Over 7,000 runners from across the world gathered in Shanghai's Jinshan district over the past weekend, immersing them in the joy of sports and the beauty of coastal views.

The 2026 Shanghai Bay Area Half Marathon kicked off on Sunday morning, attracting more than 4,900 participants from 29 countries and regions across five continents.

Compared with last edition, this year's marathon course has been upgraded to offer a better running experience. It retains the district's iconic landmarks such as the coastal park, Jinshanzui Fishing Village and Jinshan City Beach, allowing runners to immerse themselves in the ecological beauty. Two new main roads have also been incorporated in the course to provide runners with a more open and expansive running experience.

With the sea on their left and the city view on their right, global runners were able to experience the vibrant pulse and vitality of the district's transformation from a small coastal town into a modern coastal city.

Also, a fun run event took place in the district one day before the marathon.

Encouraging participation by all with a relaxing atmosphere, the event drew nearly 2,300 runners to simply enjoy the joy of sports and explore the coastal scenery on foot. With no need to chase speed or personal bests, participants were able to learn about the district's history, folk customs, arts, as well as local delicacies and cultural performance along the way.