Beijing Marathon

The Beijing Marathon starts on Sunday morning at 07:30 from Tiananmen Square and is held in mid-October, when the capital's autumn weather is usually cool and dry. Around 32,000 runners take part, and the 2026 edition doubled as the Chinese national marathon championship. Entry is by lottery. Runners register first, are drawn after the window closes, and pay the 200 yuan fee only if selected. The fee is non-refundable and entries cannot be transferred. To apply you must be at least 20 years old in the race year and have either one marathon or two half marathons finished in the 24 months before registration closes. Online race results do not count. Runners aged 65 and over need a stronger health assessment and a signed participation pledge. The race has become fast. In 2026 Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola won in 2:03:10, the quickest marathon run in mainland China, and Ethiopian runners took the first three places in the men's race. The course runs through central Beijing from the start at Tiananmen Square, and the field has a 6-hour time limit.