The incident occured at the post-finish line area of the Yantai Marathon in Shandong Province, China, on Nov. 1. Videos circulating on social media show a massive crowd surrounding tables that serve fresh seafood.

As soon as the food was brought out, people surged forward. Many grabbed shellfish with their bare hands, and some even brought plastic bags. One of the serving tables was completely knocked over.

A screenshot of people grabbing free seafood after completing the Yantai Marathon on Nov. 1, 2026.

According to Guancha, the organizers were powerless against the crowd and chaos.

"There was no stopping them. People rushed in to grab the food before the pots were even set down, showing no fear of getting burned. This happens every year. No matter how many security guards we add, we just can't control them," the staff member said.

Some reports and videos suggest that local residents who were not participants also joined the feast, leaving many runners who had just completed the marathon unable to get any food. The organizers have yet to officially confirm how many non-participants were involved.

Prior to the event, the post-race seafood feast had been heavily promoted as a key highlight of the Yantai Marathon. The coastal city is renowned for its abundant seafood, and organizers intended to showcase this local specialty to provide runners with a unique experience.

According to initial announcements, the post-finish area was stocked with about 5,000 kg of scallops, 750 kg of black clams, 500 kg of menzi (a local specialty), and 1,000 kg of ginger soup. Four pots were set up to steam the seafood on-site. Runners were also offered steamed buns, sausages and other local delicacies.

Along the race course, organizers set up 18 aid stations stocked with tens of thousands of bananas, 57,000 energy gels, 56,000 electrolyte salt tablets and a variety of other fruits. This was part of an effort to establish the marathon as an event with extensive logistical support.

However, the appeal of the post-race seafood feast quickly became an issue. Pang, the event’s media representative, told Upstream News that the seafood area was an activity organized by a sponsor, not part of the official on-course aid system. Runners were only supposed to access this area after completing post-race procedures, such as receiving cold therapy, stretching and reaching the shuttle bus zone.

Pang noted that a massive crowd of half-marathon participants crossed the finish line at the same time, leading to a number that exceeded expectations. Because the seafood was being prepared continuously rather than served all at once, the organizers were forced to deploy additional staff to manage the flow of people.

 

 

Chinese marathon turned into chaos as thousands swarm post-race seafood buffet

Hỗn loạn vì tranh giành hải sản tại giải marathon Trung Quốc

On Nov. 2, Yonghui Sports, the event operator, issued a public statement apologizing for the incident. They noted that over 5,500 runners finished the race during a frantic 30-minute peak period between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

With each batch of seafood requiring approximately 20 minutes to prepare, it became impossible for the service to keep pace with the sudden influx of hungry participants. Yonghui Sports acknowledged that they had underestimated the runners' demand, despite having prepared a full supply of food a day in advance.

Upon noticing the chaos, organizers implemented emergency measures. They increased the number of security personnel, set up physical barriers, and used loudspeakers to direct the flow of people. According to their statement, order was subsequently restored, and runners who arrived later were still provided with food.

Yonghui Sports also pledged to improve future events by increasing the amount of food preparation, expanding queuing areas, and estimating the number of runners likely to reach the finish line at the same time more accurately.

The incident sparked debate on Weibo. Many users mocked the scramble, arguing that such behavior wildly contradicts the image of a nation that prides itself on a tradition of etiquette.

The debate also extended to questions about community awareness and the use of resources.

"I've heard that the local government is short on funds, yet the supplies provided at the marathon are quite extravagant," a user wrote. "It seems that organizing this marathon is actually a profitable venture."