Chongqing—On the morning of April 21st at 7:30 a.m., the 2024 Chongqing·Dazu Loong Lake Marathon Tourism and Culture Festival commenced at the Longshui Lake Tourist Resort. Over 6,000 participants from international and domestic regions embarked on a journey of athletic prowess and joy.

Since its inception in 2016, the Longshui Lake Marathon has held six successful editions, earning recognition as a silver event by the Chinese Athletics Association and receiving the "Dual Certification" for being a natural ecological characteristic event. Runners have hailed the flat lakeside track as a "PB (Personal Best) track." After a two-year hiatus, the event has been rejuvenated into the 2024 Chongqing·Dazu Loong Lake Marathon Tourism and Culture Festival, with a comprehensive event venue, prize setting, and event security upgrades.

The competition is divided into the half marathon and the mini-parent-child run, totaling over 6,000 participants. The race route winds through the Longshui Lake Resort, covering approximately 13 kilometers of lakeside trails, constituting about 60% of the entire track. Runners can enjoy panoramic views of the beautiful Longshui Lake at the 2.6-kilometer mark. This year's course truly embodies the essence of a "lake circuit run," unlike previous editions.

At the venue, amidst the enthusiastic crowd, participants exhibited high spirits and vitality. With the sound of the starting gun, the competition ignited into a frenzy, as over 6,000 participants dashed forward like arrows, creating a spectacle of galloping horses.

After intense competition, runner Sha Zhengyou claimed the men's half-marathon championship at 1:08:40, while Liu Junhui secured the women's half-marathon championship at 1:19:19.

This marathon is an integral part of the 2024 Dazu Rock Carvings International Tourism and Culture Festival. It offers all participants the opportunity to explore Chongqing's sole UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dazu Rock Carvings, for free from April 18th to July 31st with their Loong Lake Marathon complimentary tickets.