Skip links

Skip to Content
play

Live

Navigation menu

  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Ukraine war
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
    • Coronavirus
    • Climate Crisis
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts
play

Live

In Pictures

Gallery|In Pictures

Photos: Thousands take part in Beijing Marathon

Up to 30,000 people take part in the first Beijing Marathon held after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

A participant holding a Chinese national flag runs past Tiananmen Square during the Beijing Marathon
A participant holding a Chinese national flag runs past Tiananmen Square during the Beijing Marathon in the Chinese capital on November 6, 2022. [Jade Gao/AFP]
Published On 6 Nov 20226 Nov 2022
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Thousands of people took to the streets of China’s capital on Sunday for the return of the Beijing Marathon after a two-year COVID-19 hiatus.

Authorities are trying to restore a sense of normalcy while sticking to a “zero-COVID” strategy that locks down neighbourhoods when any virus cases are found and quarantines everyone arriving from overseas in hotels for seven to 10 days.

Participation was limited to city residents, apart from some invited runners. China’s state media said that 30,000 people took part in the event that began under smoggy skies in central Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Participants had to be vaccinated, not leave Beijing for seven days before the event and were required to take PCR tests for the three days leading up to the race.

Marathons are also planned later this month in Shanghai and Chengdu.

Participants prepare before the start of the Beijing Marathon.
Participants prepare before the start of the Beijing Marathon in the Chinese capital. [Wang Zhao/AFP]
Advertisement
Participants walk towards the starting point at the Tiananmen Square during the Beijing Marathon.
Participants walk towards the starting point before the Beijing Marathon, the first to be held since 2019. [Tingshu Wang/Reuters]
Participants wait before the Beijing Marathon
Runners wait before the marathon starts. The 30,000 participants were comprised primarily of city residents, according to local media. [Tingshu Wang/Reuters]
Participants taking off from the starting line in the Beijing Marathon.
This long-exposure picture shows participants streaming past the starting line. Additional marathons are also planned for later this month in Shanghai and Chengdu. [Wang Zhao/AFP]
Participants wait before the Beijing Marathon
Despite public frustration simmering over China's strict pandemic measures, the mood at Saturday's marathon was upbeat. [Tingshu Wang/Reuters]
Runners compete during the Beijing Marathon in Beijing.
After a two-year hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic, marathon participation was limited and participants were required to follow strict COVID-19 protocols before joining the race. [Mark R Cristino/EPA-EFE]
Advertisement
Two children cheer for runners during the Beijing Marathon
Two children cheer for runners along the course of Saturday's race. [Jade Gao/AFP]
Participants run past Tiananmen Square during the Beijing Marathon.
Marathon participants run past Tiananmen Square. National health officials have repeatedly stressed that local authorities need to take targeted pandemic measures that minimise economic disruption and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. [Jade Gao/AFP]
Medical volunteers assist a participant at the ending point of the Beijing Marathon
Medical volunteers assist a participant by the finish line of the marathon. Beijing reported 43 symptomatic and six asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on Saturday, compared with 37 symptomatic and five asymptomatic cases the previous day. [Wu Hao/EPA-EFE]
First place winner Xia Yuyu (C) poses on the podium with Li Yingmei (L) and Wang Min.
First-place winner Xia Yuyu, centre, poses on the podium with Li Yingmei, left, and Wang Min, second and third-place winners respectively. Chinese stocks soared last week on rumours of a possible easing of the COVID-19 curbs and media reports that some tweaks to policy could be coming soon. [Wu Hao/EPA]


    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Sitemap
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Apps
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners

Follow Al Jazeera English:

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • youtube
  • instagram-colored-outline
  • rss
Al Jazeera Media Network logo
© 2023 Al Jazeera Media Network