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The 2024 Zhuji Xishi Half Marathon — held on Nov 24 — drew over 16,000 runners from 21 countries and regions, including the United States, South Korea, and Canada.

The event featured two categories: the half marathon and a fun run, with 78.3 percent of runners hailing from Zhejiang province and nearly 100 international participants.

This fourth edition of the Xishi Marathon embraced unique cultural elements, incorporating Zhuji's pearl heritage into its finishers' medals. The medal design, inspired by a pearl shell, revealed a reflective copper mirror showcasing the beauty of Xishi and Shanxia Lake pearls.

In a move to enhance participant experience and minimize disruption for local residents, this year’s event was optimized from a full marathon to a half marathon. The revised course, dubbed the "Ginkgo Avenue," offered runners stunning autumn scenery, combining natural beauty with a seamless route.

The event also coincided with the inaugural Xishi Marathon Expo and Golden Autumn Shopping Festival, which featured booths for sports equipment, food, traditional crafts, and agricultural products. The festival attracted over 60,000 visitors and generated over 50 million yuan in economic activity, turning the marathon's popularity into tangible economic growth.

Zhuji also rolled out incentives for participants, including discounts on attractions, hotels, dining, and cultural souvenirs, further boosting the city's tourism and hospitality sectors.

As a symbol of Zhuji's sports-driven development, the marathon reflects the city's commitment to active lifestyles. In 2024 alone, Zhuji hosted over 300 city-level fitness events and 1,000 village-level activities.

Tourism has flourished alongside these initiatives, with Zhuji welcoming 12.03 million visitors between January and October 2024, up 14.75 percent year-on-year.