KUNMING — As the starting gun fired at the Luoping county sports center in Qujing, Southwest China's Yunnan province, for the 2026 Qujing Luoping Grand Blossom Marathon on March 15, more than 20 international participants from eight countries and regions, including Thailand, Slovenia, Singapore and Bangladesh, alongside runners from across China, took to the flower-bordered course.
Each spring in Luoping, around 66,700 hectares of rapeseed flowers bloom. The route, winding through a golden sea of blossoms, has earned the event a reputation as "the year's first marathon running into spring", marking the start of Yunnan's spring sports and cultural tourism season.
"The scenery along the way with the sea of flowers is so beautiful, and it's the biggest motivation for running," says Eva Pivac, a Slovenian runner participating in the marathon for the first time. An avid traveler and sports enthusiast who had long heard of Luoping's rapeseed fields, she signed up immediately after the race was announced.
Having lived in the provincial capital of Kunming for five years, Pivac says her participation in marathons, trail runs and hiking activities across Yunnan has given her a genuine feel for China's development.
"Many marathon events in China are held in counties or small towns, using sports events to drive local tourism development and help discover more hidden scenic spots," she says, adding that local residents are exceptionally warm, doing their utmost to welcome runners from afar.
Asked about her impression of the event, Pivac says the organization was impressive. Pre-race activities like the welcome dinner and dancing by a bonfire allowed her to experience the strong local flavor.
The international appeal of the Luoping marathon also marks a new starting point for deeper cooperation in sports and cultural tourism between China and Thailand.
During the 2025 Chiang Mai International Marathon, cultural, tourism and sports departments from Luoping and Chiang Mai reached preliminary cooperation agreements. Leveraging the seasonal contrast between Luoping's spring blossoms and Chiang Mai's winter cultural landscape, the two sides plan to develop cross-border "marathon plus tourism" itineraries.
During the 2026 Luoping marathon, a delegation from Chiang Mai paid a special visit, with members praising the event highly.
"This is a race with absolutely stunning scenery. Running in the golden sea of flowers is an unforgettable experience. The atmosphere was warm and lively, and I look forward to participating again next year," says Toemchai Temyingyong, deputy executive of Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization.
Somboon Boonruang, a member of the Chiang Mai delegation, says: "The people here are hospitable, the natural scenery is beautiful, and the air is fresh. I will definitely recommend Luoping to Thai tourists and runners, inviting them to come here for tourism and sports."
Yunnan, a southwestern border province of China, is connected to South and Southeast Asia by mountains and rivers. In recent years, it has used this geographical advantage to expand international engagement.
Using marathon events as a platform, it has upgraded event brands and deepened cross-border cooperation, building an important bridge for people-to-people exchanges, cultural connectivity, and industrial links with neighboring countries.
On March 1, the 2026 Ruili China and Muse Myanmar Cross-Border Marathon was held in Yunnan's Ruili city on the China-Myanmar border. A total of 3,998 runners from multiple countries and regions competed, including 227 participants from Myanmar.
On race day, more than 3,000 Chinese and Myanmar residents formed cheering squads at 35 designated points along the route to encourage the runners. People from Myanmar, dressed in festive attire, gathered around the No 81 marker on the China-Myanmar border. Holding bilingual signs in Burmese and Chinese, they waved flags of both countries, and greeted every cross-border runner with smiles and cheers.
Statistics show that since its launch a decade ago, the cross-border marathon has attracted nearly 600,000 athletes from 33 countries and regions.
