Integrating natural and urban scenery, the Yixing Marathon features one of the most beautiful marathon courses in the world. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Registration for the 2020 Yixing International Marathon opened on Dec 27 and will close at 5 pm on Mar 10.

The marathon will be held on April 5 in Yixing, Jiangsu province, the hometown of purple clay. The marathon routes pass through many scenic spots and historical landmarks, including Tuanjiu Lake, Dongjiu Lake, and Longbeishan Forest Park.

Race organizers have increased the maximum number of participants to 17,000, with 5,000 spots reserved for both the full-marathon and mini-marathon, and 7,000 reserved for the half-marathon. Participants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Races will be able to admire many scenic spots and historical landmarks of Yixing on the way. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

This will be the third time Yixing has hosted the race. Participants will be able to pick up their race pack before the race quickly using facial recognition technology. People can also find information about the marathon on its official WeChat mini program.

Li Qiuyu, vice mayor of Yixing, said he wanted the Yixing Marathon to serve as a platform for showcasing the city's beauty and promoting its modern and international image to the world.