Ironman flexes muscles with expansion

The world's best triathletes will tough it out in six Chinese cities this year, beginning in Liuzhou this weekend, as the prestigious IRONMAN 70.3 series spreads its reach across the country.

The series made its Chinese debut last year with two events, in Hefei (Anhui province) and Xiamen (Fujian province), after Dalian Wanda Group purchased the World Triathlon Corporation in 2015.

And the Chinese property giant has demonstrated its commitment to growing the lung-bursting sport, which involves swimming, cycling and running, by adding another four cities this year: Liuzhou, Yinchuan (Ningxia Hui autonomous region), Qujing (Yunnan province) and Chongqing.