RACE COURSE: With new roads available and athlete feedback in hand, the race course is being redesigned. The 2010 course described below provides a feel for the venue and the 2010 race course. Check back periodically for updates or sign up for our newsletter.

Swim: Both Ironman and 70.3 swim course are point to point, down river swims. The Ironman has an In Water Start near the west bank of the Nandu River on the north side of the Hairui (or Chongcun) Bridge. 70.3 athletes have an In Water Start adjacent to the west bank of the Nandu River 1,900 meters down stream of the Ironman start. Competitors for both races exit the water on a small beach on the west bank, down stream of the Qiongzhou (or Guoxing Avenue) Bridge and run approximately 100 meters to the transition area.

Expected swim conditions: Warm, flat, moving water with flow between 2 km/h and 4 km/h. The configuration of the course may be adjusted to accommodate conditions on race day. Wetsuits are expected to be legal for amateur athletes regardless of water temperatures.

* The swim course route and/or start and finish areas may be modified to accommodate ongoing construction improvements in the area.

Bike:

• Transition Area to the Airport - Very gentle climb from 5m to 25m. No significant hills.
• Haikou Bypass Highway - This is divided, closed-access highway with long rolling hills reaching a maximum elevation of 90m near the Shugang Road exit.
• Shugang Road to Nan Hai Road - straight-line descent from 90m to 30m.
  
• Shi Shan Village Road to Green Passage Road - Climbs from 30m to 150m as indicated on the 2008 elevation chart.
• Haikou Bypass Highway to Transition Area - Rolling hills and gentle descent back to 5m.

The bike course is two-identical loops of 90 kilometers each.
From the transition area, cyclists will turn left (south) on the New River Road and follow this road until it ends. After turning left, cyclists will cross the "Third Bridge" over the Nandu River and then turn right on the airport access road. At the airport entrance, cyclists will turn right on to the westbound side of the Haikou Bypass, a closed access highway. This section includes a series of gentle rolling hills. Cyclists will continue west on the Bypass to a U-turn point to be determined east of the "West Highway" exit.

After making the U-turn, cyclists ride east on the Haikou Bypass to the Shugang Road exit. Shugang Road (north) is a straight downhill ride on a well-paved 2-lane rural road to Nan Hai Road. Cyclist turn left into Nan Hai Road's southside bike lane and ride against traffic to Shi Shan Village Road. The left turn onto Shi Shan Village Road begins the "Village" section of the course that received rave notices from athletes last year. This narrow rural road passes through Dao Tang Village and then turns south (uphill) on Dao Tang Village Road to Scenic Crater Park.

After passing Scenic Crater Park, the course turns left (downhill) on Green Passage Road to the eastbound entrance ramp to the Haikou Bypass Highway. At the end of the highway (airport exit), cyclist return to the transition area on the same roads (airport access, Third Bridge and New River roads).

Bike Course Snap Shot: New River Road and the Haikou Bypass are new roads. Other course roads are generally wide and in excellent condition. The course requires very few traffic cones and riders will have wide open conditions except possibly the few kilometers around the airport.

The roads comprising the11K climb up to Scenic Crater Park are narrow rural roads that cut through two farming villages. These roads, which are normally dirty in spots due to agricultural activities, will be clean on race day. There is a short, sharp climb up to the first of these villages, Shi Shan, where the mud brick and rock buildings abut the road making for an exciting passage indeed. The higher village, Dao Tang, is larger and home to the area's traditional market day. Cyclists passing through Dao Tang on market days will find the village gridlocked with activity. On race day both these villages will be lined with amazed spectators.

Run: Please check back the area information.

Finish: The finish line is located in People’s Park. Runners enter the Park through the pedestrian entrance, and traverse the traditional arch bridge over the lake to the finish line in front of the Park's monument

Transition: Please check back the area information and maps.