Cross-country race to raise awareness about Great Wall protection

A cross country race will let runners enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Great Wall while raising awareness about protecting the relics.

The Great Wall Cross Country Racing series will be held at 12 different sections of the Great Wall spanning from Shanhai Pass in the east to Jiayu Pass in the west in a space of more than one year.

Runners will be divided into three groups – 50 km, 30 km, and 15 km. Besides, a 5km race is set for children. A total of 50 runners with the best performances in the first 11 legs will compete in the last stop of the series which is to be held in Jiayu Pass, Gansu province, in December 2017.

For each participant's application fee, 29 yuan ($4.4) will be set aside for the protection and maintenance of the Great Wall. The race was launched by the Great Wall Society of China and Fenghou Sports Company.

The first leg of the match will be held on October in the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall in Chengde, Hebei province. Runners can sign up at marathon runners' service app Malamala and other platforms.

Constructed from the third century BC to the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the Great Wall stretches over 21,000 km from the northwestern province of Gansu to North China's Hebei province.

According to statistics of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, about 30 percent of the 6,200 km-section of the wall built in the Ming Dynasty has disappeared, and less than 10 percent is considered well-preserved.