Engaging in sports can significantly enhance one's quality of life and contribute to the vitality of a city. The highly anticipated Chongqing Hechuan Diaoyucheng Half Marathon is scheduled to commence at 8:00 am on March 26th, starting from the People's Square of Hechuan District.

Deputy District Mayor Yuan Xiaoqin announced that this would be the first national mass sports event to take place in Hechuan in 2023, attracting an estimated 5,000 participants. Runners will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the district's unique charm, where three rivers converge.

Yuan Xiaoqin emphasized that the marathon serves as a joyful occasion for participants to come together, creating a significant platform to strengthen interpersonal connections. Moreover, the marathon tracks in Hechuan provide an opportunity to promote the seamless integration of sports, culture, and tourism, transforming the district into a National Famous Historical and Cultural City with international influence.

Furthermore, the marathon features a half marathon, a health run, and a parent-child run, including a single run option to cater to a wider range of participants.

Marathoners are required to complete a 21.0975-kilometer route in approximately 3 hours, passing by prominent landmarks such as Diaoyu Fortress, Dongjintuo Riverside Park, and Huatan Sports Park. Runners will be invigorated by the spring breeze as they race along the distinctive tracks, which provide a glimpse into the district's rich cultural heritage and unparalleled urban landscapes.

Wu Daming, the Director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hechuan District Committee and a member of the Standing Committee, remarked, "To foster a positive atmosphere, we have designed a dragon gate inspired by the shape of the walls of Diaoyu Fortress to serve as the opening and closing ceremony venue. Additionally, we have arranged thematic cheering stations at the starting point and along the racecourse to motivate the runners." The event will also showcase Hechuan's intangible cultural heritage, where participants can savor local delicacies such as peach kernel cakes, boiled meat slices, rice noodles, and chicken wontons at no cost.

Hechuan is seizing the marathon as a significant opportunity to enhance the caliber and standard of the event, with plans to increase investment in the upcoming years. The district aims to attract 8,000 participants to its marathon races, including a full marathon, half marathon, and mini-marathon, by 2024. Hechuan intends to elevate these races to "silver medal events" that showcase the district's natural landscapes and cultural and tourism resources, leveraging the races as platforms to boost the district's popularity and influence.