Registration for the inaugural Shanghai Yangtze Beach Half Marathon officially opened on Aug 18, with the event set to begin from Baoshan Sports Center at 7 am on Nov 16.

Hosted by the Shanghai Baoshan district government and the Shanghai Sports Federation, the event offers two categories: a 21.0975-kilometer half marathon and a 5 km parent-child fun run, accommodating a total of 8,000 participants.

Registration fee for the half marathon is set at 120 yuan ($1.67) with spots allocated via a lottery, while the entry fee for the parent-child fun run costs 50 yuan.

Zhang Bin, director of Baoshan district's sports bureau, stated that the biggest highlight of the event is its carefully designed 21.0975-km course, which includes a 12.56-km riverside section, connecting unique areas in Baoshan and offering a three-stage immersive experience.

"The green ecological section is mainly in the Wusong Paotaiwan National Wetland Park, starting the running journey close to nature. The vibrant riverside section is mainly in the Shanghai International Cruise Tourism Resort, passing through the Wusongkou International Cruise Port and connecting landmarks such as Sea World, Long Beach Concert Hall and the Long Beach Observation Tower along the way. The transformed industrial section is in the Baosteel factory area, making it the first marathon event to enter the Baosteel factory," Zhang explained.

To guarantee safety and quick response to emergencies, the event will be manned by 83 referees, 1,200 volunteers and 600 security personnel.

Beyond the marathon, the event will also offer exclusive discounts for participating runners to fully experience the food, accommodation and transportation options on offer in Baoshan.