Scheduled for November 15, the “China Telecom Cup” Athletics (Marathon) event is a focal point of the National Sports Administration’s initiative to innovate competition formats. It will be the first marathon in National Games history to traverse two cities: Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The event will feature separate men’s and women’s full marathons. A field of 71 elite athletes from 23 teams, representing 22 provincial-level regions, will participate, including six runners from Hong Kong and Macao.

Li Xiaoning, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Nanshan District Committee and District Mayor of Nanshan District, provided specifics on the Shenzhen leg of the route.

The 20.345-kilometer section, comprising 48.2% of the total race distance, is entirely located within Nanshan District. The course runs north-to-south along Shahe West Road and Wanghai Road, passing iconic Shenzhen landmarks such as the Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint, Shenzhen Bay Park, Talent Park, the Dasha River Ecological Corridor, and the Hi-tech Park. The route is designed to showcase the area’s achievements in Shenzhen-Hong Kong integration, innovation, ecological conservation, and urban management.

The district aims to convert the “traffic” from the sports event into a tangible “increase” in cultural and tourism consumption. The initiatives include offering a diverse menu of cultural, sports, and tourism activities.

To ensure the smooth and safe execution of the marathon on the morning of Nov. 15, temporary traffic control measures will be implemented on several roads in Nanshan. Furthermore, the Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint will suspend all passenger and cargo clearance services from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m. that day.

The public is advised to avoid the immediate race area and use alternative routes. Those with essential cross-border travel needs are encouraged to use the Liantang, Huanggang, or Wenjindu checkpoints instead, adhering to their respective operating hours.