Zhao's team, which had five members including one woman, had other challenges awaiting them. The altitude at some areas along the route is around 1,400 meters, much higher than that of the plains. "It made my heart rate speed up and get much faster while running," Zhao says.

They finished the whole course in about 11 hours after starting off at 7:50 am on Aug 29.

Even though there were challenges and unexpected difficulties during the race, Zhao says he will definitely register for the race next year.

The race, the Hood to Coast China Relay, is a major annual draw for running enthusiasts and has been held four times since 2017 in Zhangjiakou.

"It's the charm of the race－to encounter unforeseen challenges, overcome them and become more capable distance runners－that's what attracts me," Zhao says. The endurance enthusiast believes that he has improved his strength and stamina due to the race.

What's more, there's another reason why he still wants to come again. "It's all natural. The scenery along the route is beautiful and the weather is comfortable, " he says.

Zhao spent his down time in the car feasting his eyes on the view along the route.

"The temperature is very cool and suitable for running, " Zhao says, adding that there was no need to worry about sunstroke when out on the course. "The air is also very clean, making you want to go out and start running!"

Zhangjiakou is a well-known place to escape summer heat, especially Zhangbei county, where the summer temperatures rarely exceed 28 C.

The city boasted the best air quality in Hebei with an average concentration of PM 2.5－a major air pollutant that contributes to poor air quality－of 25 micrograms per cubic meter last year, which is common for Zhangjiakou, according to Hebei Province Ecology and Environment Department and the city's corresponding bureau.

Tourists from neighboring cities, like Beijing, Tianjin and other cities in Hebei, usually choose to take leisurely road trips along Caoyuan Tianlu (grassy road to paradise), a scenic road linking prairies that run across several counties in Zhangjiakou. Stretching over 300 km, it has attracted many sightseers in recent years.

Part of Zhang's running route took place along Caoyuan Tianlu. "I think it's the major reason why a long-distance running race is hosted here," Zhao posits.

As well as the race, various other outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, go-karting and music festivals, are also popular with summer travelers in Zhangjiakou.

The Midi Music Festival was staged in Chongli district in August. It was the first large-scale live music event held in the country since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Chongli district was chosen to hold the outdoor festival not only due to its cool weather and clean air, but also because it will play host to most of the snow events during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games with Zhangjiakou being a co-host city.

As for tourism, Chongli, once a county under the administration of Zhangjiakou, has topped the list of destinations in the city thanks to its starring role in the upcoming Games.

Since 2015, when Beijing and Zhangjiakou succeeded in their bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics, Chongli has gradually improved its skiing facilities and tourism infrastructure, such as hotels and transportation.

Zheng Yongyong, a ski enthusiast who lives in Beijing's Haidian district, goes to Chongli for skiing at least twice a month in winter. A oneway car journey would take him about four hours to get from his home in Beijing to Chongli's ski resorts.

However, since the end of last year, when a high-speed railway linking the capital with the district began operating, he has changed his transportation method. "It's more convenient because the journey only takes about an hour," he says.

The train journey starts from Beijing North Railway Station in Beijing's Xicheng district and runs directly to Taizicheng Railway Station in Chongli, erected in the district to serve the upcoming Games.

It is skiers like Zheng that are the major tourists to the city during winter. During the snow season from November 2018 to April 2019, Chongli district received nearly three million visits, lifting its tourism income by 8 percent year-on-year to 2 billion yuan ($29 million), according to the district's tourism bureau.

"When you go to a local restaurant, you will find only two out of ten tables are local residents, and the rest are all tourists from outside," Zheng says.