The 2025 Shanghai Marathon is set to begin on Sunday with a record-breaking 356,589 pre-registrations, the event organizers announced in a news conference on Tuesday.

Participants run during the 2024 Shanghai Marathon in Shanghai, east China, Dec. 1, 2024. (Photo by Chen Haoming/Xinhua)

As the first marathon in China to be recognized as one of the prestigious World Athletics Platinum Label Road Races, this year's race will start at 7 am, following the wheelchair marathon which will commence at 6:45 am, leading the event. To date, it has attracted 43 elite athletes, including 18 international racers, nine Platinum Label and nine Gold Label athletes. Among domestic runners, over 30 leading Chinese marathoners, including Wu Xiangdong, Feng Peiyou, Zhang Deshun, and Xia Yuyu, have confirmed their participation.

Last year, the Shanghai Marathon introduced the wheelchair marathon category. This year, it has seen a rise in popularity, expanding to 19 participants. In addition to seven domestic elite wheelchair athletes, 12 international elite wheelchair athletes have been invited for the first time.

Runners can collect their race kits from Thursday to Saturday, between 9:30 am and 7:30 pm, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center. Participants must book a time slot in advance via the Shanghai International Marathon website or app and bring their ID for verification to collect their race kits.

The race kit includes essential items, as well as gifts, such as cooling sleeves made from recycled water bottles collected during the 2024 event.