On a sunny Sunday morning in April 2026, the starting gun for the 2026 Xiong’an Marathon fired precisely at 7:30 a.m., launching the event from the steps of the Xiong’an Urban Computing Center — one of the most iconic modern landmarks of this young urban development zone in northern China’s Hebei Province.
More than 12,000 long-distance running enthusiasts from every corner of the country converged on Xiong’an, a national-level new area established by Chinese authorities in 2017, for a rare opportunity to experience the region’s staggering nine years of progress with their own steps. Unlike traditional marathon courses that wind through long-established cityscapes, this route was intentionally designed to connect Xiong’an’s most defining development milestones, linking the cutting-edge Urban Computing Center, the ecologically restored Baiyangdian wetland zone, and the newly completed headquarters of central state-owned enterprises relocated from the national capital Beijing.
Along every stretch of the course, runners were greeted by tangible evidence of Xiong’an’s evolution: fully functional residential amenities that now serve a growing permanent population, state-of-the-art technology hubs driving the area’s innovation-focused economy, and expansive green spaces that underscore the new area’s commitment to sustainable, low-carbon urban development. For many returning participants, the contrasts between visits were striking. A male runner from Hebei’s provincial capital Shijiazhuang, who first ran the Xiong’an Marathon in 2023, shared that the changes he observed over just three years left him stunned. “This year, I’m literally using my feet to measure how much Xiong’an has transformed in that short time,” he said, noting that entirely new landmarks and infrastructure that did not exist three years ago now line the route.
Beyond the competitive running itself, organizers upgraded the race’s beloved community-focused “Xiong’an Stars” initiative for the 2026 event. Originally launched with a small team of 30 young cheerleaders, the program was expanded this year to 100 children who share the same age as Xiong’an New Area itself. These young supporters lined the course to cheer on exhausted runners, and later took up the honored role of placing finisher medals around the necks of athletes who crossed the finish line, adding a heartfelt, intergenerational touch to the event.
To further enrich the participant and spectator experience, organizers worked with nearly 50 local businesses to set up public booths along the course perimeter, offering regional specialty foods, traditional and modern cultural products, and interactive activities that brought extra energy to the race day. Local residents turned out in droves, lining the sidewalks outside the course barriers to cheer on every runner, creating a warm, lively atmosphere that surprised many first-time visitors to the new area.
From the sweeping transformation of once undeveloped land into a modern, sustainable smart city to the childlike enthusiasm of the young volunteers and the warm welcome from local residents, the 2026 Xiong’an Marathon did more than host a competitive race: it offered a living snapshot of Xiong’an’s vibrant, dynamic growth, and highlighted the new area’s ongoing journey toward its ambitious vision for a brighter, more innovative urban future.