Two running routes in Wuxi were listed on the "Top 10 Running Routes of Jiangsu Province" at the Runner's World Festival Summit in Nanjing, on April 23.

The first is a 10.05-kilometer route which begins at Lihu Lake in Binhu district. From "The Light of Lihu Lake" on Huanhu Road the route travels to Taihu Avenue, through Lianghu Road, Bogong Islet, Dushan Dike, Ten-li Fragrant Lane, Shuanghong Bridge and finally back to Huanhu Road and Lihu Lake's 120-meter-high fountain.

The popularity of running in Wuxi has risen in recent times, combined with the success of the Wuxi International Marathon, smooth roads and pleasant scenery make for an enjoyable running experience.

This year's marathon attracted a whopping 50,000 applicants vying for a place among 30,000 runners, and as a result more and more running events have been popping up.

In 2015, Wuxi came fourth on the list of China's top marathon destinations, based on opinions of runners and judges, according to Runner's magazine.

Runners cram the streets for the 2016 International Wuxi Marathon. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The second Wuxi running route to be honored at the Runner's World Festival is in Hufu town, Yixing. The 6.3km route begins in a lane beside a quaint tea garden and follows the Youche Reservoir and dam, and another lane along the reservoir, then the county road C206, Tangsheng Highway and Jinhu Road.

Sitting at the intersection of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, Hufu covers an area of 118 square kilometers. It features oxygen enrichment as a health and leisure benefit to attract visitors.

The town is embraced on three sides by green hills and on the other by Taihu Lake. The favorable natural conditions have allowed Hufu's rural tourism to thrive.

The town has attempted to build for visitors a leisure retreat where they can breathe clean air, enjoy the local high quantity of negative oxygen ions, get a taste of farming life, and escape to the country while still feeling at home with well-developed services.

Hufu, Yixing, is embraced on three sides by green hills and on the other by Taihu Lake. [Photo from taihuwang.com]