Some 800 runners, all clad with fluorescent lights, joined the sixth Shining Run kicked off a few days ago at the National Xixi Wetland Park. It was a night-time sporting event.

The Shining Run happened to be hosted on the Qixi, or the Chinese-version Valentine’s Day in traditional calendar. The trail as a loop starts from the Creek City, extending along the Fudi Causeway through the wetlands, Wen’er West Road and Zijingang Road, and finally back to the start point. 

“This is the route to travel around the wetlands, and I got a jump on it,” said Weiwei, one of the runners. She mentioned that the loop would run herself through a pristine tapestry of greens as well as the folk customs that have remained for a millennium. 

Sculling Boat Ride is another way to access the wetlands. It allows you to enjoy a dinner on the waters while evening falls, and the oar-driven boat glides quietly into the winding waterway, leading you into a real-life “Wizard of Oz“  adventure.

As the sun sets, you may also choose the helium balloon for a bird’s eye view over the whole wetlands as it slowly rises. “Watching in a height of a hundred meters with family or friends is so romantic, “said Xu, a white-collar lady in Hangzhou. Taking the night balloon has become a popular event among tourists since it was officially launched in late July. The day of Qixi alone has witnessed hundreds of people flocking to experience it.

Any way to watch a nice show while still in the nature? Come here to enjoy the live show “With Xixi Tonight”. “We’ve made updates with some more events, like national-costume dance, dating boxes, dating games, riverside prayers, etc. for young couples. They can also find NPCs to engage with,” said the show manager Xu Hao. The updates have led to a rise of audience population by 50%. The head account of more than 1,600 visitors was the record high for a single day on the Qixi day.