The 2017 Laoshan 100 Ultra Trial Race opened in grand style on May 20 on picturesque Laoshan Mountain in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao, Shandong province.  

The opening ceremony of the 2017 Laoshan 100 Ultra Trial Race is held on May 20 at the Laoshan Mountain Scenic Spot Tourist Service Center in the eastern coastal city of Qingdao. [Photo/WeChat account: laoshan 96616]

Jointly organized by the Qingdao municipal sports bureau, the Qingdao municipal tourism committee and the Laoshan Mountain Scenic Spot Management Committee, the race attracted 2,124 professional athletes and mountain sports enthusiasts from all across the world.

Gathered at the Laoshan Mountain Scenic Spot Tourist Service Center, the participants set off on races of 23, 30 and 50 kilometers.

Participants pose for a photo at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Laoshan 100 Ultra Trial Race. [Photo/WeChat account: laoshan 96616]

According to the organizing committee, the scenic Taiqing Palace, the Chessboard Stone, the Jufeng Peak and the Beijiushui scenic area were just a few of the picturesque spots on the racing route.

Located near the East China Sea on the southeastern coastline of the Shandong Peninsula, Laoshan Mountain is culturally significant due to its long association with Taoism, of which it is often regarded as a "cradle”. At 1,132.7 meters its highest peak (Jufeng Peak) is the highest coastal mountain in China and the second highest mountain in Shandong.