The 2025 Hengdian Marathon, scheduled November 16, has been named a “Sports Tourism Boutique Event" by the Sports Culture Development Center of the General Administration of Sport of China. It is the third time Hengdian Marathon has been included in this prestigious list.

This title is a national-level distinction recognizing the race’s contribution to history, sports and culture. The award highlights the Hengdian Marathon’s unique theme, “Run Into Movies, Travel Through History,” which guides runners through various historical and cinematic scenes like the Ming Qing Dynasty Palace, the Qin Dynasty Palace and more.

As participants pass through ancient cities, palaces, and cultural streets, they also encounter actors in costume cheering them on along the way. One organizer explained that the race allows athletes to “run across five thousand years of history on foot.”

Since its debut in May 2015, the Hengdian Marathon has grown rapidly in both scale and popularity. The 2024 race attracted a record 28,000 runners from across China and the world. 

The event is jointly hosted by the Dongyang Municipal People’s Government and Hengdian Group, and operated by Zhejiang Hengdian Sports Development Co., Ltd. A Hengdian Sports representative said the organization aims to continue improving the quality of Hengdian Marathon and further advance the integration of sports and cultural tourism. 

Organizers hope the 2025 race will not only yield new marathon records, but also showcase Hengdian Marathon as a world-class event, allowing more people to share in Hengdian’s passion for sport, culture and history.