Great Wall Marathon

The Great Wall Marathon, which integrates sections of the Great Wall into its racecourse, fuses natural landscapes with historical landmarks to create a highly distinctive event, offering an unparalleled experience for both participants and spectators. In 2025, China hosted three Great Wall-themed marathons and two more demanding Great Wall trail races - all of which will continue in 2026. If you are interested, you can either take part in the race to experience the one-of-a-kind course or attend the event in person to immerse yourself in the excitement and the athletes’ passion.
 

Established in 1999, the Huangyaguan Great Wall Marathon is widely regarded as one of the most challenging adventure marathons globally and has earned a place as a key event of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). Held annually on the third Saturday of May, the race takes place in the Huangyaguan Great Wall Scenic Area, Jizhou District, Tianjin.
 

Race distance: The event offers three categories: a full marathon (42.195 kilometers / 26.22 miles), a half marathon (21.0975 kilometers / 13.11 miles), and a mini marathon (8.5 kilometers / 5.28 miles).

Start point: Zhengguan Square

2025 event date: May 17, 2025.

Fee: CNY 2,080, including registration fee, competition attire, supplies along the route, and round-trip bus service.

Number of participants: Nearly 2,000 contestants from 59 countries and regions participated in the competition in 2025.

Proposed 2026 event date: May 16, 2026.

Huangyaguan Great Wall

Since its inauguration in 2015, the Huairou Great Wall Marathon has garnered immense popularity among runners all over the world. Its route encompasses three of Huairou District’s most scenic spots: Yanqi Lake, Hongluo Temple, and Mutianyu Great Wall. The final 5 kilometers (3 miles) of the full marathon consist of a continuous uphill stretch known as the “Hero Slope.” Furthermore, robots have been incorporated into the event, accompanying runners in the final stretch and providing supplies along the way. A milestone upgrade came in 2025, when the Zayed Charity Run made its Chinese debut, further elevating the event’s international standing.
 

Mutianyu Great Wall

Race distance: The event includes a full marathon (42.195 kilometers / 26.22 miles), a half marathon (21.0975 kilometers / 13.11 miles), a 10-kilometer (6.21-mile) run, as well as family runs, runs for athletes with disabilities, and robot runs.

Start point: West Gate of Beijing Yanqi Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center.

2025 event date: September 20 - 21, 2025.

Fees: CNY 180 for full marathon; CNY 120 for half marathon

Number of participants: The 2025 event attracted nearly 15,000 runners from 26 countries and regions.

Proposed 2026 event date: September 20, 2026.
 

Jiayuguan, renowned as the “First Great Pass under Heaven,” served as a pivotal transportation hub along the ancient Silk Road. The Jiayuguan Great Wall Marathon, inaugurated in 2023, is themed around Great Wall culture, with its route traversing multiple iconic landmarks within the city. Owing to its distinctive regional cultural elements and innovative course design, the event has rapidly garnered widespread acclaim among participants and has emerged as a must-participate marathon for runners both domestically and internationally.
 

Jiayuguan Pass

Race distance: The event features three categories: a full marathon (42.195 kilometers / 26.22 miles), a half marathon (21.0975 kilometers / 13.11 miles), plus health runs and family runs.

Start Point: South of Xiongguan Square, Jiayuguan City

2025 event date: June 15, 2025.

Fees: CNY 120 for full marathon; CNY 100 for half marathon; CNY 60 for health runs and family runs

Number of participants: The 2025 edition drew 8,000 runners.

Proposed 2026 event date: June 21, 2026.
 

As one of the outdoor sports series in Yanqing, Beijing, this event launched in 2023. The route links Badaling’s rich cultural and tourism resources, with the start and finish lines situated at Badaling Great Wall and Badaling Remnant Great Wall, respectively. It passes through the tree-shaded Badaling National Forest Park, and the course encompasses diverse terrain, majestic Great Wall sections, nature-rich forest trails, and primitive dirt roads, allowing runners to fully admire the Great Wall’s grandeur while soaking in natural beauty.
 

Badaling Great Wall

Race distance: Five categories are available: the 45 km (27.96 mi) General's Patrol Challenge, 30 km (18.64 mi) Defender's Trail, 20 km (12.43 mi) Defender's Trail, 10 km (6.21 mi) Scout's Sprint, and 6 km (3.73 mi) Scout's Sprint.

Start point: Badaling Great Wall

2025 event date: April 19 - 20, 2025.

Fees:

Number of participants: Nearly 2,000 domestic and international athletes.

Proposed 2026 event date: To be announced.
 

The inaugural Jinshanling Great Wall 100 km (62.14 miles) International Trail Race took place successfully from October 14 to 15, 2023. Its route traversed the core section of Jinshanling Great Wall and the Yanshan Mountains, enabling participants to marvel at the Great Wall’s grandeur and ancient allure, as well as the rolling peaks of the Yanshan range. The Great Wall segment of the course included iconic features such as passes and watchtowers. Jinshanling Great Wall, known for its intricate structure and dense watchtowers, coupled with the undulating terrain, presented a significant challenge to runners.
 

In 2025, the Golden Trail World Series added Jinshanling as a stop, making it the only Chinese venue among the series’ eight global stations.
 

Race distance: The event offers five competition categories: the 50 km (31.07 mi) group, the 24 km (14.91 mi) Elite Division‌, the 22 km (13.67 mi) Open Division‌, the 13 km (8.08 mi) group, and the youth group.

Start point: Jinshanling Great Wall

2025 event date: April 26, 2025.

Fees: CNY 658 for 50 km (31.07 mi) group; CNY 318 for 22 km (13.67 mi) Open Division‌; CNY 218 for 13 km (8.08 mi) group and the youth group.

Number of participants: The event attracted over 2,500 athletes from 53 countries and regions worldwide.

Proposed 2026 event date: To be announced.
 

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