A total of 12,000 runners set out from the Guanhu Century Square in Longhua District on the early morning of Dec. 10, embarking on a 21.0975-kilometer half marathon race covering major landmarks and scenic spots of the district.

This marked a significant milestone as Longhua District hosted its first marathon event accredited with an A1 level certification from the Chinese Athletics Association.

Muhiakennedy Njogu from Kenya, champion of the men's group of the Longhua Half Marathon, crosses the finish line on Dec. 10. Photos by Lin Jianping

The Longhua Half Marathon featured two categories: a half marathon and a 5-kilometer fun race. The champion of the men’s and women’s half marathon went to Muhiakennedy Njogu from Kenya and Guo Liya from China, respectively.

Landmarks and scenic spots along the route included Qinghu Tram, Guanlan River Greenway, Longhua Cultural and Sports Center, the Uniwalk Shopping Mall and Shenzhen North Railway Station. Traditional Chinese culture took center stage with cheering stations themed around China’s 24 solar terms and four cultural space staging performances related to the allusions of the Chinese dragon.

The organizing committee embraced technology to enhance the race experience, incorporating a drone show, facial recognition systems for distributing race packets, digitalized handbooks and race maps, and live streaming the event on cloud platforms.

Guo Liya, champion of the Longhua Half Marathon, crosses the finish line during the 2023 Longhua Half Marathon in Longhua District.

One participant, Sun Zhenghui, expressed, “Among the finisher medals I have gained from road running races, the one I received from Longhua Half Marathon is the most special one.” 

Every finisher received a unique medal engraved with dragon, cloud motifs and the landmarks of Longhua District, along with a bag of supplies and shopping coupons.

The success of the half marathon was made possible by the support of 1,000 volunteers, 44 first-aid runners and rescue riders equipped with AEDs. Fifteen medical stations and 20 medical spots were strategically positioned along the route to ensure runners had access to necessary medical support.

A hanfu-themed opening show of the Longhua Half Marathon.

Longhua District is boosting the development of its culture, sports and tourism industries by holding an array of sports matches and cultural festivals, including the Shenzhen Dragon Boat Art Festival, 2023 Shenzhen Longhua Open, WCBA All Star and Shenzhen Women’s Mini Marathon.