Course Map
Route based on 2024 course — may differ slightly from this year.
About this Race
The Great Wall Marathon is one of the toughest and most spectacular races in the world, run on and around the ancient Great Wall of China with thousands of steep, uneven stone steps to climb and descend. The brutal terrain makes fast times impossible and beside the point, set amid the unforgettable spectacle of the winding wall and rugged hills. Held in May, it contends with warmth and punishing footing. The wall itself is the reward. It suits adventurous runners who want a bucket-list challenge on one of humanity's great monuments and treat finishing as the achievement.
Course Insight
The Great Wall marathon is one of the toughest anywhere, sending you over thousands of steep, uneven steps along the wall itself in May heat, with brutal climbs and quad-jarring descents. Forget a flat-course time and pace the steps by effort, sparing your legs for the relentless ups and downs. The wall and the scenery are staggering reward. Heat compounds the difficulty. Respect the steps and run within yourself, and the challenge becomes the achievement.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to significant climbing (1215m), tough late hills, lots of turns.
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 1215m
- Elevation loss
- 1225m
- Highest point
- 501m
- Lowest point
- 200m
- Net elevation
- -10m
- Start
- Huangyaguan Great Wall
- Cutoff time
- 8h 0m
Race History
The Great Wall Marathon was first held in 1999, one of the toughest and most spectacular races in the world, run on and around the ancient Great Wall of China with thousands of steep stone steps. Its brutal terrain made fast times impossible and beside the point, set amid an unforgettable spectacle. From its founding it became a bucket-list challenge. Held each May, it draws adventurous runners to the great monument.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Beijing Capital (PEK) and Beijing Daxing (PKX), Tianjin Binhai (TSN)
- Best area to stay
- The Huangyaguan area for proximity to the Wall course, central Beijing for fuller hotels before the transfer, and Tianjin for an alternative city base.
- Getting to the start
- The organisers bus runners from Beijing to the Huangyaguan Great Wall start; board the official coaches, as it's a long transfer to the remote wall.