The 9 Dragons Ultra

The 9 Dragons Ultra is a brand new and challenging, multi-day trail and ultra running event taking place this February in Hong Kong.

The first race, starting at midnight on Saturday, consists of an 82km (50 mile) trail run with a lofty 4000m of elevation gain. Sunday features an entirely different 50km course with a further 3200m of elevation gain.

150 places will be available to runners who hope to aim to complete both events over the weekend – The 9 Dragons 50/50 – and a further 250 will compete in either the 50 Miler (82km) or 50km race.

Legend goes that Kowloon was named in the year 1278 by the boy Emperor Bing, of the Southern Song Dynasty. Noticing the eight hills of Kowloon (Kowloon Peak, Tung Shan, Tate’s Cairn, Temple Hill, Unicorn Ridge, Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Crow’s Nest), the Emperor was pleased to name them the “Eight Dragons” – but a quick-witted courtier pointed out that the Emperor was a dragon himself, making it nine dragons, not eight.