File photo: Participants prepare to run the Nantong Marathon in 2025. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

The 2026 Bank of Jiangsu · Nantong Marathon is set to start at 7:30 am on Nov 8, with around 25,000 runners expected to take part, organizers announced at a news conference on Oct 27.

Certified as a Class A1 race by the Chinese Athletics Association, the race will feature a full marathon with 7,000 participants and a half marathon with 18,000. Combined, the two distances represent a record number of registered runners for the event, which was first held in 2019. More than 70 percent of participants will come from outside Nantong.

The race is scheduled to start east of Nantong Grand Theater. The full marathon will finish near the theater and Nantong Art Museum, while the half marathon will end at Nantong Sports Convention and Exhibition Center. The course will pass landmarks including Zilang Lake, Nantong Botanical Garden, and Langshan Mountain Scenic Area, showcasing the city's riverside scenery and urban development.

Organizers have introduced staggered starts to reduce congestion and improve the experience for runners. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top eight male and female finishers in each race, with champions receiving 10,000 yuan ($1,500) for the full marathon and 5,000 yuan for the half marathon.

The event will also highlight Nantong's cultural heritage. Race shirts and medals will draw inspiration from the city's traditional blue calico cloth, a national-level intangible cultural heritage.

To support a safe and smooth race, organizers plan to deploy 237 medical personnel, 30 ambulances and 4,474 volunteers. Traffic controls and adjusted public transportation arrangements will be in place, and Nantong Metro services will begin earlier than usual on race day.