Shenzhen Ping An Finance Center Vertical Marathon Starts the New Year at the Top of the Bay Area

Shenzhen Ping An Finance Center Vertical Marathon Starts the New Year at the Top of the Bay Area

On January 11, 2025, Shenzhen hosted its first international sports event of 2025 — the “2025 Shenzhen Ping An Finance Center Vertical Marathon.” Thousands of participants from around the world gathered at the Ping An Finance Center to tackle the 599-meter ascent.

“Breaking records” is the theme of this year’s race! Ryoji Watanabe from Japan not only broke his personal best but also set a new record for the fastest time in five years at the Ping An Finance Center Vertical Marathon, claiming the men’s championship with a time of 19:24. Tea Faber from Croatia won the women’s championship with a time of 22:44. Wai Ching Soh and Fabio Ruga secured second and third place in the men’s category, while Chinese athletes Huang Fei and Zhu Qing took second and third place in the women’s category.

To mark the beginning of the new year, the event featured a “Pacesetter” ceremony, where a mascot representing good fortune for the Year of the Snake was thrown to participants. Those who caught the mascot became the “Pacesetters,” leading the race with hopes of achieving outstanding results.

In an effort to promote fitness for all, the event included not only TWA professional vertical marathon athletes but also public and team categories. Participants included the general public, Shenzhen’s Police, Traffic Police, Firefighters, Business schools, and Running groups from 11 cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

As one of the co-organizers, Ping An China donated 300 footballs to Hope Primary Schools as part of the event and expressed their commitment to supporting the education of children in underprivileged areas. This race combined citywide fitness with social philanthropy, infusing Shenzhen with renewed vitality and hope.