A land of millennia, leading the charge! The Heshi Dairy · 2025 Baoji Marathon kicked off on October 26th at the Baoji Municipal Administrative Center Square. 31,000 runners gathered on the land of Chencang, sweating and challenging themselves on the course in this "Hometown of Bronze Ware."

The event was hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Sports Bureau and the Baoji Municipal People's Government, organized by the Baoji Municipal Sports Bureau, titled sponsored by Shaanxi Heshi Dairy Group Co., Ltd., and operated by Weiying Event Operation Co., Ltd. Building upon the high standards of the China Athletics Association A1 Label Road Race certification, the event, through its innovative "Dual-IP" strategy, provided a new model for the deep integration of large-scale sports events and urban development.

Reportedly, this year's event organization achieved significant breakthroughs. During the starting phase, the first 5 kilometers of the course were changed from a half-width to a full-width road design, effectively managing the flow of participants. "The start was very smooth, which helped me settle into my rhythm right away," said Li Xianhui, a runner from Ningxia. According to event data, 46.2% of participants in the 2024 edition achieved new Personal Bests, solidifying the "Fastest Course in Northwest China" as the event's professional hallmark.

After fierce competition, Wang Jiahao from Weinan, Shaanxi, won the men's marathon championship with a time of 02:14:46, while Zhong Jiameng from Ganzhou, Jiangxi, claimed the women's marathon title with a time of 02:38:02. Gao Yubo from Yan'an, Shaanxi, won the men's half marathon with a time of 01:09:02, and Xiao Jing from Lanzhou, Gansu, won the women's half marathon with a time of 01:16:53, setting a new course record.

As the event entered its third edition, the Baoji Marathon innovatively launched its "One Event, One Concert·Dual Brands" development strategy. The "Shaanxi-style Rock Runners' Night" concert held the previous evening at the Baoji Sports Stadium perfectly complemented the marathon. "We are not simply adding two events together; we are creating a brand-new event experience," said a representative from the event organizing committee. This concert, featuring iconic Shaanxi-style rock artists like Zheng Jun, Hei Sa, and Wang Jianfang, marked the innovative practice of deeply integrating a professional-level concert with a marathon in China, successfully premiering the marathon's theme song "All the Way China" on stage.

The deep integration of cultural elements elevated the event beyond a mere sports competition. The bronze ware patterns on the participant T-shirts and the finish medals, embedded with the characters for "China" from the He Zun inscription and the Shehuo Mashao masks, revitalized Zhou and Qin dynasty culture and intangible cultural heritage skills within modern sports. Among these, the Lingguan mask as a hidden blind box edition added to the event's fun and collectibility. "This medal is a souvenir you can take away, encapsulating Baoji's history and regional culture," exclaimed Ms. Huang, a runner from Guangdong.

On the morning of the race day, six complimentary breakfast stations opened on time, offering runners authentic Baoji specialties like Douhua Paomo (Tofu Pudding with Steamed Buns), Ganmianpi (Cold Noodles), and Diruan Baozi (Wild Moss Buns). The 31,000 copies of the "2025 Baoji Marathon Food Map," planned and printed by the event committee and distributed with the race packs, served as a practical guide for runners to explore Baoji's cuisine. Additionally, a "Ticket Stub" benefit was offered, allowing participants to enjoy a free serving of authentic Baoji Ganmianpi at 53 outlets under 13 catering brands by showing their bib or participant wristband. During the event period, 30 Grade-A scenic spots in the city offered free admission or discounts to participants and volunteers, including 2 5A-level, 12 4A-level, and 16 3A-level spots, promoting the deep integration of sports, fitness, and tourism.

Cheers from spectators along the route added endless passion and vitality to the race. From energetic young students to spirited seniors, and from professional runners to fitness enthusiasts, the event fully embodied the characteristics of public participation and sharing. "It was my first half marathon, and being able to run with so many like-minded friends felt incredibly motivating!" said Ms. Zhang, a local Baoji middle school teacher.

Comprehensive safety measures were the foundation of the event's success. A safety and service network covering the entire course was woven together by 20 medical stations/points, 105 AED devices, 5 designated hospitals, over 4,500 event service volunteers, and more than 5,500 security volunteers. Service details like the post-race ice bath relaxation zones and newly added professional aid stations reflected the organizing committee's continuous care for the runner experience.

The "traffic" from large-scale events is being effectively transformed into "increment" for urban development. According to relevant reports, last year's Baoji Marathon attracted a peak of 515,000 visitor trips to Baoji, generating approximately 155 million RMB in comprehensive consumption. This year's upgraded "Pampering Visitors Plan," the Xi'an-Baoji Marathon special train, and over 500 support vehicles extended event services from the course to every corner of the city. Furthermore, pre-race activities like the Breakfast Run, the pre-race meet & greet sharing session, and the marathon expo successfully extended the single sports event into a multi-day city carnival.

"The biggest gains from running the marathon are better health and the friends I've made to run and train with," reflected Mr. Liu, a local runner participating for the third consecutive year. "This exercise fervor has now spread to my colleagues and friends around me; everyone feels this atmosphere is really great."

In recent years, focusing on the goal of building a city renowned for sports, Baoji has deeply implemented the national fitness strategy and successfully hosted several high-level international and domestic sports events, such as the China (Baoji) International Badminton Masters and the National Northwest China Regional Shooting Championships. Now in its third year, the Baoji Marathon has not only become more professional in organization but has also achieved a comprehensive upgrade in the depth of "sports-tourism-culture-commerce" integration and the breadth of city services. With its enhanced quality event experience, it has injected strong momentum into Baoji's high-quality development.