Run for Happy starts in Xiamen

Nearly 4,000 runners sign up for the Run for Happy competition held in Xiamen, Fujian province on Oct 21, including those from Taiwan. [Photo/xmnn.cn]

The annual Run for Happy competition starts in Wuyuanwan Wetland Park, a renowned scenic spot in Xiamen, Fujian province on Oct 21.

Nearly 4,000 runners have signed up for the competition, including those from Taiwan, making it the largest running event to date in the city.

Though Run for Happy is a competition, the event eyes more on happiness and its organizer China Vanke Co, a leading real estate developer, expects each participant to enjoy the attractiveness of running.

Three themed zones were specially established for spectators along the 5.3 kilometer-racing track.

At the sports carnival zone, numerous games were offered, such as Cross Fire, golf experiencing and running through bouncing rings; straw weaving, dough figurine making, paper-cutting, sugar painting and other intangible cultural heritages were showcased at the intangible cultural heritage zone; the exhibition zone displayed the photos showing the city's huge changes since China's reform and opening up four decades ago.

Since being launched in 2013, more than 300 Run for Happy competitions have been organized in 60 cities around China, attended by more than 700,000 runners.