While participants in next week’s Nanjing Marathon will be doing the bulk of the physical exercise, a large proportion of those who commute using the city’s network of public buses each day will also find themselves required to work out a little more than usual.
The 2020 Nanjing Marathon will take place on 29 November, with the race beginning at 07:30 am at the start and finish point that is the east gate of Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre.
This year, the route of the race has been adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the Olympic marathon standard, with the revised route as follows.
Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre (East Gate) – Jiangdong Zhong Lu – Mengdu Da Jie – Fengtai Nan Lu – Yingtian Da Jie – Yuhua Lu – Zhonghua Lu – Baixia Lu – Zhongshan Nan Lu – Zhongshan Lu – Changjiang Lu – Longpan Zhong Lu – Longpan Lu – Huanhu Lu – Xuanwu Men – Shenwu Lu – Zhongyang Lu – Xinmofanma Lu – Mofan Zhong Lu – Mofan Xi Lu – Jiangdong Bei Lu – Jiangdong Zhong Lu – Yingtian Da Jie – Leshan Lu – Jinshajiangxi Jie – Yecheng Lu – Jiangshan Jie – Jiangdong Zhong Lu – Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre (East Gate).
In order to ensure public safety and a successful execution of the event, some 139 bus lines will have their routes temporarily adjusted from 08:00 pm on 28 November, reports Nanjing Daily.
Nanjing has over 300 bus routes in total and so the adjustments for the marathon on almost half of the city’s bus lines are set to impact a good proportion of the travelling public. Those looking for information as to specific routes may find such via this link.
In addition, the Hexi tram line, which has Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre as its terminus, shall completely cease operation from midday on 28 November.
On the day before and after the event as well as event day itself, race marshalls and other Nanjing Marathon staff shall be able to take public transport free of charge upon presentation of their “race work permit” (赛事工作证). Participating athletes may also do so by showing their “number book” (号码簿).
While the organisation of the Nanjing Marathon is undoubtedly textbook China logistics, it has not been without controversy. Last year, runners were perplexed at the portion of the race that took it through Zhonghua Men. While that which is the world’s biggest city gate had its central archway opened up for the occasion, the passageways on either side remained closed, forcing 30,000 runners through a cramped space that could have resulted in significant injury.
