Great Wall Marathon

Running on the Wall itself is the draw, and it comes at a real cost in effort. Based at the Huangyaguan section, the course climbs 1,282 meters on gravel, asphalt and brick, includes 5,164 steps on the Wall, and threads through local villages where residents come out to cheer. Treat your normal marathon time as irrelevant. Expect warm, humid weather around 82°F (28°C), an eight-hour limit and a gate to the Wall that closes at 2 p.m. at kilometer 35. International runners can only enter by booking one of the organizer's tour packages, with a late fee after March 15. The 2027 race is on May 15, and registration closes on April 15, 2027.