Conquer the Wall Marathon | Half Marathon | 10k | 5k

Running on the Great Wall is an exhilarating experience that must be experienced by everyone!

The official Conquer the Wall Marathon on the Great Wall of China is the first and longest running international marathon on the Great Wall of China. A locally organized event held annually the 2nd Saturday of May, offering a full selection of runs including a full marathon, a half-marathon, a 10k, and 5k.

Over 20,000 Steps to Greatness
Conquer the Wall Marathon race course has 20,518 countable steps throughout varied terrain along the length of the race. Runners will traverse the Gubeikou and Jinshanling sections of the Great Wall allowing runners the opportunity to see both older unrestored and newly restored sections of the great wall. The course meanders through secluded and rarely visited sections of the Great Wall featuring prestigious pathways on the most picturesque parts of the Great Wall giving marathon runners breath-taking panoramic views and memories that will last a lifetime.

Experience China’s History and Culture
In addition to experiencing the Great Wall of China, runners will be able to enjoy majestic charm in the historic city of Beijing. Visit royal locations including The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, The Summer Palace, and Ming’s Tomb to experience and relive the romantic past of China’s history. Olympic fans can visit the impressive Bird’s Nest stadium and other venues at the Olympic Village.

The city of Beijing offers many sights and activities for visitors. Enjoy the tastes of local cuisine including famous Peking duck prepared by descendants of chefs that catered to past emperors of China. Shop till you drop in Beijing’s world-famous shopping markets, or simply marvel at the historic and modern hi-tech architecture throughout the city.

Race Information
The Conquer the Wall Marathon traverses through the Simatai and Jinshanling portions of the Great Wall featuring prestigious pathways on the most picturesque parts of the Great Wall giving marathon runners breath-taking panoramic views and memories that will last a lifetime. You are signing up for an experience you will talk about for the rest of your life, but don’t forget that this is an adventure race, filled with challenges. So take the time to prepare thoroughly to make sure you get the most out of this experience.

Course Meeting
Runners need to attend the Course Information meetings that will be held at the Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel. (Runner’s HQ) These will be held on the 9th and 10th of May from 9 am to 5 pm.

At this time you will be able to ask questions and collect your race kit, BIB, and goodie bag. Let us know if you can’t collect your kit at this time and we will make other arrangements for you. There is a lot to cover in the Course Information meeting, so take the time to read the Runners Handbook before the meeting to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Course Time Limits
The course time limits will be STRICTLY ENFORCED. There is a 10-hour time limit for all races, start time is approximately 6:00 AM with a 4:00 PM CUT-OFF time. Participants must maintain a pace faster than the course time limits in order to complete the race. Note that all start times are approximate and subject to change.

FULL MARATHON: START 6:00 AM
HALF MARATHON: START 6:10 AM
10K: START 6:20 AM
5K: START 6:30 AM

To The Start Of The Race
Buses to the start of the race in Jinshanling will leave the Renaissance Hotel at 4:00 am sharp. We suggest you are at the hotel no later than 3:30 am. If you show up at 4:00 am you have probably missed the bus and will have to find your own ride. In 2017 we asked our transportation guy to stay at the hotel and help runners that missed the bus get a ride, the stranded runners paid for their taxi ride to the start. 99% of all our runners made it to the hotel with plenty of time to spare. They wanted to get to the start early so they had time to use the facilities, drop off their drop bags, and stretch prior to their race. It is simply not fair to the runners that are on time and want to start the race on time if we wait for runners that choose to be late.

THE RACE WILL START @ THE EARLIEST 6:00 am OR ½ HOUR AFTER THE BUSES ARRIVE IN JINSHANLING!

Back To Beijing
You may not be able to go back to Beijing as soon as you finish. We require each bus is full prior to leaving, and yes the buses do leave as soon as they are full. The last bus will leave when the race has concluded, we have dismantled the race and all our volunteers are ready to depart. Our race management will know how many empty seats we can allow on each bus prior to their departure. Periodically during the race, we will ask how many runners want a ride back to Beijing. So just be patient, enjoy the party like atmosphere, buy a pijiu (beer) from one of the stands near the finish. In 2017 the cost was 10 ¥Yuan (about $1.47 USD or €1.31 Euro). They also had a few snacks, drinks, and souvenir’s you could purchase so bring some extra ¥Yuan (Chinese money), they will only take ¥Yuan (Chinese money) so make sure you have extra with you. Vendors were also selling ice cream, cold drinks, and snacks along the wall, at aid station 3 (East Gate) and aid station 6 (Gubeikou).
Depending on Beijing traffic this ride could take up to 4 hours. The day before the race purchase food, snacks, and fluids you can consume during the bus ride back to Beijing. After the 2.5-hour bus ride to the start, a long day running or hiking, your wait for the bus, and a 2.5-4 hour bus ride back home you are sure to be famished, please plan ahead.