Running toward the world stage: Shanghai's bid for Marathon Majors status

Just after sunrise in Shanghai, the city begins to shift.

Roads that usually carry traffic are filled instead with runners. Along the Bund, the skyline of glass towers and historic facades becomes a moving backdrop as thousands of footsteps echo through streets that are, for a few hours, given back to people.

The city slows down – and at the same time, it moves.

The Shanghai Marathon has become one of China's most recognizable road races. Now it is aiming for an even bigger stage: joining the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the elite global series that includes the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon.

Earlier this year, Shanghai successfully cleared the first stage of the candidacy process, becoming the first marathon in China to reach this phase. A second evaluation is scheduled for December 6, 2026.

The path to joining the Marathon Majors is intentionally rigorous. Candidate races are assessed over multiple years, with criteria covering course precision, athlete safety, race organization, medical support, media operations and international participation. Organizers must demonstrate consistency, not just a single successful event.

Part of that evaluation also includes attracting elite athletes, maintaining strict anti-doping standards and delivering a race that meets global broadcast expectations.

The Shanghai Marathon has steadily built toward that level. First held in 1996, the race has grown into one of China's largest marathons, attracting tens of thousands of participants each year. In recent editions, it has earned recognition as a top-tier road race, reflecting improvements in organization, athlete services and course quality.

Its route is central to its identity. Runners experience Shanghai as they move through it – from historic landmarks to dense commercial districts and quieter residential streets – turning the race into both a physical challenge and a way of seeing the city.

For Shanghai, the bid represents more than sporting ambition. Joining the Marathon Majors would place the city among a select group of global marathon destinations and further strengthen its position as an international hub for sport and urban lifestyle.

That ambition has been echoed by organizers and global partners. Dawna Stone, CEO of Abbott World Marathon Majors, has pointed to the race's strong organization and consistency as key strengths in its candidacy. Meanwhile, Xu Bin, director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, has emphasized the marathon's role in showcasing the city's openness and global outlook through sport.

Such races carry economic and cultural significance. They attract international visitors, generate global media exposure and contribute to how a city is seen beyond its borders.

Shanghai's progress also reflects a broader shift within the Marathon Majors. The series has indicated plans to expand beyond its current six races, opening the door to new regions. Alongside the Shanghai Marathon, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in South Africa is also advancing through the candidacy process.

If successful, expansion would mark a more globally representative era for the series.

That global shift is already visible in China.

Over the past decade, running has grown rapidly across the country. In cities like Shanghai, parks, riverfront paths, and urban greenways are filled with runners in the early mornings and evenings. Informal running communities, often organized through social platforms, have made the sport more accessible, while large-scale races continue to expand.

Marathons sit at the center of this movement. They bring together elite competition and mass participation, creating events that are both athletic and social.

On race day, the Shanghai Marathon becomes a moving cross-section of the city. Elite runners compete at the front, while thousands of others run for personal goals, shared experience or simply to be part of the moment.

For many, the race is as much about participation as it is about performance.

For runners in China, Shanghai's bid carries symbolic weight. It reflects not only the progress of a single marathon but also the growth of a nationwide running culture that continues to evolve.

As thousands of runners move through Shanghai together, the meaning of the race extends beyond the finish line.

It becomes not just a test of endurance, but a reflection of how a city – and a country – is finding its stride on the global stage.

Editor's Note: Denique Daniëls is a multimedia editor for CGTN Digital. This article is part of China in Motion, a recurring column that explores contemporary Chinese life through movement – from running and walking to the design of public space, health culture and community. By observing cities at a human pace, the series captures how ordinary routines shape the experience of life in China.