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 developed 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 routes and challenging last steps of the tower (5,164…
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 developed 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 routes and challenging last steps of the tower (5,164 to be exact!).
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, its people and local cuisine.
That’s why the race is always a part of an Entry Package which combines classic Beijing with China’s spectacular nature outside the busy metropolis.
We've put together a list of important information about travel in China. Have a look below.
Almost all non-Chinese nationals will 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 will receive the service voucher which you can use for acquiring a visa. 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 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.
No details at present.
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)
Welcome to China - 14/05/25
Arrival to Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX) airport. Take a taxi from the airport to downtown Beijing for your hotel of choice.
After checking-in at your hotel in the rest of day is free to explore Beijing.
Overnightt Beijing;
Meals: Not included
Route Inspection day - 15/05/25
Depart from the hotel at 06:30 for Huangyaguan and the Great Wall for Inspection Day! Breakfast will be served as a breakfast box that can be enjoyed on the 2.5 hours drive to the Huangyaguan Great Wall, which is our race venue.
Today is your chance ito inspect the part of the route along the Great Wall and prepare yourself mentally for the challenge ahead. Race officials and medical staff will be present to answer any questions you may have.
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 wall walk.
Once the group is gathered again we head back to Jizhou to check into hotel where you will be staying for the next two nights.
Overnight Jizhou.
Meals: Breakfast and sandwich lunch
Relaxation in Jizhou with tour option - 16/05/25
Today is a good day for relaxing before the big race day tomorrow. 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".
Tonight dinner in your hotel is included with additional rice and noodle dishes.
Overnight Jizhou.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on the optional excursion)
Race Day - 17/05/25
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 an aerobics 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. A 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.
Overnight: Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Exploring Beijing, excursion options & evening celebration party - 18/05/25
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. Take in classic Beijing highlights with the City of Emperors tour, including the Forbidden City, Beijing Duck lunch and Temple of Heavan or the City of People tour, a guided tour through the hutongs on rickshaw with a Mongolian hot pot lunch.
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.
Overnight Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and dinner included (lunch is provided for those going on an optional excursion)
Farewell China - 19/05/25
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.
Meal: Breakfast
TRAVEL OPTION 2: 6 Night (7-days) Package (Beijing)
Welcome to Beijing - 13/05/25
Arrival to Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX) airport and make your own way by taxi to the hotel of choice.
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.
Overnight Beijing
Meals: Not included
Beijing Highlights - 14/05/25
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".
Overnight Beijing
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Route Inspection Day - 15/05/25
Today, is Inspection Day! An important event for you to inspect the part of the route along the Great Wall and prepare yourself mentally for the challenge ahead. Race officials and medical staff will be present to answer any questions you may have.
Our day will begin early in the morning as we board our bus and head to the Great Wall for route inspection. Breakfast will be served as a breakfast box that can be enjoyed on the 2.5 hours drive to the Huangyaguan Great Wall, which is our race venue.
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 wall walk.
Once the group is gathered again we will drive back and arrive in Beijing around 5pm. The rest of the evening will be at your leisure.
Overnight Beijing
Meals: Breakfast and sandwich lunch
Relaxation in Beijing or Ming Tombs visit - 16/05/25
You have the day in Beijing to get mentally prepared for tomorrow's race in the way you want. Go shopping, enjoy one of Beijing's many parks, find a nearby spa or simply relax in your hotel room - the choice is yours.
You also have the choice of joining the optional excursion to the Ming Tombs.
Meals: Breakfast (lunch also included if you book the Ming Tombs tour)
Race Day - 17/05/25
Today is the big day!
Breakfast boxes will be handed out before we leave for Huangyaguan at 03:30am. The race starts at 07:30am. Sandwich lunches will be provided for everyone at the race site.
Busses will be ready to take runners back to Beijing between 12 and 4:30pm. A 20-minute massage on site is included after the race.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Explore Beijing, excursion options & evening celebration party - 18/05/25
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 and see the giant panda and the Summer Palace on the City of People 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)
Farewell Beijing - 19/05/25
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.
Meals: Breakfast
ADD-ON TOURS IN CHINA
Acrobatics Show - 14/05/25
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 - 16/05/25
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 - 16/05/25
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 - 18/05/25
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 - 18/05/25
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
Overnight Xi'an
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Tang Dynasty dancing show.
Return to Beijing - 21/05/25
Our visit to Xi'an is now over, so we will have a morning transfer to airport to make our return to Beijing marking the end of our tour.
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 |
|
Standard 1, Central Starndard 2 Central |
£1349 £1429 |
£339 £339 |
| Comfort, Central | £1499 | £389 |
| Deluxe, Central | £1839 | £599 |
Additions
Race Entry to Great Wall Marathon or Half Marathon £120
Race Entry to Great Wall Fun Run 8.5K £60
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 | 16 May | £100 |
| City of Emperors | 18 May | £89 |
| Hutong Rickshaw | 18 May | £72 |
6 NIGHT PACKAGE:
Prices are per person
| Hotel | Double / Twin | Single room supplement |
| Comfort, Central | £1520 | £453 |
| Comfort, Downtown | £1784 | £481 |
| Deluxe, Downtown | £2045 | £705 |
Additions
Race Entry to Great Wall Marathon or Half Marathon £120
Race Entry to Great Wall Fun Run 8.5K £60
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 | £60 |
| Ming Tombs | 16 May | £89 |
| Hutong on rickshaw | 18 May | £72 |
EXTENSIONS
Terracotta Army:
| Item | Price (per person) |
| Double / Twin | £789 |
| Single room supplement | £100 |
Inclusions
Exclusions
Deposit for both runner and supporter - £400.00 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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