More than 1,500 cyclists from home and abroad gathered in Zhangjiajie, Central China's Hunan province, over the weekend for an annual cycling event that challenged their skills on the region's dramatic mountain roads.

The two-day event, held in the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, attracted 1,531 participants ranging in age from 14 to 72, including 159 international cyclists from countries such as Russia, Germany, Canada, and Brazil.

Photo by Gong Cuie

The Tianmen Mountain “Sky Road” Cycling Challenge has been held for 13 consecutive editions. In recent years, Zhangjiajie has capitalized on its unique natural landscapes to connect scenic areas, rural communities and urban spaces through sporting events, while continuing to explore the integrated development of sports and tourism. It has also worked to build a new model for mass-participation sporting events featuring government leadership, business participation and public engagement, contributing to the development of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area.