The 2024 Quzhou Marathon kicks off in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, on Nov 24. [Photo/Tide News]

The 2024 Quzhou Marathon kicked off in Quzhou, Zhejiang province, on Nov 24 and 20,000 runners from around the world gathered in Quzhou to run through this charming ancient city.

The competition featured a marathon, a half-marathon, and a fun run. This year's event not only set a record for the number of participants but also attracted a significant number of runners from outside the city.

Statistics show that 74 percent of the marathon and half-marathon participants were from outside Quzhou, making the marathon a big event for promoting the city.

The full marathon course, spanning about 42.20 kilometers, connected various landmarks in Quzhou. It offered 20,000 runners a glimpse of the city's allure with a blend of its history and modernity along with its cultural and natural beauty.

After intense competition, Burundian runner Irabaruta Olivier won the men's marathon with a record-breaking time, and Belarusian runner Nemahai Volha won the women's.

Chinese runners dominated the half-marathon, winning both the men's and women's titles and breaking event records in the process.