The silence of this Sunday morning will be broken by the thunderous footsteps of 20,000 athletes. The 2026 Qingyuan Marathon is scheduled to kick off at 7 a.m. on March 15 at the north gate of the Qingyuan Gymnasium. This year's event has attracted nearly 70,000 applicants from the UK, Japan, Singapore, and China for its 8,000 full-marathon and 12,000 half-marathon slots.
The race route has been redesigned to showcase Qingyuan's urban scenery. While continuing to pass iconic landmarks like Nanan Park (南岸公园) and Zhouxin Bridge (洲心桥), the new course is flatter with fewer slopes. This improvement allows runners to immerse themselves in riverfront views while providing a more competitive environment for those aiming for personal bests.
In addition, the organizers are ensuring that every runner leaves with a piece of the city. All 20,000 participants will receive a souvenir package containing local cultural and tourism products. Additionally, 20,000 cultural blind boxes will be prepared on-site. By scanning the QR code on the boxes, runners can enter a lucky draw to win prizes ranging from Qingyuan chickens and Simiao rice (丝苗米) to scenic spot tickets and even electric scooters.
To provide a smooth experience, a free shuttle bus will operate between the start and finish lines. Fifty local hotels have partnered with the event to offer runner-friendly services, including early breakfast and late check-out.
Author: Dong Han
Photo: Qingyuan Fabu
