Ten Thousand Runners Hit the Road in First-ever China Airlines Marathon - Starry Night Run

The Starlight Road Race, the first-ever marathon to be held by China Airlines, a Taiwan-based carrier, kicked off today (10/12) with great fanfare at Dajia River Park in Taipei. The three divisions of Half-Marathon (21km), Casual (10km) and Family Fun (5km) attracted nearly ten thousand local and overseas runners, setting a new domestic record for the highest number of participants in a night-time half-marathon. The China Airlines Marathon also featured a starlight concert and a unique lifestyle market, making this sporting event the first festival of its kind. Treasured memories were created as families and participants of all ages ran together, showing that fitness can be fun.

The starting ceremony for China Airlines Marathon - Starlight Road Race was hosted by Chairman Su-Chien Hsieh and President Shing-Hwang Kao. Administrative Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Kuo-Shian Lin, Director-General Shu-Ping Ho and Deputy Director-General Chun-Liang Lin from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, Director-General Chen-Hua Han from the Department of Navigation and Aviation, Director Ben Huang from International Affairs Division of Tourism Administration, as well as Deputy Commissioner of Department of Sports Pei-Lin Tsai and Deputy Commissioner Chun-Jie Hsiao of Department of Information and Tourism from the Taipei City Government were in attendance at the start of the race. To thank all the runners for their support, China Airlines hosted a lucky draw with tickets to any destination on long-haul and regional routes. Cash prizes of up to TWD 30,000 were also offered for individual winners of races. Runner kits and gift packs for finishing the race contained dozens of items including eSIM usable in multiple countries in Asia, 10% discounts on ride-sharing services, and a range of energy foods. Race accessories were also designed with sustainability in mind. In addition to souvenir shirts made from eco-friendly coffee yarn and membrane-free paper cups, the towels, finisher bags and other merchandise are also reusable. The storage bag in particular doubles as carry-on luggage and the race completion certificate was provided in electronic form. More than a thousand runners participated, showing support for sustainable initiatives.

To promote healthy activities for the general public, the China Airlines Marathon Starlight Party invited Golden Melody Awards winner Cosmos People, popular singer-songwriter 9m88, as well as world champion DJ QuestionMark who represented Taiwan at the Cultural Olympiad in Paris to rock the house with spectacular performances. There were also around 30 stalls featuring exotic cuisine and creative handicrafts for a one-stop food and party experience. This new format for domestic marathons created a festive atmosphere and many runners exclaimed that this was a road race that they will always remember. Special thanks were reserved by China Airlines for all the co-organizer units and the hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers. The carrier invites all runners and sporting enthusiasts participate in the 2025 marathon and join China Airlines in the “Go running, go flying” campaign once more.

China Airlines places importance on sports and is a longtime sponsor of local teams and athletes. The carrier not only helps cultivate rising sports stars but also regularly hosts charity sports workshops to promote health and fitness activities to schoolchildren. In addition to advocating for health and fitness, China Airlines also cares about social inclusion for disadvantaged groups. The China Airlines Marathon offered charity slots in partnership with the Taiwan Vision Defective Road Run Association. Supplies from the day were also shared with disadvantaged families through the Jen Ji Shiang Social Service Institute Taipei City, showing solidarity and support for the local community.

For more information, please visit the China Airlines Marathon website