Shenzhen Marathon
The Lowdown
The Shenzhen Marathon is an annual World Athletics Gold Label road race held each December in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Founded in 2015 and celebrating its 10th edition in 2024, the event has grown to 20,000–30,000 runners and attracts a strong international elite field. The course starts at Shenzhen Civic Center (Futian District), passes through Shennan Avenue, Shahe West Road, Wanghai Road, the scenic Shenzhen Bay Park waterfront, and the Qianhai development district before finishing at Haibin Square (Bao'an District). The route showcases Shenzhen's transformation from fishing village to global tech metropolis, with long urban straightaways that favour fast times and personal bests. The race carries World Athletics Gold Label status and is an AIMS Full Member event. Elite prize money reaches US$54,000 for race winners, with a Chinese record bonus of CNY 100,000.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
World-class event
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Shenzhen Civic Center (市民中心) — race start, Futian District
Lianhuashan Park (莲花山公园) — near start area
Shennan Avenue (深南大道) — main central boulevard through the city
Shenzhen Bay Park (深圳湾公园) — scenic coastal section
Qianhai District (前海) — emerging finance and tech hub, western loop
Haibin Square / Bao'an Waterfront Square — race finish
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
CN
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 20 on race day
- Must be in good physical condition to complete a full marathon
- Prior marathon completion may be required or recommended for entry verification
Required Documents
- Valid government-issued photo ID (Chinese residents: national ID; international runners: passport)
- Race bib pickup confirmation / lottery success notice
Entry Methods
- Lottery (primary method when applications exceed quota)
- Online registration via shenzhenmarathon.org.cn
- Registration also available through the MARAMARA (马拉马拉) app
- Registration window typically open approximately one week in September–October
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Review official cancellation and refund policy on shenzhenmarathon.org.cn before registering
Lottery entries are typically non-refundable once confirmed
World Athletics Gold Label Road Race (confirmed by World Athletics and AIMS)
AIMS Full Member event (AIMS race ID 10481)
Elite prize purse: US$54,000 per winner (men and women); US$20,000 event record bonus; CNY 100,000 Chinese record bonus
Top 8 Chinese finishers eligible for domestic prize money (1st place: CNY 50,000)
2024 edition was the 10th anniversary; 2025 winner: Kemal Husen (ETH) 2:09:12 (men), Amid Fozya Jemal (ETH) 2:26:14 (women)
Capacity: 20,000–30,000 runners (2024: 20,000 slots; 2025: 30,000 slots)
Course is predominantly flat, passing through modern urban avenues and coastal parks — well-suited for fast times and PBs
Start and finish on opposite ends of the city (point-to-point course): Civic Center → Bao'an Waterfront
Start time 07:30; staggered wave starts used for crowd management
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Community
Stories, tips, and race-day snapshots from runners who have tackled this course.
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