Shanghai and Jiangsu integration boosts sports-tourism development

The 2026 Chinese Athletics Association 10KM Elite Series Shanghai Jing'an is set to begin at 7:30 am on March 22 at Daning Park in Jing'an district.

As a premier CAA Class A1 road race and Shanghai's inaugural national 10K series event, it leverages the Yangtze River Delta integration strategy to strengthen Shanghai-Jiangsu ties and create a model for cross-regional sports-tourism integration.

Co-hosted by the CAA, Jing'an district sports bureau, and Daning Function Zone committee, the race has an entry cap of 4,800 participants, with 4,500 in the 10K category and 300 in the family run. Since registration opened, 38,021 runners from 25 countries have signed up. Jiangsu-based athletes make up 15 percent of out-of-town participants, forming the largest provincial group.

Among international runners, those from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United States, and Germany are prominent.

"Hosting China's highest-standard 10K elite race in Jing'an in 2026 not only showcases the CAA's confidence in Jing'an's ability to host such events but also aims to enhance the integration of culture, sports, business, and tourism in the region, empowering high-quality urban development," Liu Mingming, director of the Jing'an district sports bureau, said.