Shanghai's female runners shine brightly After Dark

As dusk fell on a recent workday in Shanghai, nearly 3,500 women of varying ages from all over the city — having traded office attire for leggings and running shorts — converged on East Nanjing Road, where towering neon billboards glowed with the words: "After Dark Tour 2025".

Taylor Swift's Blank Space pumped out across the sea of people, who laughed, snapped selfies and stretched together in unison, their diverse identities merging into one common entity: women runners.

Organized by sportswear giant Nike, the event followed a 10km route that passed iconic landmarks, including those along The Bund, culminating at Miaojiang Road — a popular area among Shanghai's running community where local enthusiasts regularly gather.