Runners race across Xi'an's ancient city wall

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A total of 3,000 runners completed a unique half-marathon on the 600-year-old city wall in Xi'an city, Shaanxi Province on Sunday.

Xi Dongping, a Xi'an University of Post and Communication student, lifted the men's title with a time of 1:15:27 at the 2017 Xi'an City Wall International Marathon.

Marathon runners participate in the Xi'an City Wall International Marathon. /Photo via CNWEST

"I'm so fortunate that today's weather is very appropriate for my performance," said Xi, who was born in Shandong Province.

"It is the fourth time that I have attended this marathon and I finally claimed the title," he said.

Cao Qinghong, who won the women's half marathon two years ago, took the gold medal again with a time of 1:24:19.

The marathon's route is on the city wall built by the Ming Dynasty more than 600 years ago. It's the only marathon in the world with a track on an ancient city wall.

Marathon runners participate in Xi'an City Wall International Marathon. /Photo via CNWEST

"It's fantastic! I have never seen a marathon with such a view of modern buildings and ancient castles," said Ali Rahman, a Pakistani student studying at Northwestern Polytechnical University.

The Xi'an City Wall International Marathon, launched in 1993, has attracted more than 60,000 runners from nearly 60 countries and regions throughout the world, including 16,000 foreign participants so far.

Medals for Xi'an City Wall International Marathon /Photo via Xi'an Daily‍

According to the local organizers, in order to protect the ancient city wall, the event allows less than 3,000 participants to attend every year. This year's competition attracted 3,000 runners from all over the nation and featured a half marathon, a 5km mini-marathon and a 13.7km marathon, which is the circumference of Xi'an city wall.

913km

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency