MeiLi 100 Endurance Race 

Welcome to MeiLi 100 Endurance Race.  The premier ultramarathon event that celebrates the fable lands of Shangri-La and the majestic MeiLi Snow Mountains, or Kawagarbo Mountains as it is known by local residents and pilgrims, part of the grand Himalayan Mountain range. Founded by UTRMA the same organizers from TERRACE Trail Race, North Latitude 21 Tropical Rainforest Running Fiesta, Conquer The Wall Marathon ,Yunnan Puzhehei International Marathon,and volunteers .

There is something truly magical about these mountains and lands. When in their presence you can’t help but be in awe of the pristine beauty and scale. This race is about creating a one of a kind experience for adventure runners that can only be witnessed by running the trails around the mountains.

We hope you appreciate and enjoy the beauty our planet has to offer, there is nothing quite like being in the moment as your running through natures incredible beauty. We want you to experience it first hand through the  MeiLi 100 Endurance Race.

THE RUN

The MeiLi100 Endurance Race is the premier adventure event, a bucket list race that must be experienced by trail running enthusiast. 

Featuring a challenging high altitude running experience that takes place on some of the most breathtaking mountains in the world, the MeiLi Snow Mountains or Kawagarbo Mountains , part of the grand Himalayan Mountain range bordering Tibet in China.

The MeiLi100 Endurance Race is an ultra trail running of 101 kilometers in length, plus 6000 meters of climb, at an average elevation of over 3000 m. The run is held on a famous course on dirt trails,gravel and cross country in Northwest Yunnan world-wide known as Shangri-La. In 2019 May 31-June 1

The run starts and ends in Feilai Temple, Deqin county and travels through the village of  Yongzong, Xidang, and the Mystery Place of Yunbeng, crossing a major pass in the 3700 m. The highest point on the course being the 3880 m of Ice Lake, the magnificent view point Mystery Fall and Ice Lake must travel above 3000 m of elevation with 2 times return to Yubeng. The run has been held in late May of each year beginning in 2014.

This course offers a graduate level challenge for endurance runs. The course is designed to provide extreme challenges in altitude, steepness, and remoteness. Mountaineering, wilderness survival and wilderness navigation skills are as important in this event as your endurance.

Register now to secure your spot and get ready for an incredible journey. 

We look forward to seeing you at the race!

SHANGRI-LA

Shang-La is located in the south of the Himalayas,the northern borders with China,Tibet,with altitude ranging from 3280-6740 meters (10,761 to 22,112 feet).The word Shangri-La first appeared in 1933,by American novelist James Hilton in his novel Lost Horizon.The book is depicted paradise in Zhong dian Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Yunnan Province, China Zhong dian County in 1987.

 Meili100 Endurance Race will be a rewarding journey that you will never forget

THE MOUNTAINS

Here you'll witness the most spectacular snow-capped mountains, sterching hundreds of miles of snowy peaks, with the lower mountains covered with dense shrubs and forests, lush, green with vibrant colors matched against the snow covered peaks. National Geographic magazine listed it as one of the last pure lands in the world.

Through the MeiLi100 Endurance Race we celebrate these fable lands of majestic MeiLi Snow Mountains, or Kawagarbo Mountains as it is known by local residents and pilgrims, part of the grand Himalayan Mountain range. The highest mountain peaks in Yunnan Province of China.

KAWAGARBO 

As it is known by local residents and pilgrims, or Kawagebo Peak , is the highest mountain in the Chinese province of Yunnan.

It is located on the border between Deqin County, Yunnan, and the counties of Zogang and Zayü of the Tibet Autonomous Region. 

It rises about 20 kilometres west of Shengping Town the seat of Deqin County, which lies on China National Route 214. What is now Deqin County has been part of Yunnan since the 1720s, when the current border with Tibet was established by the early Qing Dynasty.

 Kawagarbo is one of the most sacred peaks in the Tibetan world and is often referred to as Nyainqênkawagarbo to show its sacredness.

Often when looking up at the mountain, you can see a layer of white clouds that sits on the lower parts of the mountain, resembling a white scarf around the mountain peaks. The Tibetans believe this to be the symbolises for hada, or khata, a traditional ceremonial scarf used in Tibetan culture. The Khata symbolises purity and compassion and is usually made of silk or silk like material.

Kawagarbo is a holy mountain, a virgin mountain, no one has ever successfully climbed to the peak. There have been several expedition attempts, including a group of seventeen Japanese climbers who were killed in one of the most deadly avalanche accidents in history. In 2001, the local government passed laws banning all future climbing attempts on cultural and religious grounds. As of 2010, none of the significant peaks of the range have been successfully climbed. It will always remain a sacred and holy mountain.

A PILGRIMAGE TO SHRINE

THE GREAT JOURNEY TO MIND

Kawagarbo is one of the most sacred mountains for Tibetan Buddhism as the spiritual home of a warrior god of the same name. It is visited by 20,000 pilgrims each year from throughout the Tibetan world  many pilgrims circumambulate the peak, an arduous 240 km trek.Although it is important throughout Tibetan Buddhism, it is the local Tibetans that are the day-to-day guardians and stewards of Kawagarbo, both the deity and the mountain.

The ancestral religion of the Kawagarbo area, as in much of Tibet, was Bön, a shamanistic tradition based on the concept of a world pervaded by good and evil spirits. Bön encompassed numerous deities and spirits which are still recognized today, and are often connected with specific geographical localities and natural features; the major mountain peaks in the Hengduan Mountains are thus all identified with specific deities. Kawagarbo is one of these. Since its introduction, Tibetan Buddhism has been the dominant religion of the Kawagarbo area, with followers of Gelugpa doctrine being the most common.

Tibetans believe the warrior god will leave them if human sets foot on the peak of Kawagarbo, making the ground unholy. Disasters will follow as they lose god's protection. Tibetans have also established a centuries-old sacred geography around the peak, maintained by religious leaders from local monasteries in negotiation with local villages. This sacred natural site preserves the natural resources and ecological health of the range.

The Kora is the Tibetan pilgrimage journey made to Tibet. Each year over 20,000 Tibetans make their pilgrimage by circumambulating the Kawagarbo mountain peak, as they do so they perform full body prostrations each step of the way. It is a strenuous 240km (150 mile) journey done on foot.  There will be many people from around the world making their pilgrimage in every year. Runners will run into Pilgrims, please slow down and share the path with respect. It is an honor and humbling experience to witness as they make their journey.

MISSION

Our mission is to create a great destination running event that provides runners with the opportunity to experience exotic and enchanting locations while running a race. Experience locations, sights and sounds that would not normally be seen by your average traveler. Making for a magical experience that will generate incredible lifetime memories.

We are a small global sports adventure organization that is all about the location, the race, and the runners. Our goal is to make this race experience as seamless as possible so runners can focus on what they do best, run. Seeing the smile on runners face as they cross the finish line, that is our mission.

CELEBRATE

While the Meli 100 is about running an incredible race, there is more to appreciate, experience, and celebrate. Don’t just run the race, but soak in the surrounding beauty of these incredible lands, witness local cultures and traditions. We want runners to have a rewarding journey that they will never forget. The race is the reason why we come, but the experience we get from it makes it a much greater experience.

THANK YOU

Organizing a marathon event is a huge undertaking that is accomplished with the help of our volunteer staff. It is with great honor and appreciation that we thank the local authorities, local government, local communities, and all our volunteers, without whose support, this race would not be possible.

Meili100 Endurance Race will be a rewarding journey that you will never forget !

Register now to secure your spot and get ready for an incredible journey. 

We look forward to seeing you at the race!