Haikou Marathon kicks off

Thousands of people compete in the Haikou Marathon on March 3. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/Hainan Daily]

A total of 13,403 people participated in the Haikou Marathon held in Haikou, Hainan on March 3. Twenty-seven of them came from 14 foreign countries.

The marathon included three separate events, namely the 42.195-km full marathon, the 21.0975-km half-marathon, and the 4-km joy run. All participants set off from the Haikou Meishe River Wetland Park.

The event was jointly sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Hainan Province and the Haikou municipal people's government. It was organized by Haikou's culture, radio, television, publication and sports bureau.

A participant from Chengdu, Sichuan province is ready for the marathon. He has completed over 30 marathons in a wheelchair. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/Hainan Daily]

A two-year-old girl participates in the joy run with her family. [Photo by Song Guoqiang/Hainan Daily]