On the morning of May 2, 2025, at 7:30 am, the 2025 Xiang’E Longfeng Marathon started with a starting gun in Laifeng City, Hubei Province. This cross-province event, including Hunan’s Longshan City and Hubei’s Laifeng City (where lies Jiayue Pins), attracted 23,000 runners nationwide.
As a Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) A1-certified event, this marathon featured four categories: Full Marathon, Half Marathon, Longteng Wellness Run, and Fengwu Fun Run. Designed to elevate the “Longfeng Twin Cities” as a premier racing brand, the event highlighted ethnic unity and the region’s vibrant identity—celebrating the “dynamic, united, and distinctive” spirit of the twin cities.
The course linked the cultural and geographic hearts of Longshan and Laifeng two cities, blending Tujia and Miao ethnic traditions, eco-friendly tourism, and regional heritage. Runners were greeted by thunderous performances of Tujia Sanbangu drums and cheers from local residents, volunteers, and tourists.
Aid stations also serve as cultural experience stops, serving regional delicacies like savory oil tea soup, fragrant rice tofu, special rice, and crispy fried oil dumplings,etc.
After more than two hours running, in the Full Marathon, Kenya’s Lukalo Lokobekanda claimed the men’s title with a time of 2:17:54, while China’s Xiong Juan triumphed in the women’s division at 2:42:00. The Half Marathon saw Kenya’s Taiget Evans Kipkorir dominate the men’s race (1:08:41), and China’s Qin Weina secure the women’s crown (1:25:52).
Beyond professional competitions, the Longteng Wellness Run, and Fengwu Fun Run attracted many local residents and families to take part in this event. Local residents formed cheering lines, waving banners and chanting “Jiayou!” (Keep going! or add oil 🙂 ).
The event’s finisher medals embodied profound symbolism:
“Heaven Round, Earth Square”: Reflecting ancient Chinese cosmology, the circular medal framed by a square border symbolizes harmony between heaven, earth, and the twin cities.
Dragon and Phoenix in Relief: A phoenix (representing Laifeng) spreads its wings alongside a soaring dragon (Longshan), crafted with intricate 3D relief above rippling waves of the You River.
Ethnic Elements: Delicate Xilan Kapu brocade patterns, inspired by Tujia textile art, adorn the edges, honoring intangible cultural heritage.
Deep Blue Enamel: The medal’s shimmering blue mirror the twilight skies over the You River, uniting both provinces in one medal.
