Marathons setting off tidal wave of interest in China

As the starting gun fires, a journey of fatigue and excitement lays ahead, propelling runners to reach the finish line. Running enthusiasts were drawn to over 40 marathon events across China on the weekend of March 30 to 31, and for many this isn’t just about competition, but a way to live healthier. Marathons have also integrated into the tourism sector. The recent Wuxi Marathon attracted a staggering 266,000 participants from 48 countries and regions, setting a new record for Chinese marathon registrations. This influx of runners fueled a 45.5 percent increase in local consumption, totaling approximately million US dollars. According to the “2023 China Road Running Races Blue Book,“ road running activities in China are flourishing. In 2023 alone, there were 699 road running events with over 6 million participants. Notably, the number of full marathon finishers increased by 142,700 compared to 2022, reaching a cumulative total of 641,700. At least 2.5 million individuals nationwide have completed half or full marathons, indicating the sport’s role to promote national fitness and consumption. __________________ ShanghaiEye focuses on producing top-quality contents. Nobody knows SHANGHAI better than us. Please subscribe to us ☻☻☻ __________________ For more stories, please click ■ What’s up today in Shanghai, the most updated news of the city ■ Amazing Shanghai, exploring the unknown corners of the city, learning the people, food and stories behind them ■ What Chinese people’s lives are like during the post COVID-19 period ■ Views of foreign scholars on China and its affairs ■ Foreign faces in Shanghai, people living in this city sharing their true feelings ■ Mini-docs showing why China is the country it is today __________________ ☎Leave us messages if you have any suggestions or questions! Thank you!