Rooftop racetrack built in Hangzhou

The municipal government in Zhejiang's capital, Hangzhou, is taking physical fitness to new heights, building a new running track on a rooftop.

Photo shows an overview of a running track on a rooftop in Hangzhou.[Photo: n.cztv.com]

The plastic track, built on top of an exhibition hall in southern Hangzhou, has 4 lanes, with 3 of which are for runners, while the other is a cool-down lane and for those who prefer to walk.

Some of the lanes are sloped, while others are flat, with the track's designers suggesting they didn't want to scare off people who may find it physically challenging to run on a slope.

Two runners tackle the sloping section of a rooftop racetrack in Hangzhou.[Photo: n.cztv.com]

Photo shows the sloping section of a rooftop racetrack in Hangzhou. [Photo: n.cztv.com]

The new running track is part of a new sports park in Hangzhou's West Lake District. Apart from the track, the 20,000-square-meter park also features two small football pitches, a roller skating venue and other workout equipment.

A pair of people run on a new rooftop track in Hangzhou. [Photo: n.cztv.com]

The park is open to the public for free until midnight.

Ma Di, the park's chief architect, is an avid runner.

"Many runners believe running on plastic tracks won't hurt their knees compared to running on solid ground. However, it is boring to run in traditional stadiums. So here I have tried to combine the plastic racetrack with the rest of the park to give people a feeling that they're running in a healthy environment," said Ma.

Photo shows Ma Di, chief architect of a rooftop racetrack in Hangzhou. [Photo: n.cztv.com]

Running has become an increasingly popular activity in China. The number of amateur runners is believed to have surpassed 100 million.

In 2015, a Chinese runner spent 4,000 yuan on average on activities such as marathons, as well as running gear, according to China's General Administration of Sport.

Over 500 marathons have been held across China through this year, a rise of at least 60% compared to 2016.