Photo shows the opening ceremony of 2020 Tour of Yamzhog Yumco Lake Bicycle Race. [China Tibet News/Liu Jinpeng]

Photo shows local dancers performing an ethnic dance at the opening ceremony of 2020 Tour of Yamzhog Yumco Lake Bicycle Race. [China Tibet News/Zhu Shan]

Photo shows the paragliding show at the opening ceremony of 2020 Tour of Yamzhog Yumco Lake Bicycle Race.  [China Tibet News/Zhu Shan]

Photo shows the beautiful scenery of Yamzhog Yumco Lake.  [China Tibet News/Zhu Shan]

The opening ceremony of 2020 Tour of Yamzhog Yumco Lake Bicycle Race kicked off in Nagarze County of Shannan City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Sept.9. Blue skies, white clouds and the diamond shades of Yamzhog Yumco Lake created a picturesque backdrop for this bicycle race.

A total of 85 competitors will race 207.8 km at an average altitude of 4,400 meters from Sept.9 to 13. Starting from Zhamalong Village, the race will end in the county seat of Nagarze. Prize money of up to 220,000 yuan RMB is available for the winner.

After the race, all riders will tour around Puma Yumco, enjoy Shannan Guozhuang (traditional Tibetan circle dance) and join a campfire party. This is also a chance for them to experience local culture and beautiful scenery.

"I love the natural scenery of Tibet. I have participated in almost every bicycle race since 2018," said Ding Yu, a rider from Southwest China's Yunnan Province. With the mode of "tourism + sports", the Tour of Yamzhog Yumco Lake Bicycle Race aims at developing tourism and sports industry.