Great Wall Marathon

The Great Wall Marathon is a world-famous bucket-list race run on and around the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall of China, roughly two hours from Beijing in Tianjin municipality. Organized annually since 1999 by Albatros Adventure Marathons, the event has grown from about 350 runners at its inception into a sell-out field of roughly 2,500 international participants. The signature challenge is the course's 5,164 steps along the Wall itself, combined with steep, uneven mountain terrain, asphalt and gravel sections, and significant elevation change, making it widely regarded as one of the toughest marathons in the world. All distances share an 8-hour overall cutoff, with an intermediate gate closure at the 35 km mark at 14:00 and full route closure at 16:00. Because the race sits deep in rural Tianjin with limited standalone logistics, Albatros sells it exclusively as an all-inclusive tour package (regional, 6-day, or 7-day options) built around Beijing sightseeing -- the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, and an optional Ming Tombs excursion -- with race entry, transport to Huangyaguan, timing, medical support, and a finish-line massage bundled in. There is no standalone bib-only entry for international runners; a reduced-price regional package is available to residents of a defined list of Asian countries. The 2027 edition runs May 11-17, with race day on May 15.