The Dongguan Marathon Series—2025 Dongguan Songshan Lake Science City Half Marathon was held on the morning of November 30 with 10,000 domestic and international runners setting out to explore the beauty of innovation and ecology in Songshan Lake.
Certified as a Category A event by the Chinese Athletic Association, the 2025 Dongguan Songshan Lake Half Marathon is among the highest-rated road running events in China. This year, the total number of registrants reached 54,091, a historical high for this local marathon.
This year's marathon features a new route that fully utilizes the North Lake Loop. Starting from Liyang Road, runners enjoy a unique experience as they traverse a path that intertwines modern innovation with ecological harmony, showcasing the contemporary landscape of Songshan Lake Science City. The route passes the Dongguan University of Technology International Cooperation & Innovation Zone, the XbotPark Robotics Base, and Huawei's Sanyapo, offering participants a chance to see significant technological landmarks.
As runners entered Dongguan Pine Lake, they enjoyed immersive views of the area’s ecological beauty. The North Lake Loop, adorned with public art installations from the Songshan Lake Biennale, continually surprised participants with delightful discoveries, embodying the unique charm of Songshan Lake Science City—grounded in ecology and driven by innovation.
After fierce competition, Di Jun clinched the men's title with a remarkable time of 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 17 seconds, while Chen Liqin secured the women's title with 1 hour, 18 minutes, and 13 seconds. They both praised Dongguan's allure and the event's vibrant atmosphere.
This year's marathon integrated technological elements, showcasing the diverse applications of robotics in Songshan Lake. The pre-race material pickup area featured AgileX Robotics, serving as "special volunteers" to guide participants. The event also included the Xiaozhi Cloud Fried Robot cooking delicious meals onsite and a high-speed dishwasher capable of cleaning oily dishes in just five seconds. During the awards ceremony, AgileX Robotics presented the winners with their prizes, demonstrating a comprehensive application of technology from daily life to service support.
Reporter: Xie Maishi, Li Jingru
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Editor: Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
