Runners from China and around the world gathered in Shanghai's Pudong New Area on March 15 for the 2026 Shanghai Half Marathon, filling the streets with energy and excitement.

Runners take to the streets as the race gets underway. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Founded in Pudong in 2015, the Shanghai Half Marathon has earned the Gold Label Road Race by World Athletics, signaling its elite status in the competitive running landscape. This year, the event marks its 10th edition in the area, themed "Decade Running Forward", with the 21.09-kilometer course stretching from Lujiazui Financial City to the Qiantan business area.

At the sound of the starting gun, 15,000 runners set off together from the Oriental Pearl Tower (Fenghe Road). The course passes iconic landmarks including Lujiazui Financial City and the Shanghai World Expo site, before finishing at the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center.

Last year, humanoid robots developed in Pudong made their debut at the event, marking a leap from the lab to real-world application. This year, a new lineup of Pudong-developed robots returned to the race, interacting with runners and spectators along the course.

The AgiBot X2 humanoid robot impressed the crowd with its sophisticated martial arts performance, executing precise punches and powerful kicks. Two bionic embodied-intelligence robots from DroidUp took the stage with Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera performances.

A robot performs traditional Chinese opera beneath the Oriental Pearl Tower. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

Other robots developed in Pudong by companies such as Matrix Robotics and Kepler Robotics took on roles ranging from pacers to cheerleaders, adding energy to the race. When asked what message it had for the runners, Matrix Robotics' MATRIX-1 replied in a gentle voice: "Runners of the Shanghai Half Marathon, keep going! Stride forward and enjoy the race — you are the best!"