The 2020 Shanghai Marathon kicked off Sunday morning, with some 9,000 runners participating, much lower than the average of 38,000 runners recorded in the previous years. The event becomes the only Platinum Label Road Race in the world to go on stage amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race started at 7 am from the Bund in Shanghai. The 9,000 runners were divided into three groups that started at different times to follow rules of social distancing. The runners also kept a safe distance from each other at the starting area.

All participants had to submit nucleic acid test negative reports and their health codes, and pass facial recognition before they could enter the event. Photos: Yang Hui/GT