The 2026 Xiong'an Marathon kicked off at 7:30 am on Sunday at the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center, one of the area's landmarks. A total of 12,000 runners from across the country gathered in the new area to witness nine years of remarkable progress in Xiong'an New Area, North China's Hebei province. The area was established in 2017.

The race route connected key landmarks, including the computing center, Baiyangdian ecological zone and headquarters of relocated central State-owned enterprises from Beijing. Participants could see the area's livable amenities, sci-tech construction and green environment along the way.

"This is my second time. My first was in 2023. Now, after three years, I feel Xiong'an has developed very, very fast. This year, I use my feet to measure the changes in Xiong'an over these three years," said a male runner from Shijiazhuang, capital city of Hebei.

This year's event upgraded its warm-hearted "Xiong'an Stars" program, expanding the cheering squad from 30 to 100 children who are the same age as the new area. These young children cheered for runners along the route and placed medals on finishers at the finish line.

Nearly 50 merchant booths offering food, cultural products and interactive experiences were set up, adding vitality to the event. Local residents also lined the streets, cheering enthusiastically to create a lively atmosphere.

From urban transformation to childlike warmth and professional support, the 2026 marathon once again showcased the vibrant spirit of Xiong'an and its shared journey with runners toward a brighter future.