The 2024 Hangzhou International Trailwalk Event kicks off on Oct 27 with 15,000 participants. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The 2024 Hangzhou International Trailwalk Event kicked off on Oct 27 with 15,000 participants gathering at Qianjiang Century Park for a fitness spurt along the scenic Qiantang River.

The event encourages a healthy lifestyle and builds on the post-Asian Games fitness momentum, helping solidify Hangzhou's status as a sporty city.

This year's festival once again partnered with the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival, blending culture and sports. The festival mascots Lele and The Destined One from Black Myth: Wukong led the "animated" parade and created a lively and culturally rich atmosphere.

Participants enjoyed interactive stations and themed paths along the route, with amenities like medal engraving and post-event stretching services at the finish line. Custom gifts for participants only added to the excitement.

In line with a green ethos, this year's event adopted zero-waste initiatives like replacing paper booklets with digital guides and offering smart check-ins. A new livestream feature allowed even more fitness enthusiasts to join virtually.

Lele, mascot of the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival, interacts with a participant. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]