550 Running Group uses island’s beauty for race
Print Edition
RUNNING on winding roads in the countryside, inhaling fresh air and enjoying enchanting scenery along the way can be a very fun way to keep healthy and fit on Chongming Island. The eco-island offers plenty of reasons to say farewell to the concrete jungle of downtown and enter the green world at the mouth of the Yangtze River.
One recent early morning, Luhua Town in southwest Chongming became bustling with people. With the starting gun, nearly 600 runners from 550 Running Group started a half-marathon at 10am on October 12. The amateur runners came from many cities, including Beijing, Dalian, Qingdao and Nanchang.
Covering 21 kilometers, the half-marathon went through many scenic areas in Luhua. Starting at a big lawn by Mingzhu Lake, the runners traversed Sanhua Road, crossed the Xisha Wetland and ran back to Mingzhu Lake. Zhou Qixiang, who finished in one hour, 17 minutes, 59 seconds, won the men’s race. He will join the half-marathon held at Angkor Wat in Cambodia on December 7.
A 7.2-kilometer circuit at Mingzhu Lake also attracts many running fans.
“It is so enjoyable to run through the countryside with trees along the roads and lakes. Some villagers cheered for us,” says Zhang Tinghui who was the women’s winner. “Moreover, the blacktop roads don’t hurt my knees.”
Organized by 550 Running Group, which was established last year and supported by the Luhua town government, this half-marathon was the first of the group’s countryside marathon series.
“Running all over the 100 most beautiful villages in China has always been my dream,” says Helen Li, founder of 550 Running Group. “Many marathons are held in the cities. I want to take the runners out into nature and let them relax in the greenery.”
Aiming at building a healthy lifestyle, the 550 Running Group was established by Li and a small bunch of EMBA students who are busy with work and have little time to do exercises. Li used to start running at 5:50 every morning. More and more people joined the group. Now, the 550 groups are popular in many cities in China and in the United States, Japan and Australia. Every day at 5:50am in Shanghai, the 550 group starts a new day at the No. 2 Gate of Century Park.
“No place is better than Chongming Island to hold a marathon in this pleasant weather in Shanghai,” says Li. “The eco-island’s roads, air and scenery attract us to compete.”
As one of the most beautiful towns on Chongming Island, Luhua turns to a golden sea with a calm lake, tangarine groves, cornfields and villages. Renowned as the “West Lake in Chongming,” Mingzhu Lake is the biggest lake in Shanghai at 200 hectares. In the park, there are more than 50 kinds of trees, including magnolia gradiflora, dawn redwood and gingko. With thriving grass, flowers and natural vegetation, together with rivers, the natural environment creates a good place for birds.
Now is the season to try crabs and tangerines. Despite their reputation of being “black and small,” Chongming hairy crabs are gaining popularity in the market as they are plump with tasty roe and delicate meat. With a bright cyan back, white abdomen, golden claws and dense yellow hair, these crabs are seriously tasty. You can also try tangerines grown on the island.
How to get there:
By driving: Baoyang Pier — Chongming South Gate — Ximen Road — Limin Road —Chenhai Road — Sanhua Road — Xinjian Road — Luhua Town
Changjiang Tunnel-Bridge Expressway — Chenhai Road — Sanhua Road — Xinjian Road — Luhua Town
By bus: Shenchong No. 3 line starts from Wenshui Road in Puxi’s Zhabei District. Shenchong No. 6 line starts from Jufeng Road in Pudong. The terminal station is South Gate Pier.
By ferry: Take Metro Line 3 to Baoyang Road Pier for the ferry — every half an hour from 6:30am to 5:30pm.
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