The 2026 Xinghua Marathon took place in Xinghua on Oct 18. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]
The 2026 Xinghua Marathon took place in Xinghua, Jiangsu province, on Oct 18, drawing 10,000 runners who competed despite rainy conditions. The race featured 3,000 participants in the full marathon and 7,000 in the half marathon.
The course passed through Wujindang Wetland Park and Lizhong Water Forest before finishing at the Qianduo Scenic Area visitor center, giving runners a view of the water town's culture and history. Along the route, 32 cheer stations featured performances of intangible cultural heritage and displays of local folk customs.
Xing Yisheng secured the men's full marathon title in 2 hours, 31 minutes, and 7 seconds. Guo Cuiling won the women's full marathon in 2 hrs, 51 mins, and 15 secs.
At the half marathon, Chang Jiayu took the men's title in 1 hr 11 mins 28 secs, while Ji Yaqun won the women's race in 1 hr 24 mins 29 secs.