Shenyang – September 11, 2026 -- The Shengjing Bank Shenyang Marathon 2026 kicked off Sunday morning, drawing roughly 22,000 domestic and international runners to the northeastern Chinese city.
Two race distances started from the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center
The full marathon attracted 10,000 runners while the half marathon drew 12,000, with both races beginning early on September 6 at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center.
A Kenyan runner topped the men's full marathon field
A Kenyan athlete won the men's full marathon title, while an Ethiopian runner took first place in the women's full marathon. In the half marathon, Chinese runners Zhang Xiaorui and Zhao Na won the men's and women's titles respectively.
Thirty certified first-aid runners supported vulnerable participants
Organizers deployed 30 first-aid certified runners to accompany elderly participants, visually impaired competitors, and wheelchair athletes throughout the course.
Local dialect slogans lined the race route
This year's event featured phrases in the northeastern Chinese dialect posted at key points along the course, including "Laotie never gives up," meant to encourage runners to persevere. The slogans reflected regional traits of directness, optimism, and resilience while echoing the energy of local cheering groups known as "Laotie squads," who performed heavy-industry-inspired dances and folk Yangge dances along the route.
A 100-meter cheering corridor crossed the Hun River bridge
Among the event's cheering stations, a 100-meter-long "encouragement corridor" set up on a bridge over the Hun River drew large crowds of local residents who joined in supporting the runners.
Free museum entry ran alongside the race week
Every participant received a local "cultural tourism passport" offering walking tours to roughly a dozen attractions in Shenyang. From September 5 to 11, admission was free at the Shenyang Imperial Palace, the Former Residence of Zhang Xueliang Museum, and the Shenyang Financial Museum, giving domestic and foreign runners access to the city's tourism services.