The Round Lihu Lake International Half Marathon in Binhu district, Wuxi city, was listed as one of the top 100 marathons by People's Daily Online on April 7.

The rankings were based on the quality, popularity, and reputation of events. The Lihu half marathon ranked 58th among more than 300 marathons.

The Lihu half marathon is the newest half marathon in China since 2016 to be awarded the Gold Label by the Chinese Athletic Association in recognition of its status as one of the nation's leading foot races.

It consists of two competitions - a 21.1-kilometer half marathon and a 5-kilometer mini marathon – and receives over 10,000 applicants from all over the world every year. According to the organizers, over 20,000 people registered for last year's event.

Runners can enjoy the area's unique autumn scenery as they race through famous scenic spots in Lihu Lake, including Lihu Park and Yuantouzhu. This was voted the most beautiful marathon course in 2016.

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, many sporting events have been delayed. However, as the epidemic wanes in China and an increasing number of people begin to realize the importance of fitness, the Lihu half marathon is expected to attract a lot of attention this year.

The district's sports bureau is planning to hold many annual sporting events during the second half of this year, and is exploring new ways to promote the development of these sports events in the near future.