The city of Baiyin in Gansu province will hold the closing ceremony of the 15th Tour of Qinghai Lake, the biggest road cycling race of its kind in Asia, on July 30, as approved by the Union Cycliste Internationale and the Chinese Cycling Association.

The race will begin in Xining city in Qinghai province on July 16 with participants to pass through Gansu and Qinghai provinces and Ningxia Hui autonomous region, about 1,921km in total. This year's distance is longer than that of previous races.

The race will consist of 13 sections, 3.5 in Gansu, and will pass through the cities of Linxia, Tianshui, Pingliang and Baiyin.

The Tour of Qinghai Lake only accepts professional teams; national and regional teams are not eligible.

This year’s route mainly follows the Silk Road Economic Belt to develop awareness of the Belt and Road Initiative and to show off some national features. The race has become a communication channel between Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia.

Edited by Peter Nordlinger