The Year of the Rabbit has got off to a great start in Madrid.

Not even the freezing morning could stop thousands of runners taking over the streets of the Spanish capital as the Lunar New Year Celebrations continued for a second straight weekend.  

People from China, Spain and around 45 other nations ran together in a celebratory atmosphere.

This was the first year since the pandemic that the event could boast complete participation. Last year capacity was reduced under Covid restrictions, while this time around organizers estimated that over 2,000 runners took part.

Bringing Spanish and Chinese cultures together

The 2023 Spring Race turned the iconic Paseo de la Castellana red - the colour of good luck in Chinese tradition - as participants enjoyed a healthy start to the Lunar New Year.

"The idea is to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year together, to bring Spanish and Chinese cultures together," Javier Martinez Candial, 2023 Spring Race director, told CGTN.

"It's the third year of this race. The first was virtual, the last two in person, and it's had a great reception in Madrid. This year we've had a 30 percent rise in participants with a rise in Chinese participation too."

"A big year for Spain and China"

Margaret Chen, the Chinese ambassador for the race, was positive too in the year that the two nations celebrate 50 years of official diplomatic relations.

"This is a very important year for Spain and for us, for the Chinese people living here, we are happy that we are living a very good moment of diplomatic relations. Now it is 50 years and we celebrate it and think it is an important beginning of the rest."

There are a number of events planned this year, including music, cultural events, and special programs for schools at the Madrid Zoo.

Desertification a major threat to Spain

The Madrid Spring Race 2023 also helped raise funds for a worthy cause.

All proceeds go to the non-governmental organization Reforesta, which is raising awareness and attempting to tackle desertification in Spain. 

The Spanish charity has an enormous task on its hands.

According to studies, more than 20 percent of the country already suffers from desertification - the process by which fertile land turns to desert because of drought, deforestation and bad agricultural practices.

The charity is trying to reverse some of the effects by replanting vegetation and trees in vulnerable areas across the country.

And a significant contribution from today's run will help.

Diplomatic milestone

Participants could choose between running 5, 8 or 16 kilometers in a route that passed through Plaza de Colón, Plaza Castilla and near the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Sunday's race also marked the start of a series of organised events to celebrate the half-century of diplomatic relations between China and Spain.

According to Chinese culture, what you do at the beginning of the year will affect your luck for the rest of the year. 

If that's the case, the smiling participants here could be in for a good 2023.