On the morning of December 9th at 7:30 AM, the 2018 Guangzhou Marathon will start with the sound of a gunshot. This marathon includes two main events: the full marathon and the half marathon, with a total of 30,000 participants. To date, the Guangzhou Marathon has been held for seven editions. As a double gold label event certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA), the Guangzhou Marathon has become a must-run event for many marathon runners each year due to its continuously improving event services and unique city charm.

Run the Guangzhou Marathon and experience the historical culture of Yangcheng.

Guangzhou has a long history of culture. Before the establishment of the city, there was already the culture of the indigenous Yue people. After the city's establishment, the introduction of Central Plains culture led to the gradual development of Guangzhou's indigenous culture into a branch of Chinese national culture. This culture flourished against the backdrop of ancient Guangzhou's developed commerce and foreign trade, and innovated and developed under the influence of modern Western learning and democratic revolutions. Over a long period of social life, it has gradually formed a culture with strong local characteristics through mutual exchange and integration with foreign cultures. In 1982, it was declared a national historical and cultural city by the State Council.

Before the Qin Dynasty, during the Neolithic period, indigenous culture was created based on primitive culture. After the Qin unified Lingnan, Central Plains Han culture continuously spread southward, merging with local culture to form ancient Guangzhou culture. The Song Dynasty was a prosperous period for the construction of Guangzhou city. At that time, Guangzhou had already become a trade center for both domestic and foreign trade. With several large southward migrations of Central Plains populations, the arrival of foreign merchant ships, and the introduction of foreign religious cultures, Guangzhou culture experienced a flourishing period.

The Ming and Qing Dynasties were the peak periods for the development of Guangzhou culture, laying the foundation for a culture with Lingnan characteristics. In literature, there were significant achievements, and the poetry scene was particularly flourishing: there were poetry societies known as the 'Five Elders of the Southern Garden,' the 'Later Five Elders of the Southern Garden,' and the 'Three Families of Lingnan,' forming the 'Lingnan Poetry School.' In the arts, Cantonese opera gradually took shape. After the Opium War, Western learning continuously flowed into China, and as an open port, Guangzhou's culture was deeply influenced.

Starting in the 1980s, Guangzhou began to extensively interact with Hong Kong television, and Hong Kong culture was interpreted in Guangzhou in another form. After 1990, as Guangzhou became an open city, the number of outsiders increased significantly, and the central government's promotion of Mandarin in Guangdong deepened, causing the local Cantonese environment to shrink continuously. Additionally, the public gradually distanced themselves from traditional folk arts such as Cantonese opera and storytelling.

Why do runners love to flock to the Guangzhou Marathon?

The Guangzhou Marathon is an annual international sports event in Guangzhou. It is a high-level marathon in China, approved by the General Administration of Sport of China, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Guangzhou Municipal Government, and registered in the event calendar of the IAAF and the CAA.

The event was founded in 2012 and is an A-level certified event by the CAA. Since 2014, it has been rated as a gold label event by the CAA for four consecutive years. In 2016 and 2017, it was successively rated as a bronze label event and a silver label event by the IAAF, and in 2018, it was rated as a gold label event by the IAAF.

The Guangzhou Marathon course is mainly set along both banks of the Pearl River, showcasing the most characteristic Lingnan cultural customs, the most historically significant sights of Yangcheng, and the most fashionable cultural trends. Each year, the event receives enthusiastic attention from marathon enthusiasts, who actively sign up to participate.

The route for the 2018 Guangzhou Marathon is the same as last year, starting from Tianhe Sports Center, passing through Zhujiang New Town, Pazhou Exhibition Center, Canton Tower, the north gate of Sun Yat-sen University, the Generalissimo's Mansion, and ending at Huacheng Square. This route takes runners through Guangzhou's past, present, and future.

After completing the 2017 Guangzhou Marathon, a runner commented on the course:'The Guangzhou Marathon is generally easy to run. First, the altitude is low, with an average altitude of just over thirty meters, providing ample oxygen. Second, the course is flat with little gradient, with only two bridges over the Pearl River and two underpasses. Third, the weather in Guangzhou in December is neither too cold nor too hot, which is ideal for performance. Fourth, the scenery along the way is nice, mostly running along both banks of the Pearl River, with fresh air and good greenery.'

The race will have drink/water stations every 2.5 kilometers starting from the 5-kilometer mark, with water/utility stations set up between two drink/water stations. Additionally, there will be nine energy supply stations set up at 12.5 kilometers, 17.5 kilometers, 22.5 kilometers, 27.5 kilometers, 32.5 kilometers, 35 kilometers, 37.5 kilometers, and at the half and full marathon finish lines.

Furthermore, mobile toilets will be set up at the starting point, every 1 kilometer between 2 kilometers and 5 kilometers along the race route, every 2.5 kilometers between 7.5 kilometers and 40 kilometers, and at the finish line.

To ensure the safety of the participants, the organizing committee will set up fixed medical stations along the course and provide AED medical rescue services. Additionally, a certain number of medical runners will be arranged along the course to assist with medical aid.