Published : 01/06/2024

On June 1, 1997, the sports community in Mainland China and Hong Kong organised the "1997 Relay Long Run to Celebrate Hong Kong's Return to Motherland" (九七慶回歸香港至北京接力長跑).

This event was one of the celebration activities hosted by both Mainland China and Hong Kong to welcome the return of Hong Kong to the motherland on July 1, 1997.

It was run by the Chinese Athletics Association and the Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates.

At 9:35 a.m. on that day, over 300 representatives from the sports communities of the Mainland China and Hong Kong, led by Chinese triple jumper Zou Zhenxian and Hong Kong martial artist Ng Siu Ching, started the race.

Participants set off from Hong Kong and passed through Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Changsha, Wuhan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Tianjin, and finally arrived in Beijing on June 30.