Advanced Search

The story appears on

Page A15

November 10, 2015

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Marathon success gives boost to tourism

By Wu Huixin | November 10, 2015, Tuesday | Print Edition

THIS month’s Hangzhou Marathon was an unparalleled success, not only from a sports perspective but also from the standpoint of tourism promotion, according to race operator Zhimei Group.

A record 30,000 runners from 45 countries and regions participated in the 28th annual event on November 1, 7,000 more than last year.

The large turnout was expected. The official website received 336,552 hits within an hour of registration for the marathon opening on September 16. And official passes to run in the race were being scalped for up to 2,000 yuan (US$315) on Taobao, a hefty premium to actual fees ranging from 40 yuan to 120 yuan, depending on the distance run. The success of the marathon underscores the huge popularity of long-distance running in China, where many large and sometimes even small cities are staging the events. Despite all the competition, the Hangzhou Marathon is still considered a premier event because of its scenic route.

This year, runners vied for honors along a route that traced the northeastern and western shores of West Lake, Hupao Park, Lingyin Temple, Qiantang River and venues in the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival.

China Central TV, the nationwide broadcaster, filmed live coverage of the race in Hangzhou with ground cameras and by helicopter. An estimated 300 million people across the county marveled at the city’s spectacular scenery as the race was run.

“The marathon linked together many the city’s most scenic spots, providing an unparalleled platform to promote Hangzhou as an ideal tourist destination,” said Li Hong, director of the Hangzhou Tourism Commission. “And just think of the scenic sites, like the Grand Canal and Xiang Lake, that weren’t used in this year’s race course and are still be tapped in future marathons?”

The city’s hotel industry did a booming business from the marathon.

The Dragon Hotel, located near the start of the race, was fully booked, with some reservations taken months in advance of the event.

Other hotels, inns and guesthouses along the track were equally packed with runners and spectators. Some hotels extended their booking periods from 30 days to 120 days to accommodate the public rush to secure a bed.

Such success is a magnet for sponsors wanting to cash in on all the publicity. The main sponsors this year were Intime Retail and Xtep Group. The latter company spent about 15 million yuan to secure the rights.

Since 2010, when the marathon was reorganized to put it on a commercial footing, the race has taken in more that it spends.

Small wonder that government officials from other cities in China are keen to draw on Hangzhou’s experience in hosting races like this, hoping to emulate the success. Among the spectators this year were official delegations from across China.

Marathons are one part of a nationwide program to promote sports and fitness.

Hangzhou is the capital of Zhejiang Province, which hosted 71 marathons and cross-country races in the first nine months of this year.

Even small towns want to get in on the act. Anyang Town in the province’s Chung’an Country, initiated a new mountain marathon last week. It is aimed at giving runners a more idyllic experience, with the course set through a backdrop of valleys, creeks, mountain paths and country roads.

An official document issued by the Zhejiang government predicted that the scale of the sports industry in the province could reach 500 billion yuan by 2025, accounting for 1.6 percent of gross regional domestic product.

The marathon craze also drives the sales of running-related merchandise, including clothing, shoes, stop-watches and health-food snacks. According to the Hangzhou branch store of professional sports retailer Decathlon, sales will double this year.

“Professional track suits and energy bars are necessary for marathon runners, especially under rainy conditions that can make a run painful,” said runner Ge Jinhua.

Marathon gear is also moving into the digital realm, with smart phone software especially tailored for runners. Some social platforms related to running allow people to “compete” in virtual foot races online.

Hangzhou


 

Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

沪公网安备 31010602000204号

Email this to your friend