BEIJING: About 30,000 runners, some wearing face masks, took part on Sunday (Nov 6) in a chilly and smoggy first Beijing Marathon since 2019 after COVID-19 cancelled previous races.
It was the first major sporting event in the Chinese capital since the Winter Olympics in February.
China continues to adhere to a strict zero-COVID policy, with harsh lockdowns, quarantines and testing regimens imposed after even the smallest outbreaks.
As a result, only people living in Beijing were allowed to take part in the race, unlike previous editions, which had attracted foreign runners.
Some runners kept their face masks on for the race, which Anubaike Kuwan from Xinjiang won in two hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds.
The marathon was meant to resume last year but was cancelled again to avoid any outbreaks of COVID-19 ahead of the Beijing Olympics.