Course Map
Route based on 2025 course — may differ slightly from this year.
About this Race
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon is one of Asia's most physically demanding city marathons, defined by its long climbs over the Stonecutters and Tsing Ma bridges and its plunge through the Western Harbour Tunnel. The course undulates far more than a typical metropolitan race, combining steep flyovers with the sticky subtropical air of its winter staging. It draws an enormous field through Kowloon and across the harbor in one of the region's marquee events. The bridges and tunnel make even pacing essential, punishing anyone who attacks the early rises. It suits strong, hill-ready runners who want a genuine challenge and a dramatic harbor-spanning route over a fast personal best.
Course Insight
Hong Kong is deceptively brutal for a city marathon: not flat at all, but a course of long highway flyovers, sustained climbs, bridges and tunnels, run in January humidity. Pace the ascents by effort and treat the long enclosed tunnel near the end, where air is thick and GPS drops, as a mental as much as physical test. The elevated sections are exposed and windy. This is a strength runner's race disguised as an urban one. Come expecting honest hills and the difficulty won't blindside you.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to significant climbing (254m), tough late hills.
Course Details
- Course type
- Point-To-Point
- Elevation gain
- 254m
- Elevation loss
- 242m
- Highest point
- 101m
- Lowest point
- 30m
- Net elevation
- +10m
- Start
- Tsim Sha Tsui (Nathan Road)
- Cutoff time
- 6h 0m
Course Records
- Men's
- 2:09:20 — Barnabas Kiptum (Kenya), 2019
- Women's
- 2:26:13 — Volha Mazuronak (Belarus), 2019
Race History
The Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon was first held in 1997, the year of the territory's handover, and grew into one of Asia's most physically demanding city races. Its course of soaring bridges and long tunnels through Kowloon, run in sticky subtropical air, set it apart as a genuine challenge. From a small start it expanded into one of the region's marquee mass events. Held in winter, it now draws tens of thousands of runners across the harbor.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Hong Kong International (HKG), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) & Macau (MFM)
- Best area to stay
- Tsim Sha Tsui for harbourfront hotels near the course, Causeway Bay for proximity to the Victoria Park finish, and Central for upscale stays.
- Getting to the start
- The start is in Tsim Sha Tsui on Nathan Road; take the MTR to Tsim Sha Tsui before dawn, as roads close, with the finish at Victoria Park.