Translantau™ by UTMB®
Translantau™ by UTMB® – TransLantau25
Mui Wo River Silver Garden
Race guide
Updated 18 July 2026
TransLantau25 is the 27 km entry-distance race of Translantau by UTMB, run on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. It starts and finishes at Mui Wo and packs 964 m of climbing into a short course whose high point is only 268 m, a combination that tells you everything about the character of Lantau trails: steep, repeated ups and downs at low elevation rather than one big mountain. Don't be fooled by the distance. Nearly a thousand metres of vertical over 27 km, with checkpoints that sit almost at sea level, means the climbing is concentrated into sharp pitches between the aid stations. It is an accessible way into the UTMB series and a genuine trail challenge in its own right, especially in Hong Kong's warmth. This guide covers the course, the single cut-off, and how to pace a race that is punchier than its length suggests.
The course and terrain
The TransLantau25 is a 27 km loop from the Mui Wo start (5 m) out through Ham Tin (13 m at 7.1 km) and Chi Ma Wan (47 m at 19.5 km) before returning to the Mui Wo finish (3 m at 26.5 km). Every checkpoint sits close to sea level, which frames the terrain precisely: this is coastal Lantau running, on the island's network of trails and catchwater paths, with the sea rarely far away. The defining number is 964 m of climbing against a high point of just 268 m. Because no single point on the course is high, that vertical is delivered as a series of short, steep climbs and equally steep descents between the low aid stations rather than one sustained ascent. Expect stepped and rocky trail, technical descents, and a rhythm of repeatedly gaining and losing height. It is the kind of profile where your legs never settle into a long grind but are constantly asked to switch between climbing and braking.
Where the race is decided
The hardest section sits in the middle. From Ham Tin at 7.1 km (13 m) the course works its way toward Chi Ma Wan at 19.5 km (47 m), and it is in this 12.4 km stretch that most of the 964 m of climbing is delivered, carrying the course up to and over its 268 m high point before dropping back to the near sea-level checkpoint. This is the crux: a long central segment with the biggest sustained ups and downs, and the point where an over-eager start will catch up with you. The final leg from Chi Ma Wan (19.5 km) back to Mui Wo (26.5 km) is just 7 km and finishes essentially where it started, at 3 m. Runners with fresh legs can push here, but after the climbing-heavy middle it is easy to arrive at Chi Ma Wan already depleted. Treat the run to Chi Ma Wan as the race and the return leg as your reward for pacing it sensibly.
Pacing, aid and the cut-off
There is a single published cut-off on the TransLantau25: Chi Ma Wan at 19.5 km, which must be reached by 14:45. With only one time gate, the race gives you room, but the sharp climbing means slower runners should still track their progress to that point carefully rather than assuming the short distance guarantees a comfortable margin. Reaching Chi Ma Wan in good time effectively secures the finish, since only 7 km of running remains. Aid and crew access are available at all four points: the Mui Wo start, Ham Tin (7.1 km), Chi Ma Wan (19.5 km) and the Mui Wo finish. The longest carry is the roughly 12.4 km climbing-heavy stretch from Ham Tin to Chi Ma Wan, so leave Ham Tin with enough fluid and calories for the biggest sustained effort of the day. Because the climbs are steep and short, plan to power-hike the ascents and fuel on the flatter catchwater and coastal sections where eating and drinking are easier.
Conditions to expect
Lantau's low elevation means altitude is a non-issue; the real challenge is heat and humidity. With the course topping out at only 268 m and running near the coast, there is limited high-ground breeze to cool you, and Hong Kong's climate can make even a 27 km race a serious sweat-management exercise. Prioritise fluid and electrolytes, and use the frequent aid stations to stay on top of hydration rather than letting a deficit build over the climbing-heavy middle. Underfoot, expect the mixed technical trail typical of Lantau: rocky steps, steep pitches and firm catchwater paths, with descents that demand attention when your legs are tired. The near sea-level start and finish at Mui Wo make for an easy-access race with a friendly single cut-off, but the concentrated 964 m of vertical earns its UTMB billing. Respect the steep middle section, manage the heat, and the fast 7 km run home from Chi Ma Wan will feel like a victory lap.
Race Translantau™ by UTMB® – TransLantau25 with Crux
Get the strategy, fuelling and crew plan dialled for this exact course — built from the real route, climbs and cut-offs. Your first race is free.
Plan this race — freeCourse profile
Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-17) · official source
0 km · 5 m · —
7.1 km · 13 m · —
19.5 km · 47 m · Sun 14:45
26.5 km · 3 m · —
More races
More UTMB World Series
More in Hong Kong SAR China
Similar distance (20–50 km)
Racing Translantau™ by UTMB® – TransLantau25?
Get a complete race strategy — pacing, fuelling, crew plan and the crux moments — built on this exact course.
Plan your race in Crux →Strava is your training. Crux is your races.