The 2025 Longyou Half Marathon kicks off in Longyou county, Quzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The 2025 Longyou Half Marathon kicked off on March 16 at the Longyou Citizen Ecological Park in Longyou county, Quzhou, Zhejiang province.

The event drew 9,012 participants from across the country, with 4,000 competing in the half marathon and 5,012 in the fun run.

After a thrilling race, a Kenyan runner claimed the men's title with a time of 1:02:38, while China's Tang Xiaofang won the women's category, finishing in 1:13:38.

A highlight of the event was the participation of two humanoid robots from the National Local Joint Innovation Center for Humanoid Robots. Standing at 185 centimeters and weighing 90 kilograms, these robots captivated the crowd as they led runners along the course, offering a unique technological twist to the marathon experience.

A humanoid robot captivates the crowd as it leads runners along the course. [Photo/Tide News]

"This is the first time human-sized or smaller robots have participated alongside humans in a marathon. It's also a unique experience to see human-sized robots running by themselves," said Yang Zhengye, marketing director at the innovation center.

The 2025 Longyou Half Marathon, part of Zhejiang's marathon ranking series, featured a 21.10-kilometer half marathon and a 4-kilometer fun run.

The half marathon course passed through stunning natural scenery and cultural landmarks, while the fun run highlighted Longyou's bustling streets, blending the ancient city's rich history with modern vibrancy.