1,200 race along Qianhai's coastal greenway

Video by Tan Yifan and Lin Jianping

More than 1,200 runners set off from the Qianhai Stone Park at 6:30 a.m. May 23, following a route lined with mangroves and coastal greenways while enjoying the sea breeze from the Qianhai Bay.

The event gave participants a chance to experience the unique charm of Qianhai, where “the city and the sea blend seamlessly.”

Runners set off from the starting point. Photos courtesy of Qianhai Authority

The race was the Shenzhen stop of the 2026 One Run event. Originating in Russia, One Run is an international running event that set the Guinness World Records for the “largest synchronized start” in 2020 and 2021. The Shenzhen race is the only stop in China.

Runners pass through OH Bay.

The event featured four categories: a 21-kilometer elite group, a 10-kilometer challenge group, a five-kilometer public participation group, and a one-kilometer parent-child group, catering to runners of different ages and combining competition with public participation.

The course passed landmarks such as the Qianhai Stone Park, the Guiwan River Greenway, the Qianhai Central River, the Bay Glory Ferris wheel, and the OH Bay. The entire route was set within parks and seaside boardwalks, with no road closures and no disruption to residents.

Water, medical, and security support stations were set up along the route. A total of 150 security personnel and a professional medical team were on duty throughout the race to ensure safety and smooth operations.

“Qianhai is where the city meets the sea. This morning, with the sea breeze on my face and the cheers of runners around me, I felt deeply impressed and moved,” said Song Tianxin, an athlete with the ice hockey club Shenzhen Kunlun Red Star and the image ambassador for the 2026 One Run Shenzhen stop.

“There were many foreign runners taking part today. Sports is a language that connects the world. We all came together through running, and the atmosphere was great.”

Runners take off after the starting gun.

In the men’s 21-kilometer race, Li Dongxing won first place with a time of 1:11:40. He said the course at the Qianhai Stone Park is ideal for after-work runs. “Running here with the sea breeze is not only convenient, but also very comfortable,” he said.

In the women’s 21-kilometer division, He Fang took the title with a time of 1:22:56. As a fitness coach, she said running is not about breaking records, but about surpassing oneself, maintaining good physical condition, enjoying the course, clearing the mind, and improving health — which she considers the greatest reward.

Li Dongxing breaks the tape to win the men's 21km title.

Elizaveta Guseva, deputy head of product for One Run and project manager for the international program at Race of Heroes, said the first One Run event was held 10 years ago, when only 10,000 people started running on the same day. Today, the event involves 89 cities in Russia and has expanded to 38 countries worldwide. This year marks its second edition in Shenzhen, with a brand-new course launched in Qianhai.

“The Qianhai Stone Park is a very beautiful and distinctive park. I also ran the five-kilometer race myself, and it was a great experience. The planning here is very thoughtful, allowing people to live here, enjoy life, and enjoy sports,” she said.

He Fang crosses the finish line to claim the women's 21km title.

The race was authorized by Russian sports brand Hero Race. It was hosted by the Qianhai Authority under the guidance of the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Media and Sports, and co-organized by the culture and sports bureaus of Nanshan and Bao’an districts.