The 2023 Tonglu Half Marathon kicks off on Oct 23. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 2023 Tonglu Half Marathon commenced on the morning of Oct 29, welcoming about 12,000 runners along the banks of the Fuchun River.

It is the first half marathon event in Zhejiang province after the conclusion of the Hangzhou Asian Games as well as the most popular half marathon race in the province in terms of participation.

The event, accredited by the Chinese Athletic Association, aims to interconnect Tonglu's culture, tourism and sports, showcasing the region's natural landscapes and urban culture to runners.

At 7:30 am, runners took off from South Yinchun Road to the sound of the starting gun, following the course along the Fuchun River and passing spots like Tongjun Mountain, Fuchun River greenway, and Daqishan Road.

The 2023 Tonglu Half Marathon kicks off on Oct 23. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

After an intense competition, runner Nie Dengyu from Guizhou province led the pack in the men's half marathon with a time of 1 hour 4 minutes and 6 seconds.

"The landscapes along the route were stunning," Nie said. "My achievement wouldn't have been possible without the thoughtful arrangements provided by the event organizers."

Minutes later, Beijing contestant Li Wei crossed the finish line to claim victory in the women's category with a time of 1 hour 17 minutes and 16 seconds. "This was my first time in Tonglu. I participated with a goal to challenge myself, and the whole experience felt fantastic."

Since its initiation in 2018, the Tonglu marathon has been refined and improved every year, with race routes and services optimized.

Regarded as a lucky racecourse, the Tonglu Half Marathon has seen many runners setting personal bests, with over 2000 achieving the feat just last year.

Tonglu isn't just a cultural hub; it's also an athletic center. At the recently-concluded Hangzhou Asian Games and Asian Para Games, Tonglu's five athletes secured six gold medals and two silver medals and broke two Asian records, marking Tonglu's most remarkable performance in the history of the Asian Games.