Thousands ran a peach blossom-themed 10K in Yangshan, Wuxi, blending sport with rural tourism.
The scenic race drew 5,000 runners and boosted local business, showcasing how events can drive agriculture, culture and economic revitalization.
by sportswriter He Leijing NANJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- On a brisk spring morning, thousands of runners in peach-blossom-themed shirts streamed into a sea of pink, setting off along a 10-kilometer course winding through peach orchards, farmhouses and the soft glow of the season.
The race, held last Sunday in Yangshan town in the city of Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, is an example of how sporting events are being woven into broader efforts to revitalize rural areas across the country.
Yangshan is known as China's hometown of honey peaches.
Each spring, nearly 2,500 hectares of peach trees burst into bloom, filling the air with a delicate fragrance and turning the racecourse into a scenic corridor through flowering orchards.
Among the pacers was Wang Liping, the Olympic race walk champion at Sydney 2000.
For her, the experience was almost surreal.
"It's my first time here.
The moment I stepped onto the course, I was surrounded by peach blossoms," she said.
"It feels like running through a painting, truly a one-of-a-kind experience." Joel Pope, a British kindergarten teacher based in Wuxi, also completed the course in his first long-distance race since arriving in China seven years ago.
An avid runner, Pope found both the setting and the atmosphere memorable.
"The place is beautiful.
You've got the peach flowers, and the atmosphere is really nice," he said.
"The roads are very peaceful, which is perfect for long-distance running.
When you're out there, you're surrounded by nature." For Yangshan, however, the peach blossom race is more than a celebration of spring.
Its postcard charm has also become....
