SANYA, China, Dec. 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 7th Hainan (Sanya) Marathon got underway at 7:00 a.m. local time on December 28 from the South Gate of the Sanya Beauty Crown. The event drew athletes from 19 countries and regions worldwide, as well as participants from all 34 provinces and provincial-level regions across China, bringing the field to 14,000 runners. Nearly 68 percent of participants traveled from outside the Hainan Free Trade Port to compete.
Running as Discovery: Where Tropical Landscapes Meet Local Character
This year's race retained its signature course design, starting at the South Gate of the Sanya Beauty Crown, with the full marathon finishing at Sanya Bay Coastal Park and the half marathon at Tianya Haijiao Scenic Area. The route wove through Sanya's coastal urban core. Alongside the individual full and half marathon races, the event included team competitions and a "Running Hand-in-Hand to Tianya Haijiao" couples category. Total award funds exceeded 500,000 yuan, distributed across six categories for individual placements, course records, Hainan Free Trade Port-based athletes, couples, teams, and other notable performances.
Extensive safety measures were in place, featuring 253 medical staff, 100 automated external defibrillator (AED) units, 26 ambulances, and three designated hospitals, forming a three-tier system of fixed medical posts, mobile patrols, and route coverage. More than 3,500 personnel managed security and race operations, supported by hydration stations and mobile facilities along the course.
Building a Connected Sports Community
Digital engagement was a central feature of this year's marathon. The organizer issued 30,000 limited-edition digital commemorative medals, each secured by blockchain technology, offering participants a permanent, verifiable record. Runners could claim their medals through Alipay's Jingtan and Ledongli services. An accompanying virtual race was also hosted on Alipay, DingTalk, and Amap, generating an average of 4 million daily impressions and attracting over 27,000 participants, linking physical competition with digital participation.
Yang Yong, General Manager of Events and Commercialization at event partner Orange Lion Sports (formerly Alibaba Sports), said, "The marathon supports Hainan's growth as an international tourism and consumer destination. By connecting resources across the Alibaba ecosystem, we broadened the event's reach and brought together a global community of runners—both on the ground and online—through integrated digital experiences. Together, we celebrated running and reinforced Sanya's appeal as a sports and tourism destination."
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Global Runners Gather on Scenic Seaside Route at the 2025 Hainan (Sanya) Marathon
HANOI, Vietnam, Dec. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- British University Vietnam (BUV) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), under China's Ministry of Education, aimed at strengthening cooperation in education and academic exchange between Vietnam and China.
The agreement was signed by Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of BUV, and Xia Jianhui, Deputy Director of CSCSE. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, CSCSE, and BUV.
Expanding cross-border education cooperation
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration focused on international talent mobility, study-abroad support, and academic exchange within Asia. Under the agreement, the two institutions will work together to support students from China and other Asian countries through preparatory programs designed to strengthen academic readiness, language proficiency, and cultural understanding prior to enrollment in degree programs at BUV.
The partnership also provides opportunities for students to access innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, including China-based platforms and academic competitions. In addition, BUV students may participate in "Study in China" programs and short-term exchanges. The agreement also seeks to facilitate degree recognition and verification to support academic and professional mobility across borders.
As part of the cooperation, CSCSE will expand its outreach activities in Asia, with BUV supporting the promotion of "Study in China" initiatives and hosting education-related events in Vietnam.
According to Xia Jianhui, Vietnam is becoming an increasingly relevant destination for Chinese students seeking internationally oriented education within the region. He said the partnership with BUV is intended to provide students with additional study pathways while supporting bilateral educational cooperation.
Professor Rick Bennett said the agreement reflects BUV's intention to expand regional academic partnerships. He noted that combining CSCSE's study-abroad services network with BUV's British-accredited programs could broaden access to international education opportunities for students across Asia.
Quality assurance and degree recognition
CSCSE, which operates under China's Ministry of Education, supports international academic exchange, overseas study services, and qualification verification for Chinese students.
BUV has previously been recognized by China's Ministry of Education as an accredited foreign university and is listed on CSCSE's official platform. As a result, degrees awarded by BUV are formally recognized by Chinese authorities. This enables BUV graduates seeking further study or employment in China to verify their qualifications through CSCSE.
BUV stated that this recognition aligns with its Triple Quality Assurance framework, which benchmarks institutional quality at local, national, and international levels. The university is accredited by Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training and has received institutional accreditation from the U.K.'s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). BUV also maintains a QS 5-Star rating across multiple categories.
Regional education pathways
Recent changes in major study-abroad destinations such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, including higher tuition fees and stricter visa requirements, have prompted some students to consider alternative education pathways within Asia. Transnational education models, such as British-accredited programs delivered in Vietnam, offer regional options with international recognition.
BUV was established in 2009 as a foreign-invested university and partners with U.K. institutions to deliver British degree programs. These include University of London programs with academic direction from the London School of Economics and Political Science. In 2025, BUV was designated an International Partner of the University of London.
According to publicly available estimates, the cost of completing a three-year University of London degree in the U.K. can exceed US$170,000, including tuition and living expenses. BUV said the same qualification completed in Vietnam typically involves lower overall costs, partly due to reduced tuition and living expenses.
Yinglu Guo, a student from Shenzhen currently studying at BUV, said the program offered an opportunity to pursue a British degree while remaining closer to home.
BUV has also received international recognition related to student experience and admissions processes. The university is located within the Ecopark township near Hanoi and operates a campus with sustainability certification, on-campus services, and student support facilities.
BUV said it will continue to expand partnerships with international institutions and invest in academic programs and infrastructure as part of its long-term development strategy.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
BUV partners with Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange to support Asian talent mobility
