Some 900 athletes and residents from over 20 nations participated in a stair climbing race at the Shanghai World Financial Center yesterday.

　　The race known as the “vertical marathon” at the city’s second tallest building (following the Shanghai Tower) is 474 meters tall with 100 floors. Some 300 professional athletes and 600 local residents took part in the event.

　　The winner Ou Jiajing from Shenzhen broke the record by reaching the top of the building within 17 minutes.

　　“It is more challenging to climb the skyscraper than running a marathon and I just want to challenge myself,” he said.

　　He was awarded a gold bar worth 10,000 yuan by the center. It is a tradition for Chinese people to climb during the Chongyang Festival that falls on Wednesday this year. The center has held the event for five years.