive, she says. Particularly noticeable were the variations in track conditions, ranging from gravel to green moss. Some roads were soft, covered with thick leaves and mud, while others were at a 60-degree inclines 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 under your feet. The tracks featuring golden yellow leaves lying around were breathtaking."

Locals added to the event's charm, too, Wei says. "The Tibetan people are so friendly, offering homemade food to runners who pass their houses. Men and children clapped and cheered us, which was a powerful stimulant to keep us going until the end."

She says she is looking forward to similar events in Yumen, Gansu province, in September and Huangshan, Anhui province, in January. "I want to keep running and use it to teach my two daughters the value of persistence," she adds.

The pristine natural scenery in the area draws many tourists from far and wide. "The number of tourists coming here in April rose by a nearly 70 percent," says He Rui, deputy director of the Yading scenic spot. Last year, more than 400,000 people visited the scenic spot. "Most come for the hiking and enjoy the high altitude and the different kind of scenery that this offers," He says.

yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn