Runners dash out from the starting line at the Jiande Marathon. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]

The 2025 Jiande Marathon started at 7:30 am on Nov 16 along the scenic Xin'an River, bringing together 7,000 runners from across China and abroad, including 2,000 full-marathon and 5,000 half-marathon participants.

This year's route remained unchanged, beginning at the Jiande Museum and passing landmarks such as Baisha Bridge, Zijin Bridge and the Xin'an Greenway. Runners enjoyed a blend of natural landscapes, city highlights and the signature fresh air that has made the event a favorite for athletes of all levels.

The finisher medals also prominently featured Jiande's unique character. Designed as a miniature standing archway inspired by the ancient Yanzhou city, the medal incorporates city-wall elements to evoke the historic charm of Jiande's thousand-year-old urban culture.

To encourage broader participation, the marathon awarded the top 20 finishers in both the full and half marathons, along with special prizes for Jiande-born runners. Jin Huangfei won the men's full marathon in 2:23:46, while Tang Hongfang claimed the women's title in 2:48:13. In the half marathon, Wang Zixiang and Wang Zhenyan topped the men's and women's categories with times of 1:08:25 and 1:23:15 respectively.

This year's event also offered half-price tickets to major attractions — including Qili Lingqi Cave, Xinye ancient village and Qiandao Lake — valid through the end of 2025.

Running along the scenic Xin'an River is a highlight of the event. [Photo/hangzhou.com.cn]