China News Service, Chongqing, March 12th (Reporter Zhong Yi) When "love" and "marathon" collide, what kind of experience will it be?

On the 12th, Chongqing's first marathon with the theme of "Oriental Love" started again in Jiangjin District, Chongqing.

Among them, 500 couples crossed the line hand in hand in the rain, adding romance to the sports.

  According to reports, this event will set up men's and women's half marathon individual group (21.0975 kilometers), couples group marathon (13.14 kilometers) and mini marathon (4.3 kilometers) three group competition events.

The total number of participants is 10,000, including 3,000 for men's and women's half-marathon individuals, 1,000 for couples' marathon, and 6,000 for mini-marathon.

The picture shows running enthusiast Yang Zhongyong and his girlfriend Huang Rui making a "compare heart" gesture.

Photo by Zhong Yi

  "We came here specially for the theme of 'Oriental Love'." Yang Zhongyong, a runner from Yongchuan District, Chongqing, and his girlfriend Huang Rui participated in the competition as a couple for the first time.

The two ran the 13.14 kilometers together, which means "forever", and crossed the line hand in hand to make a "heart-to-heart" gesture. The happiness is beyond words.

Huang Rui said, "We met in a running group a few years ago, and we have only officially fallen in love in recent months. I am very happy that the marathon platform allows us to know each other and love each other. When I crossed the finish line with my boyfriend, the moment he took my hand and took my hand was really wonderful. I am moved and look forward to our marriage this year."

  "The couple marathon requires two people to cooperate, and there are certain challenges. Generally, male runners lead female runners." He Yong, who won the championship in the couple marathon for the first time, said that in mutual cooperation, boys will be ahead Play the role of "breaking the wind", reduce the resistance for the women behind, and do a good job of delivering water and other services.

The picture shows the 2023 Chongqing Jiangjin Oriental Love Half Marathon finisher medal.

Photo courtesy of the 2023 Chongqing Jiangjin Oriental Love Half Marathon Organizing Committee

  It is worth mentioning that after finishing the 2023 Chongqing Jiangjin Oriental Love Half Marathon, each couple will receive a medal with a unique design of "Jiangjin Love Horse". Each medal looks like a concentric lock on the outside and a heart shape on the inside. The "Love Ladder" decoration, the two couple medals are designed to be combined, which means "You have me in your heart, and I have you in my heart" and entrust the beautiful expectation of "running for love for a long time".

  The reporter learned that the reason why the event was held with the theme of "Oriental Love" is that Jiangjin District is known as the "Holy Land of Love".

The local area has the national 5A-level tourist attraction "China Love Mountain" surrounded by mountains, and has China's largest naturally formed waterfall-like heart-shaped Danxia landscape "the first heart in the world".

In the 1950s, the story of Liu Guojiang, a farmer in the ancient town of Zhongshan, Jiangjin, who built a "ladder of love" for his lover was rated as one of the "Top Ten Classic Love Stories in China".

Since 2008, Jiangjin has launched the "Chinese Valentine's Day Oriental Love Festival" with the background of the "Ladder of Love" story, which has become one of the well-known tourism and cultural festivals at home and abroad.

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