If you already run trails, China won’t intimidate you. But it will surprise you.
Not in headline ways, but in small moments you don’t realise are different until you’re already out there, vest on, being watched.
1. Trail Running Is Growing and Runners Still Draw a Crowd
Trail running in China is growing quickly, but it’s still visually… unusual. Anyone moving through the hills with a vest, bottles, layers, and poles, whether you’re local or visiting, tends to attract attention.
Sometimes it’s curiosity. Sometimes awe. Sometimes people are simply wondering why we look so serious about running up mountains. You’ll notice phones come out and hear laughter. And quite often, you’ll hear “jiāyóu!” (加油) shouted from the side of the trail – their way of cheering for us, acknowledgemet and respect.
2. Elevation Will Come as Endless Stairs
Many of China’s most famous mountains and landmarks, including sections of the Great Wall, are built around stairs. Lots of them.
This isn’t accidental. Staircases exist for religious pilgrimage traditions, safety, erosion control, and shared public access. These routes see hundreds of millions of visitors every year, mostly domestic tourists, so the infrastructure reflects that reality.
For trail runners, it means elevation often arrives in sharp vertical doses. Rhythm breaks. Power hiking becomes normal. Sometimes climbing on all fours is most efficient 😅 way up. Once you accept that stairs are part of the landscape and not an obstacle, the effort makes much more sense.
3. Checkpoint Culture Is Part of the Sport
Anyone who has raced in China already knows this: checkpoint culture is a highlight. CP food has become such a thing that some TikTok and Little Red Book accounts exist just to rate it.
That spirit carries into how we design our runs. The RTT On-Trail Concierge is our own curated, scaled-down version of this tradition, focused on hospitality, comfort, and local flavors rather than excess.
Expect practical, comforting fuel along the way: Instant noodles; Sweet potatoes and yams; Hard-boiled eggs (and tea-leaf eggs when we can get them); Bananas and seasonal fruit; Chinese pastries; Duck neck and wings :) ; Dried or smoked meats
4. Air Quality Is One of the Variables We Plan Around
Like weather, air quality can vary, and it’s part of how we plan outdoor activities.
We use the US AQI standard. When readings go above AQI 150, we reassess. That may mean shifting an afternoon activity to early morning, swapping activity days, or moving further away from city centres to areas with clearer air.
On very rare days, sudden pollution or extreme wind conditions may require pausing activities in line with local authority guidance.
5. Some Everyday Realities Are… Different
Once you move into the mountains and countryside, expectations need adjusting.
Toilets are often squat-style and can be trough-style layouts. Facilities are generally gender-separated, but may have no individual cubicles or doors. It’s functional, normal, and part of rural life here.
Meals follow the same logic. Forks and knives are rare in village restaurants. Dishes are shared. Food arrives when it’s ready. Eating is social and it usually tastes better that way.
6. Poles Aren’t Allowed on Heritage Routes
Poles aren’t universally allowed on trails in China, particularly on heritage sites like the Great Wall. Protection of ancient structures, narrow staircases, and safety concerns all play a role.
7. Photography Is Part of the Experience
Photography culture is strong in China. People stop to pose, smile, and “check in” (打卡) and runners are no exception.
On big run days, we often have accompanying photographers or videographers. So don’t rush past the moments. Pause, look around, and let yourself be part of the scene. These photos and videos often become the most meaningful souvenirs of the trip.
China isn’t a place you fully understand by reading about it. Some things will feel unfamiliar, some will surprise you, and some will quietly grow on you.
The only real way to know is to be out there yourself, moving through the landscape, sharing food, stairs, laughter, and stories along the way.