The 2009 Vasaloppet China international cross-country skiing race will be held on Dec. 5 in Changchun City, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, a local official said Wednesday.

Yang Wenjun, an official of Changchun government, said that 2009 Vasaloppet China will feature seven events. Over 200 professional athletes will participate in the race which will last two and half months.

There will be more than 40 skiers ranked top 100 in the world will take part in the race, including China's Xu Wenlong and Li Hongxue.

(Xinhua News Agency December 4, 2008)