Participants write messages about health and fitness

Ten thousand people took to the streets of Guangzhou on Saturday to mark the last of China’s World Walking Day activities for 2012, according to Guangdong Satellite Television.

According to People’s Daily online,World Walking Day has been held annually in China since 1992. The event is organized by the State General Administration of Sports (SGAS) and Trim and Fitness International Sport for All Association (TAFISA).

An expert from TAFISA gives a lecture on health and fitness

This year’s events have taken place in 19 Chinese cities, including Wuhan and Harbin; Guangzhou was the last stop.

Activities are organized in major cities throughout the country from May 22 to the end of the year.

This year’s event comes at a time when the fitness of China’s youth is a subject of public debate. Recently, a number of young people have died after taking part in long-distance running events. These include a 21 year-old man who died in hospital two days after running the Guangzhou Marathon, and another runner who died a week after taking part.

Activities at the event included lectures and group singing on the campus of Guangzhou University, and of course, a long walk, according to China Life.