At the age of 82, ultramarathon runner Bob Becker from the United States returned to southwest China's Gaoligong Mountains with a sense of purpose that stretched far beyond racing.

This is the second time Becker has come to Tengchong in Yunnan province to take part in the 120-kilometer trail race of the Mt. Gaoligong Ultra. This year's event attracted nearly 3,800 trail running enthusiasts from countries including Slovakia and the US.

For Becker, the mountain trails are not just an endurance challenge, they bridge the past and present, linking his family's wartime legacy to the building of relationships in contemporary China. During WWII, both Becker's father and uncle were members of the Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, who flew over the hump from India to Kunming, Yunnan province, to deliver vital supplies to Chinese troops fighting Japanese invasion.

"I thought if I looked into the sky over 80 years earlier, my father would be up there, I can feel that connection. We were in the same space very close, despite being far apart in years," said Becker.