Hundreds of mountain biking enthusiasts braved drizzly conditions at the fourth Huaixiang Hongqing bicycle motocross event in Xi'an on May 7.

Despite participant numbers being capped at 600, approximately 1,000 cyclists turned up on the starting line. Three groups – young male, middle-aged male and female - battled it out over 15km of rough terrain, which included patches of dense forest and grassy hills. The top 30 fastest riders in each group received trophies and certificates.

Cheering on the cyclists on the day were throngs of spectators huddles along the track’s edges.

Around 120 cyclists from cities outside of Xi’an made the journey to participate in the race, including 42-year-old Duan Zhi from Sichuan province. “I’m going to stay in the city for a few days and to experience its culture and landscapes trough riding”, said Duan.

First held 2013, the race’s aim is to encourage more people to engage in exercise and promote local ecotourism.