Runners race in the 2023 Taiyuan Marathon in Taiyuan, May 21. [Photo/Shanxi Daily] 

The 2023 Taiyuan Marathon started in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, on May 21. The race spanned along the scenic banks of the Fenhe River, offering participants a picturesque route. 

Since first launched in 2010, the Taiyuan Marathon has gained recognition and popularity among both domestic and international marathon enthusiasts. 

This year's marathon witnessed its largest participation and scale in history, with a total of 35,000 domestic and foreign runners taking part. 

More than 3000 volunteers, along with public security, traffic police, medical staff members, and other service support personnel, stood firm in their positions to ensure the smooth running of the event. 

Abebe Tafese Delelegn from Ethiopia won the full marathon championship, outshining 7500 participants, with an impressive time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 8 seconds. A Chinese runner secured second place, with a time difference of 4 seconds, breaking the Chinese male participants' performance record in the event by 5 minutes.

In the women's full marathon, Ethiopian athletes dominated the top three positions, all setting new records in the event. Fantu Zewude Jifar claimed the championship, completing the race in 2 hr 25 min 45 sec.

Among 18,500 participants in the half marathon, both the champion, Dong Guojian (1hr 4 min 14 sec) and the runner-up broke the record of the men's half marathon in this event. Yin Xiaoyu secured the women's championship with a time of 1 hr 17 min 42 sec.

It is noteworthy that from May 13 to 28, participants of the full and half marathon were granted free access to various scenic spots for free in Taiyuan by presenting their valid identification documents and participation number certificates. This opportunity allowed them to explore the city's splendid history, culture, and beautiful natural scenery.