"Virtue Leads the World, Success Follows the Run." On the morning of November 26, the 2017 Changde LiuYe Lake International Marathon commenced with a gunshot. Tens of thousands of runners from 11 countries and regions ran enthusiastically along the scenic LiuYe Lake, creating a joyous marathon celebration shared by thousands. Two runners on the course immediately caught everyone’s eye with their costume portrayal of the "Liu Hai Chopping Wood" legend. Performing classic scenes at the very origin of the story—Changde’s LiuYe Lake—they attracted numerous spectators to watch and take photos, adding a delightful highlight to the race.
Two actors from the Huagu Opera Protection Center of Dingcheng District, Changde, appeared in the classic costumes of "Liu Hai Chopping Wood," waving a banner that read "The Romantic Land of Liu Hai Chopping Wood, Welcome to LiuYe Lake." They became ambassadors for their hometown's LiuYe Lake and for Changde’s Huagu opera, serving as one of the standout moments of this "DeMa" (Changde Marathon).
At around 8:30 a.m. on November 26, the 2017 Changde LiuYe Lake International Marathon started with a gunshot.
Tens of thousands of runners from 11 countries and regions ran passionately along the scenic LiuYe Lake, staging a joyous marathon celebration shared by thousands.
The moment the men's full marathon champion, Abdi Asefa Kebede, crossed the finish line.
The moment the women's full marathon champion, Betelhem Haji Serb, crossed the finish line.
Two actors from the Huagu Opera Protection Center of Dingcheng District, Changde, appeared in the classic costumes of "Liu Hai Chopping Wood," waving a banner that read "The Romantic Land of Liu Hai Chopping Wood, Welcome to LiuYe Lake." They became ambassadors for their hometown's LiuYe Lake and for Changde’s Huagu opera, serving as one of the standout moments of this "DeMa."
The 2017 Changde LiuYe Lake International Marathon featured three race categories: a full marathon (42.195 km), a half marathon (21.0975 km), and a mini marathon (approximately 6 km). At around 8:30 a.m., tens of thousands of runners set off in succession from the LiuYe Lake Tourist Distribution Center. The full marathon finish line was located at the LiuYe Lake Tourist Service Center, the half marathon finish line at Baihe Town, and the mini marathon finish line at Liuxi Road. The charming scenery and fresh air along LiuYe Lake also provided participants with a refreshing physical and mental experience.
Throughout the marathon course, athletes showcased their individuality. Two performers from the Huagu Opera Protection Center of Dingcheng District, Changde, signed up for the mini marathon. Dressed in the classic attire of "Liu Hai Chopping Wood," they performed excerpts from the nearly thousand-year-old local folk love legend on the course, highlighting Changde’s deep cultural heritage. "I’ve always loved sports. When I found out the marathon was taking place in our hometown, Changde’s LiuYe Lake, Yi Xi and I immediately thought of using the classic love story of 'Liu Hai Chopping Wood' to express our love for our hometown," said Wu Enyu, who played Hu Jiejie. The legendary love tale of Liu Hai Chopping Wood, familiar to many, takes place right by Changde’s LiuYe Lake. They took this opportunity to showcase the beautiful and romantic LiuYe Lake to friends across the country, and they warmly welcomed everyone to visit and explore Changde’s LiuYe Lake.
Even the "girlfriend of Lu Han" showed up to join in the fun. A young woman wearing a T-shirt that read "I’m actually Lu Han’s girlfriend" and holding a banner that said "Lu Han, I’m waiting for you by LiuYe Lake!" ran in the mini marathon.
Runners sprinting along the marathon course.
A wonderful performance by the Changde City Han Opera Gaoqiang Protection Center, showcasing art with distinct Changde characteristics, allowed athletes to catch a glimpse of the city’s charm.
The award ceremony for the women's full marathon.
The award ceremony for the men's full marathon.
At around 10 a.m., the full marathon finish line gradually buzzed with excitement as tens of thousands of spectators cheered, applauded, and shouted in anticipation of the victors’ arrival. After an intense competition, Ethiopian runner Abdi Asefa Kebede crossed the finish line first with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 58 seconds, winning the men's full marathon championship. Tanzanian runner Betelhem Haji Serb finished in 2 hours, 41 minutes, and 34 seconds to claim the women's full marathon title. Kenyan runner BONFACE FUNDI NJIRU won the men's half marathon with a net time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 17 seconds, while Ethiopian runner GEREMEW MELKITU WORKNEH took the women's half marathon crown with a net time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 15 seconds.
An aerial view of the 2017 Changde LiuYe Lake International Marathon, where the running athletes resembled a vibrant, energetic dragon.
Xu Weijie, an 18-year-old one-armed runner nicknamed "Leopard Xiao Jie" born in 1999, completed the half marathon.
The 2017 Changde LiuYe Lake International Marathon was organized by the Chinese Athletics Association, the Hunan Provincial Sports Bureau, and the People’s Government of Changde City. It was hosted by the Hunan Provincial Athletics Sports Management Center, the Changde Municipal Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, News, and Publication, and the Changde Economic Construction Investment Group Co., Ltd., with operation and promotion by Zhimei Sports and event execution by Yufeng Sports. The "DeMa" aimed to highlight Changde’s unique features, promoting the city’s beautiful "three mountains and three waters" landscape through comprehensive media coverage. The race let all participants experience Changde’s stunning green mountains, clear waters, and rich historical culture via its most beautiful lakeside route, embodying the "DeMa" spirit of "Virtue Leads the World, Success Follows the Run" for athletes and spectators alike.
Scenic images of LiuYe Lake
The event strives to establish the Changde Marathon as a signature "one city, one product" event within five years, promoting Changde’s cultural landscapes, local customs, and historical legacy to the nation and the world through the marathon. The "DeMa" course is a professional marathon route built around LiuYe Lake—smooth, comfortable, and uniquely distinctive. Following the 2016 marathon, it has already earned the reputation of being the most beautiful PB (personal best) course.
Runners participating in the 2017 Changde LiuYe Lake International Marathon racing along the beautiful lakeside route.
Sailing boats on LiuYe Lake
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Changde, historically known as Wuling or Langzhou and nicknamed "Willow City," is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Hunan Province and a sub-provincial center city. Located in northern Hunan, west of Dongting Lake on the southern bank of the Yangtze River and at the foot of the Wuling Mountains, it has been historically referred to as the "throat of Sichuan and Guizhou, gateway to Yunnan and Guizhou." It is an important city in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Dongting Lake Ecological Economic Circle.
The name of Changde City originates from Laozi’s saying, "Be the stream of the world, and virtue will never depart." Historical stories such as "Liu Hai Chopping Wood," "Meng Jiangnu Crying at the Great Wall," and Tao Yuanming’s "Peach Blossom Spring" have infused the city’s over 2,000-year history with romanticism, giving rise to Changde’s unique "Shande Culture" (Culture of Virtue).
LiuYe Lake earned its name because its overall shape resembles a willow leaf. Covering a water area of 21.8 square kilometers, it is hailed as China’s No. 1 urban lake. Historically described as "willow-draped embankments, fishing songs, and pine-scented breezes all reaching the utmost in beauty," it is now praised as "a treasure of Hunan, a marvel of Changde."
LiuYe Lake Tourist Resort boasts unique resource advantages, making it one of the few comprehensive tourist resorts in China that integrates "mountains, water, countryside, and city." With profound cultural heritage, it is one of the birthplaces of Chu culture and the hometown of Yang Sichang, the Chief Grand Secretary in the late Ming Dynasty, the great Qing Dynasty painter Kun Can, and Liu Fugi, the strategist behind the Wuchang Uprising. Many notable figures such as Qu Yuan and Liu Yuxi left their footprints here and composed widely celebrated literary works. Numerous myths and legends originated here, including those of Chang’e Flying to the Moon, Houyi Shooting the Suns, and Liu Hai Chopping Wood.
LiuYe Lake is an excellent base for outdoor sports. It has built international-standard water sports venues and golf courses, a 42-kilometer lakeside route, and ten high-standard iconic tourism projects around the lake. It has successfully hosted a series of major events such as the "Asian Canoe Sprint Championships," "Pan-Dongting Lake Dragon Boat Championship," "China Short Course Car Rally," "Golf Elite Invitational," and "Greater Western Hunan Bicycle Race," earning widespread recognition as "one of the best natural sports fields."
Text and photos / Pan Jinglin, Zhu Jiasi, Huang Shuwen, Lu Mi, Liu Song