The Zhongshan International Marathon 2019  kicked off on December 15. [Photo by Li Xusheng]

It is the 5th consecutive year Zhongshan organizes this marathon. This year's event attracted a total of 20,000 runners from many provinces and cities in China, as well as 17 countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, France, Germany and Singapore. About 62% of the runners are male and 38% are female, with the oldest been 70 years old and the youngest only 10. 

There are four activities in this event, namely the full marathon, the half marathon, the Healthy Run and the Happy Run, which attracted 4,000, 6,000, 5,000 and 5,000 runners respectively at record high. There are also special runners organized by the Zhongshan Association of Persons with Physical Disability and the Zhongshan Association of the Blind. 

A total of 23 cheering sites were set up along the track. Tai Chi waist drum, dragon and lion dances, fitness Qigong and Tai Chi boxing and others were performed along the way, while more than 400 cheerleaders cheered these contestants. A music tunnel was specially designed at the Changjiang Tunnel, where local bands encouraged contestants to forge ahead with original music. 

After fierce competition, Chinese runner Tan Zengli claimed men's champion for the full marathon, while Chinese runner Li Shuyun won women's champion. The men's champion for the half marathon came from Kenya whereas the women's champion was Chinese runner Chen Liqin.