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Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge is a 298km ultra marathon in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Distance: 298km. Elevation: 14,500m D+. Difficulty: legendary (Challenge Rating 66/100). DNF rate: 45%. Time limit: 96h. Surface: trail. Established 2012.

298km legendary mountainous trail urban competitive

Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

"298km nonstop across all four Hong Kong trails. 14,500m vertical."

66
Demanding
Distance 298km
Elevation Gain ↑14,500m
Surface trail
DNF Rate 45%
Cutoff 96h
What Makes It Unique

A nonstop 298km traverse of all four Hong Kong trails.

The Course

A 298km non-stop traverse of all four major hiking trails in Hong Kong: the MacLehose Trail (100km), Wilson Trail (78km), Hong Kong Trail (50km), and Lantau Trail (70km). Runners navigate steep jungle ridges, exposed mountain passes, urban sections through Kowloon, and remote coastal paths. The cumulative elevation gain exceeds 14,500m — equivalent to climbing from sea level to Everest Camp 3 and back, twice. Aid stations are self-arranged; this is an unsupported challenge where runners carry their own food and manage their own logistics across one of the world's most vertical cities.

Profile

mountainous

Topology

point-to-point

Aid Stations

20

Yes Crew Access
Yes Pacers
Yes Mandatory Gear

Runner Experience

Scenery 3/5
Organization 3/5
Community 3/5
Aid Stations

Solid aid station network with 20 stops along the course. Standard ultra fare — food, electrolytes, first aid.

Post-Race Culture

Post-race gathering with awards, food, and shared stories. The ultra community spirit is strong at Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge.

Race Day Weather

Temperature

16°C

10° – 20°

Humidity

75%

Rain Chance

20%

Conditions

Hong Kong winter — cool, relatively dry.

Stats & Records

Established

2012

Finishers

40

Avg Finish

52:00:00

Course Record (M)

37:42:00

Wong Ho Chung (2023)

Course Record (W)

47:30:00

Leung Ying Suet (2022)

Entry

Entry Cost

HKD 2000

Opens

August

Sells Out

Qualification Required Application Required Max Starters: 80
Official Website →

Lore & Trivia

The Four Trails Ultra Challenge was born from Hong Kong's obsessive hiking culture — a city of 7.5 million crammed into vertical jungle where trail running is practically a national sport. The challenge links all four of Hong Kong's official long-distance trails into a single continuous push. It's self-supported, self-navigated, and deeply respected in the Asian ultra community. Finishers earn near-legendary status in Hong Kong's tight-knit trail running scene. The 60-hour time limit is generous on paper but brutal in practice — the humidity, vertical gain, and urban navigation sections through Kowloon at 3am destroy even experienced ultrarunners.

  • 298km and 14,500m of climbing nonstop.
  • Links all four of Hong Kong's major hiking trails.
  • Sleep management is part of the challenge.

Four trails, 298 kilometres, 14,500 metres of climbing. And you do it with no support in the most vertical city on earth.

— A HK4TUC finisher On the scale of the self-supported challenge

Notable Editions

2023

Wong Ho Chung's Record

Hong Kong's own Wong Ho Chung broke the record in 37:42, running through the night across all four trails with a pace and efficiency that showcased the extraordinary depth of Hong Kong's trail running talent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge is a 298km (298km) ultra marathon with 14,500m of elevation gain. The course is point-to-point on trail terrain.

How hard is Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge is rated legendary with a Challenge Rating of 66/100 (Demanding). The DNF rate is 45%. Runners have 96 hours to finish.

How do I enter Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

100-mile trail finish and interview. An application or essay is required. Entry costs HKD 2000. with a maximum of 80 starters.

What is the weather like at Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

Average temperature is 16°C (range 10°C to 20°C) with 75% humidity and a 20% chance of rain. Hong Kong winter — cool, relatively dry.

Are crew and pacers allowed at Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

Crew access is allowed. Pacers are allowed. Mandatory gear is required.

What is the course record for Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

The men's course record is 37:42:00 set by Wong Ho Chung in 2023. The women's course record is 47:30:00 set by Leung Ying Suet in 2022.

What is the average finish time for Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge? +

The average finish time is 52:00:00. About 40 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 45%.

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