Great Wall Marathon, Half & 8.5K 2024

The Terracotta Army – 20th – 22nd May (3 Days)

Visit the bustling city of Xi’an – home to the famed terracotta sculptures, an expansive city wall, and more. Travel from Beijing to Xi’an on the famous Bullet Train, a sleek and long airplane-shaped high-speed train, which travels up to 300km per hour. Stay at the Grand Dynasty Hotel, located right at the edge of the distinctive Muslim Quarter in Xi’an.

Prices from £785

Avatar Mountains – 20th – 22nd May (6 Days)

See otherworldly rock formations, caves, and mountains – including the mountains that inspired the movie Avatar! The next chapter of your journey through China starts with an evening flight from Beijing to Zhangjiajie in China’s Hunan province. Upon arrival in Zhangjiajie, we will drive directly our 4-star hotel for check-in. From here you will explore the Tianmen mountains. Full itinerary available before booking.

Prices from £1790

The Great Wall Marathon 2024

For international participants, race entry is only possible in conjunction with a multi-day tour package. The packages include all the ingredients for a fantastic getaway: accommodation, social events, sightseeing, and select meals and transportation per the itinerary. Packages also generally include ample amounts of free time, during which you can choose to join organized excursions or explore the region at your own pace. Enjoy the sights and sounds of modern Beijing, discover one of the world’s oldest civilizations and the cultural legacy of ancient dynasties, and run the most challenging race of your life at The Great Wall Marathon!

Our Two Tour Package options

If you want to stay closer to the race venue and get a taste of China outside the great metropolis, have a look at the 6-day option. It’s the more relaxed tour option as your Jizhou base is closer to the Great Wall. If you want to spend all nights in Beijing, have a look at the 7-day itinerary. This 7-day tour package offers you the definitive Beijing experience! While the drive to the race venue is a bit longer, you will have ample time to explore Beijing at your own pace and visit some of the incredible city’s classic sights.

Package inclusions & exclusions

The Great Wall Marathon Itinerary 1: Jixian & Beijing/6 Days/15 – 20 May, 2024

Price includes:
5-nights accommodation
Transfer from airport to hotel on set transfer times as advised under ‘Event Information’
Meals as stated in the itinerary
Transportation as per itinerary
English speaking guide
The Great Wall Marathon race package which includes: start number, bib chip timing, running T-shirt, supplies on the route, English speaking medical team from Denmark and finisher certificate. For more information, see Race Info
Comprehensive information packet and guide book for the Great Wall Marathon event which includes detailed maps and day-by-day descriptions.

Price excludes:
Flights
Visa for China
Departure transfer to airport (can be purchased separately)
Optional tours (must be booked in advance)
Travel insurance
Meals not stated in the itinerary
Beverages
Personal expenses
Anything not mentioned under ‘Inclusions’

The Great Wall Marathon Itinerary 2: Beijing/7 Days/14 – 20 May 2024

6-nights accommodation
Meals as stated in the itinerary
English speaking tour guide
Excursion to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven
Transfer from airport to hotel
Transportation as per itinerary
The Great Wall Marathon race package which includes: start number, bib chip timing, running t-shirt, supplies on the route, English-speaking medical team from Denmark and finisher certificate. For more information, see Race Info.
Comprehensive information packet and guide book for the Great Wall Marathon event which includes detailed maps and day-by-day descriptions.
Extra night rates are inclusive of breakfast

Price excludes:
Flights
Visa for China
Departure transfer to airport (These can be purchased separately)
Optional tours which must be booked in advance
Travel insurance
Meals not stated in the itinerary
Beverages
Personal expenses
Anything not mentioned under ‘Inclusions’

Extension Tours & Excursions

On the 7-day tour visit classic Beijing highlights such as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven and sample exquisite local cuisines in the many markets and street stalls of old Beijing. You can top-off your Beijing stay with our optional excursions that take you to the Summer Palace, the former summer residence of the Imperial family, and Beijing Zoo to see the giant panda at the city zoo. Or how about visiting the impressive Ming Tombs or watching a classical Chinese Acrobatics show? Whatever your interests, the excursions offer a wide range of attractions that give visitors a great taste of Beijing.

Race Date: May 18 2024

Race Time: 07:30AM

Time Limit: The course time limit is eight (8) hours. There is also a six (6) hour cut-off at 34K for the Marathon. Runners must reach this point within six hours in order to continue.

The Course: All distance events in The Great Wall Marathon start from Yin and Yang Square in the old Huangyaguan fortress and begin along the same route. Immediately reaching Jinwei Highway, the route leads south for 1km before turning left on to Changcheng Highway. At this point, you are on the road leading to the Great Wall entrance and will face a 4km uphill climb. After completing the first 5km of your respective distance, you will meet the first of many steps! The next 3 kilometres are run on the Great Wall of China itself, including 1km around the magnificent fortress walls. Just before the 7km mark you face a 700m long section with a steep descent on the infamous “Goat Track”.

Once you’ve rounded the fortress walls and passed the 8km mark, you will find yourself back at Yin and Yang Square. Fun Run runners have now completed their race and head straight to the finish line in the center of the square. Marathon and half marathon runners can take in some energy from the cheering spectators before heading south again following the river to the Duanzhuang village. At 13km the route crosses the river and the half marathon route now turns left to explore more of the village while the marathon route heads south towards the township of Xiaying.

At the 16km mark, marathon runners exit Xiaying town and find themselves on the Maying Highway going east passing fields and farmland for 1.5km. Taking a sharp left turn towards the tiny Dongjiafen village, the route now heads north. The 20km mark is the beginning of a 6km long loop, passing through the village of Qingshanling. Exiting the loop section at the 26km mark, the next kilometre leads up to the Chedaoyu village with a steep ascent.

Back in Duanzhuang village the marathon route merges with the half marathon route again. Marathon runners have now passed the 29km mark while half marathon runners have 5km to the finish line. Crossing back over the river, runners follow the Jinwei Highway back north to the Yin and Yang Square. Entering the square, half marathon runners go straight for the finish line while marathon runners turn right and up the steps to face the Great Wall a second time!

*All marathon runners who have not reached the steps leading to the wall (34km) within 6 hours of the start will not be allowed to continue.

On the fortress’ north wall, marathon runners head east crossing the bridge leading to the “Goat Track”. At the foot of the hill, just before getting off the bridge, a wristband is handed out as proof that the wall section has in fact been run twice. Runners now climb the 700m ascent before conquering the Great Wall from west to east. Once the steps have been passed, the final 5 kilometres is downhill to the Yin and Yang Square and the finish line – congratulations, you have completed the Great Wall Marathon and 5,164 historic steps!

Route logistics & supplies:

Kilometer signs are placed at each kilometer along the route. The signs are color coded according to the distance they represent. The signs will also indicate the equivalent distance in miles.

Timing mats will be strategically placed on the route to ensure that all runners complete the distance they are registered for.

Water stations will be positioned along the route at approximately every 4 kilometers. Some stations will also serve energy drinks and bananas and provide wet sponges. Personal supplies can be deposited at selected drinks stations.

For more information, have a look at the route map (above).

While running on the Great Wall, please make way for faster runners and keep to the right. Please note that the route is not closed for traffic. Although traffic is not heavy, take care when running on main roads and look out for vehicles.

There will be water stations at approximately every 4 kilometers along the route. Some stations will also serve energy drinks and bananas. All stations provide bottled water. Marathon runners will be offered energy gel after 26km and 35km.

Temperature: Expected temperatures range from 61F to 95F degrees. Humidity is high while running in the valleys.

Difficulty:

Difficult. The wall section consists of steps of varying height, width and some steps are made of brick. Extra precaution should be taken when running this part. A few places on the wall section see no steps at all, but instead a ramp of rocks and concrete. These ramps can be slippery and extra attention must be paid to your footing. In some of the villages the surface is gravel and dirt roads. More information can be found on the race website here.

Start & Finish:

All three distances start and finish in Yin & Yang Square at the fortress of the Huanyaguang section of the Great Wall in Tianjin province.

The race will start in waves with 10-minute intervals. You will be assigned to a wave based on the running time you provide on the entry form. You must start in the wave to which you have been assigned. Runners who are assigned to separate waves, but want to start together may do so by going to the wave corresponding to the higher number. Fun Run participants will start together in the last wave. Final details about the number of waves and start times will be announced in the Runners’ Guidebook, which will be handed out in the goodie bag.

The finish line for all distances is located at the center of Yin & Yang Square. All runners will receive a medal after crossing the finish line. Results will be posted at Yin & Yang Square during the race.

Final results will be published on the official website, which can be found here.

Lunch will be served at the designated area. You must present your coupon to collect your lunch. This coupon will be provided in your Goodie Bag as part of your Great Wall Marathon entry ticket package.

A limited number of cold showers are available in the neighboring courtyard of Yin & Yang Square. Please bring your own towel if you plan to shower before heading back to Beijing.

A massage service is available at the entrance of Yin & Yang Square. You will receive a coupon for one free massage in your Goodie Bag.

Bus coaches back to Beijing will depart from the bus parking lot from 12:00pm-16:30pm. The coaches will only leave when full.

The Seven Continents Club®️ (SCC) offers a unique opportunity for runners to run on all seven continents of the globe, as well as providing numerous benefits to its members. The club operates as a global frequent traveller club for runners, offering waitlist priority for high-demand events, early pre-registration periods for a number of races in popular destinations and tour package vouchers for money off international tour packages. What’s more, Seven Continents Club®️ rewards all its members for the extraordinary achievement of running marathons on each continent with their own special finishers medal and certificate of completion. Join the SCC today!