The 2023 Zibo Marathon will take place on Sept 24, the Zibo municipal government announced during a news conference on Aug 11.
An opening ceremony for the start of 2023 Zibo Marathon is held in Zibo city, Shandong province on Aug 11. [Photo/zbnews.cn]
Registration for the marathon has begun and will run until 10 pm on Aug 25. Participants can register via the Zibo Marathon's official WeChat account, and registration app – Shu Zi Xin Dong (数字心动).
The event comprises three categories: the marathon, the half marathon and the health run.
Participation for the marathon will be capped at 3,000 runners. The half marathon and fun run will have a limit of 5,000 and 7,000 people respectively.
The marathon route will take runners to significant landmarks and cultural sites such as Qisheng Lake Park, the Zibo Convention & Exhibition Center, Zibo Grand Theatre and Xiaofu Lake Wetland Park.
A night view of Qisheng Lake in Zibo. [Photo/zbnews.cn]
The design of the marathon medals is inspired by cuju (an ancient Chinese football game). The medal loop resembles cuju's goal, and the reverse side features a cuju motif. The back of the medal combines cuju with the character "齐" (Qi), representing its historical evolution. The center showcases a ceramic mural, while the bottom depicts modern runners alongside ancient cuju players. This design pays homage to the city's sporting history and symbolizes runners converging in Zibo to experience Qi culture.
