The Qingdao Marathon will get underway on Nov 5, with more than 20,000 runners from 40 countries set to pound the streets of the iconic coastal city.

A press conference for the event was held on Oct 25, with the organizing committee announcing Qingdao-based global white goods manufacturer Haier as the title sponsor.

A representative from Haier Group presents a plaque certifying the company's status as title sponsor for the 2017 Qingdao Marathon at the press conference on Oct 25. [Photo/ dailyqd.com]

"We aim to build the marathon into a new name card for the city within three years, and encourage more people to take part in healthy exercise," said a representative from Haier.

The organizers also announced that the Haier Brothers, the company's two cartoon mascots, will be the official "running ambassadors" for the marathon.

The race route includes almost all the scenic spots of the coastal city, allowing runners to take in Qingdao's picturesque landscape, red-tiled roofs nestled between green hills and blue sea.

The Haier Brothers, the mascots of Haier Group, will act as the "running ambassadors" for the marathon. [Photo/ dailyqd.com]

Organized by the Chinese Athletic Association, CCTV-Sports, Qingdao municipal government, the event's logistics will be provided by the Qingdao sports bureau and Shinan and Laoshan district governments.