World's 'happiest' run kicks off in Shanghai

Thousands of runners, professionals and amateurs, today take part in the inaugural Shanghai Color Run. The event at the Oriental Sports Center proved so popular that online registration closed eight minutes after it opened on August 13, leaving thousands frustrated and disappointed. Running with a splash of colors in Pudong is among the 46 activities scheduled for the 2014 Shanghai Tourism Festival, which will run from September 13 to October 6. --photo by Dong Jun

Thousands of runners, professionals and amateurs, today took part in the inaugural Shanghai Color Run.

The event at the Oriental Sports Center proved so popular that online registration closed eight minutes after it opened on August 13, leaving thousands frustrated and disappointed.

The Color Run was created and trademarked by US event producer Travis Snyder, who bills it as "the happiest 5 kilometers on the planet."Runners start with clean, white T-shirts.

After every kilometer and at the end of the run, they shower one another with colored flour, ending up looking like Monet paintings in motion. Professional and amateur runners are invited to participate.

The city is now in the throes of a running craze. The 16,000 slots for the 2014 Shanghai International Marathon were also filled in a matter of hours earlier this month. There are simply more people wanting to participate in organized runs than slots allocated.

Running with a splash of colors in Pudong is among the 46 activities scheduled for the 2014 Shanghai Tourism Festival, which will run from September 13 to October 6.