On this run we will trace the industrialization of Beijing. We will start off at the Grand Canal, which for hundreds of years was the lifeline of the city when there was no production to speak of in the capital. Then we will run through an area which in the 1930s was transformed into Beijing’s industrial zone by the Japanese occupiers.
The changes in this area were, however, nothing compared with what happened to the city after the communist liberation. The Soviet Union built complexes, communal style apartments from the Great Leap Forward, and finally closed hutong production sites (where many of the former workers are still living to this day!) will all show us traces of a time when all of Beijing was a giant production plant.
We will also run through a small forest inside the Temple of Heaven, and finally stand with a well deserved drink in our hands at the Beijing Postcards gallery when we have finished the 12 kilometer course.
This is a historical run but not a race against time. We will finish the route in two hours with a few stops along the way to learn about the historical background of the places we pass. To participate, you need to be able to run at a pace of 9km/hour.
All profit from the Run will be donated to an NGO helping children with cerebral palsy in western China.
Where to start: Qingfeng Park West (Southeast Gate) 庆丰公园西园（东南门）
Cost: 220RMB/person