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Intl cross country running race held in Karamay

By Sun Hui Updated: 2017-05-23

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Intl cross country running race held in Karamay

Runners race through Ghost City during the 2017 Karamay Cross Country Running Competition held in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on May 20. [Photo by Li Haoran/kelamayi.com.cn]

The 2017 Karamay Cross Country Running Competition kicked off in Karamay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on May 20.

Over 1,000 professional and amateur running enthusiasts from all over the world poised on the starting line in the Urho district's world-renowned Ghost City, including top professional runners from from Russia, the United States, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan .

Intl cross country running race held in Karamay

Four participants compete running through Ghost City during the 2017 Karamay Cross Country Running Competition held in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on May 20. [Photo by Li Haoran/kelamayi.com.cn]

Three races were organized for the competition–an 8-kilometer cross country race, a 46-kilometer race and an 8.8-kilometer race–with runners traversing Karamay's Ghost City, Eric Lake and Baiyanghe Canyon.

The competition proved to be unique with its extreme road and weather conditions, and various desert and forest landscapes.

Intl cross country running race held in Karamay

Li Shaozhuang, from Beijnig, wins the male 46-kilometer race in Ghost City. [Photo by Min Yong/kelamayi.com.cn]

Jiang Dongdong, deputy secretary of the Karamay municipal CPC committee, said that the competition is an approved tournament of the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), bringing the world's top runners to Karamay.

Organizers of the event also held a series of folk performances and a local food festival to offer participants and visitors true experience of Karamay and Xinjiang culture.

Intl cross country running race held in Karamay

Over 1,000 runners from all over the world participate in the races. [Photo by Min Yong/kelamayi.com.cn]

Edited by Zachary Dye