The 2025 Hangzhou Dream Town Half Marathon kicks off on March 30 in Yuhang district. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The 2025 Hangzhou Dream Town Half Marathon kicked off on March 30 in Yuhang district, bringing together 10,000 runners to experience the energy of the city's emerging innovation hub.

Participants raced through scenic routes lined with cherry blossoms, passing key landmarks, while also running through the rapidly developing world-class central axis of Hangzhou.

Since its inception in 2018, the marathon has attracted over 200,000 runners from 20 countries and regions. Nearly 80 percent of the participants were young people, reflecting the dynamic spirit of Yuhang, home to thousands of startups led by entrepreneurs born in the 1980s, 1990s and through to the 2000s.

Technology played a significant role in this year's event, with autonomous vehicles handling logistics, drones monitoring the race and an intelligent command center overseeing operations in real-time.

Unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs provided real-time surveillance of the course, allowing for quick medical responses and emergency alerts.

Ufly Tech used drones and 3D modeling technology to map the course in advance, optimizing medical stations and aid points. In addition, intelligent delivery robots from Cainiao – the logistics arm of China's e-commerce behemoth Alibaba – ensured the strategic distribution of water and energy supplements along the route.

Aerial photography drones also captured the best moments of the participants, with Olympic badminton champion Li Lingwei testing out the technology and praising its seamless tracking capabilities.

The marathon also offered a preview of Hangzhou's future, with plans for landmark skyscrapers, an international sports center and a vibrant tech corridor. More than just a race, it showcased the city's transformation into being a global innovation powerhouse.