Since its inception in 1999, the Great Wall Marathon has become revered as one of the world’s most challenging marathons. Throughout the years, it has grown from just 350 runners to a sell-out event of 2000 runners, novices and experienced alike. The route takes you along the spectacular Great Wall in the venue of Huangyang, threading through local villages as you are cheered on by its residents giving you the boost needed for its hilly roads and challenging last steps on the Wall (5,164 in to…
Since its inception in 1999, the Great Wall Marathon has become revered as one of the world’s most challenging marathons. Throughout the years, it has grown from just 350 runners to a sell-out event of 2000 runners, novices and experienced alike.
The route takes you along the spectacular Great Wall in the venue of Huangyang, threading through local villages as you are cheered on by its residents giving you the boost needed for its hilly roads and challenging last steps on the Wall (5,164 in total).
But this run is not only about the race. It is about the adventure of traveling together with other running-minded spirits, friends and family. Its about experiencing Chinese culture, getting to know this fantastic country as well as its people and local cuisine.
That’s why the race is always within a package that combines classic Beijing with China’s spectacular natural envirnonment. Note there is no entry only option for this race.
We've put together a list of important information about travel in China. Have a look below.
UK nationals need a visa to enter China.
There are different categories and you will most likely need a tourist visa (L). Please contact your local Chinese embassy or consulate for more information.
The procedure normally requires submitting a visa application form, paying a fee and providing the Chinese authorities with a service voucher from the Great Wall Marathon containing hotel information and dates.
Around early April, you should receive the service voucher which you can use for acquiring a visa. it can take 3-4 weeks for the visa to be approved so please apply as soon as you receive the service voucher. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after entry.
This year transfers are not included in the basic package price. Since both main trips now start with the first night in Beijing, it's a relatively short taxi journey from the airport to your hotel in downtown Beijing. There will be Great Wall Marathon representatives in the arrivals hall to help you find taxis. It is also possible to use the Airport shuttle bus to downtown Beijing or the Airport Express train.
Departure transfers are not included in the package either, but again you can book a taxi or one can be arranged from your preferred hotel back to airport.
Participants must book their own flight in to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) with arrival no later than the day your tour starts (13 May/6 nights or 14 May/5 nights). International flights are not included in the standard package but we can provide you a quote on request.
We are offering two standards of hotels for the five-night tour: Comfort and Deluxe.
The Comfort hotels are the Holiday Inn in Beijing and the Laodiache in Jizhou, which is 45-60 minutes’ drive from Huangyaguan Great Wall.
The Holiday Inn Express is charming 3-star hotel offering a clean and comfortable stay in a cozy neighborhood, just 10 minutes from the Forbidden City and 50 minutes from Beijing Airport. Guests can enjoy free WiFi, a breakfast buffet with both Chinese and Western options, a small gym, and a relaxed bar—perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring.
The Laodianche is a beautiful 3-star hotel with stunning views in Jizhou. Expect clean and classic amnieties, high ceilings, tile laden floors and delicious restaurant food. All rooms have an air conditioner and wireless internet on site.
The Deluxe Hotels are the New World Hotel in Beijing and the Jing Ji Saint Hotel - Jizhou
The New World Beijing Hotel offers a seamless and comfortable base for runners traveling to China. Its central location, restorative onsite amenities, and excellent transport access make it a practical and refreshing choice for both pre- and post-race stays surrounding the Great Wall Marathon.
Surrounded by majestic mountains and a beautiful lake in the center, the Jing Ji Saint Hotel is a stunning 5 - star luxury hotel close to the Great Wall of Huangyaguan. Before your run, you can check out its modern fitness center, take a dip in the indoor pool or simply relax in the spa and hot spring. Enjoy delicious breakfast, Chinese and Western, free Wifi, fully equipped rooms and a mini-market.
We are offering two standards of hotel on the six night tour: Comfort and Deluxe
The Comfort Hotel is the Beijing Xinqiao, which is locatied in the heart of Beijing's Dongcheng District just steps from Chongwenmen Metro station placing close to famous landmarks like teh Forbidden city and the Wangfujing shopping street. The 700-room hotel offers spacious air-conditioned rooms with hot sprng-fed thermal water, plus a modern fitness centre, sauna, spa and tennis court - perfect for wamring up before or recovering after running the Great Wall Marathon.
The deluxe hotel is JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central enjoys a prime location in Xuanwumen, the ancient heart of Beijing. This stunning 5-star hotel offers three restaurants and a bar lounge, with mouthwatering cuisine and refreshing drinks, perfect after a warm sunny day! Whether your body is craving a shake-out run or gentle relaxation, you can find a 24-hour fully equipped gym, steam room, sauna, and swimming pool on the top floor. All rooms are fully equipped with free Wifi, air conditioning, mini bar, kitchenette.
We have two escorted travel options to run the Great Wall Marathon for a 5 or 6 night duration.
The first option is based in two locations: Jizhou and Beijing while the second option is located entirely in Beijing.
Within each trip there a number different hotel options at different prices points.
Note that the cost of the race entry is now outside the package price and has to be booked in addition to one of the travel packages. There is no race entry only option.
TRAVEL OPTION 1: 5 Night (6-days) Package (Beijing/Jizhou/Beijing)
13th May 26 - Welcome to China
Arrival to Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX) airport. Look for "The Great Wall Marathon" sign, the team will be there to help with taxis, shuttles, or the express train.
After checking in at your hotel, swing by the notice board to find your tour guide’s name and number. Your goodie bag will be waiting for you—if not today, then on Inspection Day. The rest of the day is at your leisure
Meals: Not included
14th May 26 - Inspection Day - Walking the wall!
Today we're starting early, boarding the bus to Huangyaguan for the 3.5km route inspection. If your hotel doesn't serve an early breakfast, you will receive a breakfast box to enjoy on the way. Don't forget to check out of your hotel in Beijing - your luggage will travel with you to your next hotel in Jixhou or Qingsongling.
Before walking parts of the stunning race route, you will receive a race briefing and introduction from our race officials and medical team where all of your questions can be answered.
All runners are expected to walk the 3.5km section of the wall that is part of the marathon, half-marathon and 8.5k Fun Run course. Non-runners are also welcome, although good physical condition is required. A sandwich lunch will be served after the route inspection.
After lunch, you can check in to your new hotels in Jizhou (45 minutes away) or Qingsongling (20 minutes away), and spend the afternoon at our own leisure!
Meals: Breakfast and sandwich lunch
15th May 26 - An optional excursion or pre-run relaxation
Today is a good day for relaxing before tomorrow's race. Take in the local atmosphere of Jizhou, Tianjin, or go on the optional excursion that takes visitors to Qing Dynasty Tombs and the local markets. The tour includes lunch. Learn more about this tour below, under "Excursions".
In the evening we will carb-load on delicious rice and noodle dishes.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on the optional excursion)
16th May 26 - Race Day
Today is the big day! After an early breakfast, we'll leave Jizhou at 05:00am and head to the race venue in Huangyaguan. Please remember to check-out of your hotel room in Jizhou, as we will leave for Beijing at the end of the day. After a pre-race warm-up and speeches by local officials, the race will start at 07:30am.
Sandwich lunches will be provided for everyone in the finish area. An optional 20-minute massage on site is included after the race. Shuttle buses will start to take runners back to Beijing between 12 and and will continue until 4:30pm.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
17th May 26 - Celebration party
Today is a day of recovery. Sleep in, relax, do a bit of shopping in the Silk Market or fill your senses with the sights and sounds of Beijing.
Two optional excursions are available today. Please note, these must be purchased prior to your arrival in China. Explore the ancient Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven, or visit Beijing's cozy Hutongs (courtyard districts) on a rickshaw.
In the evening we will all gather for the big celebration dinner. All participants will be picked up at their hotels and taken to the party venue.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on an optional excursion)
18th May 26 - Farewell China or Hello extension!
Depending on your departure time, you might be able to do some last-minute shopping or take in more of Beijing's sights. Hotel check-out is before noon.
Please note that you are responsible for your own departure back to the aiport. Taxis can be booked from your hotel.
Today also marks the beginning of our next adventures: The Avatar Mountain and Terra Cotta Army extensions! Explore more of China with our english - speaking tour guides, and gather more unforgettable memories. Explore our race extensions below.
Meal: Breakfast
TRAVEL OPTION 2: 6 Night (7-days) Package (Beijing)
12th May 26 - Welcome to Beijing
Arrival at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX) airport and Look for "The Great Wall Marathon" signs. Our friendly team will be there to help with taxis, shuttles, or the express train..
After checking in to your hotel, check the hotel notice board to confirm your tour guide's name and phone number. Goodie bags will be handed out by the guide. If you don't receive your goodie bag today, it will be given to you on Inspection Day.
The rest of the day is free for you to explore Beijing.
Meals: Not included
13th May 26 - Explore Beijing - Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City.
A visit to Beijing is not complete without seeing the city's three most famous landmarks, so today features a classic sightseeing tour.
The first stop of our day's exploration is Tiananmen Square from where we continue to the Forbidden City and spend the rest of the morning there. As we exit the Forbidden City it's time for lunch, which will be a delicious local speciality: Beijing roast duck.
After lunch we continue our sightseeing tour with a stop at the beautiful Temple of Heaven. The last stop of the afternoon will be a visit to a silk exhibition hall, where a large variety of silk products can be purchased.
In the evening we head out for dinner. Afterwards an optional acrobatics show is available for purchase, but must be pre-booked in advance to secure seats. Enjoy a fantastic evening out and watch a spectacular performance by talented acrobats. Learn more under "Excursions".
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
14th May 26 - Route Inspection Day
Today we're kicking things off early, boarding the bus to Huangyaguan for the 3.5km route inspection. If your hotel doesn't serve an early breakfast, you will receive a breakfast box to enjoy on the way.
Before checking out the race route, you will receive a race briefing and introduction from our race officials and medical team where all of your questions can be answered. All runners are expected to walk the 3.5 km of the Huangyaguan section of the wall that is part of the marathon, half-marathon and 8-5km fun run. Non-runners are also welcome, though good physical condition is required. After the walk, a sandwich lunch will be served.
The afternoon is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast and sandwich lunch
15th May 26 - Cloisonné factory and Ming Tombs
Take it easy today before the big race tomorrow! Soak in the local atmosphere or join an optional tour to the Ming Dynasty Tombs.
The tour begins with a visit to a cloisonné factory, where you will see this ancient metal art in action. After lunch, we’ll explore the Ming Tombs, the serene resting place of 13 Ming emperors, nestled in a valley south of Tianshou Mountain. More details under "Excursions."
Meals: Breakfast (lunch also included if you book the Ming Tombs tour)
16th May 26 - Race Day
Today is the big day!
After a very early breakfast, we will leave our hotel and drive from Beijing to the Yin Yang square, located at the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall.
After a pre-race warm-up and speeches by local officials, the race will start at 7.30am.
Sandwich lunches will be provided for everyone after the race, and a 20-minute massage on site is included.
Buses will be ready to take runners back to Beijing between 12 and 4:30pm.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
17th May 26 - Beijing excursion & Celebration Dinner
Today is a day of recovery. Sleep in, relax, do a bit of shopping in the Silk Market or fill your senses with the sights and sounds of Beijing.
If you want to make the most out of your visit to Beijing you can join today's excursion, Exploring Beijing's hutongs by rickshaw offers a unique glimpse into the city's rich history and traditional lifestyle. These narrow alleyways, lined with ancient courtyard residencies, tell stories of a bygone era. This is the perfect way to experience the cultural heart of Beijing. A Mongolian hot pot lunch is included in the tour.
In the evening, we all gather for the big celebration dinner. All participants will be picked up at their hotels and taken to the party venue tonight.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on the optional excursion)
18th May 26 - Farewell Beijing or Hello extension!
Depending on your departure time, you might be able to do some last-minute shopping or take in more of Beijing's sights. Hotel check-out is before noon. You are responsible for your own transfer back to the airport. Taxis can be booked through the hotel.
Today also marks the beginning of our next adventures: The Avatar Mountain and Terra Cotta Army extensions! Explore more of China with our english - speaking tour guides, and gather more unforgettable memories. Find the extension selection.
Meals: Breakfast
ADD-ON TOURS IN CHINA
Acrobatics Show - 14/05/26
An entertaining evening is in store for you! Prepare to be impressed by a spectacular show of breathtaking performances by a troupe of talented acrobats.
Acrobatics is a traditional Chinese performing art. The history of acrobatics in China can be traced back to Neolithic times. By 300BC, skills such as walking on 3m-high stilts and juggling daggers had been developed. The art form has evolved a great deal throughout time and today Chinese acrobatics is an inheritance of tradition and evolving techniques.
Please note: The excursion starts from the dinner restaurant around 19:00.
This excursion can only be purchased with the 6-night itinerary.
Qing Tombs - 17/05/26
This excursion consists of a tour of the Qing Dynasty tombs followed by a Chinese lunch. Today we'll make our way to the magnificent Qing Tombs located in Zunhua and nestled between four mountains. Our first stop will be at Yuling, one of the most splendid royal tombs. Next, we'll pay a visit to Ding Dongling, the tomb of Empress Dowager Cixi, the woman who ruled imperial China behind a curtain for 48 years.
Please note: The excursion begins from the hotel lobby.
This excursion can only be purchased with the 5-night itinerary.
Ming Tombs - 15/05/26
We’ll start the day with a visit to a cloisonné factory. Cloisonné is an ancient technique for decorating metal objects or ceramics. After a tour, you will be able to browse a dazzling collection of various colours and styles of cloisonné.
After lunch, we'll head to the Ming tombs in a valley south of the Tianshou mountains, about 50km west of Beijing. Enter the valley through the Great Red Gate – one of the largest stone archways in China – and explore the ‘Sacred Way,’ a long path leading to the tombs that is lined with larger-than-life stone sculptures.
This excursion can only be purchased with the 6-night itinerary.
Hutongs by Rickshaw - 17/05/26
Exploring Beijing's hutongs by rickshaw offers a unique glimpse into the city's rich history and traditional lifestyle. These narrow alleyways, lined with ancient courtyard residences, tell stories of a bygone era. As the rickshaw weaves through the labyrinthine lanes, you'll encounter vibrant local while enjoying the leisurely pace and authentic charm of this traditional mode of transport. It's a captivating way to experience the cultural heart of Beijing.
A Mongolian hot pot lunch is included in the tour.
This excursion can only be purchased with either the 6-night or the 5-night itinerary.
City of Emperors - 17/05/26
We begin the excursion at Tiananmen Square, one of the largest squares in the world, located in the heart of modern Beijing. We continue north to the Forbidden City and enter through the arched gateway with the iconic portrait of Mao. Most of the morning will be spent exploring the extensive grounds and many buildings.
Lunch will be a delectable meal consisting of the city's signature dish, roasted Beijing Duck.
After lunch, we'll continue sightseeing at the beautiful Temple of Heaven in the southern part of Beijing. The afternoon will end with a visit to a silk exhibition hall where we'll be introduced to the intricacies of silk-making from the reeling of silk from cocoons to dyeing the fabric. A large variety of silk products such as dresses, blouses, bedding and hats can be purchased here.
This excursion can only be purchased with the 5-ngiht itinerary. The 6-night itinerary includes the tour on Day 2.
EXTENSIONS
Upon arrival, we will check into the Grand Dynasty Hotel, located right at the edge of the historical muslim quarter, a haven for foodies. The muslim quarter, known for its peculiar architecture was developed during the Ming and Qing dynasites. It has now been inhabited by the muslim population of China for many generations, providing a rich combination of cultures to the area (and a mouthwatering food market!
Overnight Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Tang Dynasty dancing show.
Return to Beijing - 20/05/26
Our visit to Xi'an has sadly come to an end. After an early breakfast, we will take the bullet train back to Beijing. Upon arrival, our guides will help you with finding a transfer to the airport. We recommend you book your flight after 19.00 (07.00 pm), to ensure you have enought time to get from the train station to the airport.
Meals: Breakfast
PRICES ARE PER PERSON.
IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING ALONE THE SINGLE PRICE APPLIES.
5 NIGHT PACKAGE (BEIJING/JIZHOU/BEIJING):
Prices are per person
| Hotel | Double / Twin | Single room supplement |
|
|
|
|
| Comfort, Central (GW2) | £1399 | £369 |
| Deluxe, Central (GW3) | £1699 | £629 |
Additions
Race Entry to Great Wall Marathon or Half Marathon £110
Race Entry to Great Wall Fun Run 8.5K £55
Race entry can only be booked in combination with one of hotel packages, there is no entry only into the Great Wall Marathon
Inclusions
Excursions for 5-night Package (BEiJING):
| Optional's | Date | Price per person |
| Qing Tombs | 15 May | £92 |
| City of Emperors | 17 May | £81 |
| Hutong Rickshaw | 17 May | £66 |
6 NIGHT PACKAGE:
Prices are per person
| Hotel | Double / Twin | Single room supplement |
| Comfort, Downtown (GW5) | £1619 |
£559 |
| Deluxe, Downtown (GW6) | £1999 |
£819 |
Additions
Race Entry to Great Wall Marathon or Half Marathon £110
Race Entry to Great Wall Fun Run 8.5K £55
Race entry can only be booked in combination with one of hotel packages, there is no entry only into the Great Wall Marathon
Inclusions
Exclusions
Excursion for 6-night Package:
| Optional Excursions | Date | Price per person |
| Acrobatics Show | 14 May |
£59 |
| Ming Tombs | 15 May | £81 |
| Hutong on rickshaw | 17 May | £66 |
EXTENSIONS
Terracotta Army:
| Item | Price (per person) |
| Double / Twin | £879 |
| Single room supplement | £109 |
Inclusions
Exclusions
Deposit for both runner and supporter - £500.00 per person
Balance due no later than 10-weeks prior to departure.
WE STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE. TRAVEL INSURANCE SHOULD PROTECT YOUR DEPOSIT OR ANY OTHER PAYMENTS IF YOU CANCEL THE TRIP DUE TO INJURY, ILLNESS OR UNFORSEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. WE DO NOT REFUND DEPOSITS AND WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DECIDE TO CANCEL YOUR TRIP AFTER IT IS CONFIRMED. AFTER FINAL PAYMENT 70% OF THE TOUR COST WOULD BE FORFEIT IF YOU CANCEL UP TO 30 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE, THE FULL COST OF THE TOUR WOULD BE FORFEIT IF YOU CANCEL INSIDE 30 DAYS BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE DATE
For further information email 2:09 Events on info@209events.com
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