China Marathon Majors
The four China Marathon Majors races, Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Chongqing, with race dates, course features, entry and the Majors finisher medal, to help you plan your own path through the China Majors.
Part of Run the World, which brings together every race in the World Marathon Majors, the China Marathon Majors and the European Marathon Classics.
Last updated: November 9, 2026ใ|ใSources: each race's official website and announcements, Xinhua and mainstream media race coverage
This page is a reference summary, not an official publication. Season windows, finisher recognition and medal collection for the China Marathon Majors follow the latest announcements from the Chinese Athletics Association and each race's organising committee.
Key takeaways
- Four races: the Beijing Marathon, Wuhan Marathon, Guangzhou Marathon and Chongqing Marathon, all founding members of the China Marathon Majors.
- Finish all four to receive the China Marathon Majors finisher medal. The exact season window and how to collect the medal follow each season's official announcement.
- The four races fall in different seasons of the year: in 2026, Chongqing was in January, Wuhan in March, Beijing in October and Guangzhou in December, so all four can be run within one year.
- Every race uses a ballot, and the popular ones have low success rates, so watch each race's entry window in advance.
What the China Marathon Majors are
The China Marathon Majors were created by the Chinese Athletics Association as the country's top-tier marathon series. The series officially began with the 2017โ2018 season, and its founding members are the Beijing, Guangzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan marathons.
- Finisher recognition: Finishing the full marathon at all four races within one Majors cycle counts as completing the China Marathon Majors and earns the Majors finisher medal. In past seasons, an honour medal beyond the finisher medal required an extra payment.
- Membership and points: According to the Chongqing Marathon's official website, the series has offered a membership points system with prize money for Chinese member runners, split into competitive and mass-participation groups.
- Not the same as the World Marathon Majors: The two are separate series. China Marathon Majors stars and medals do not count toward Six Star or Nine Star in the World Marathon Majors. The Shanghai Marathon is currently a World Marathon Majors candidate and is not one of the four China Marathon Majors races.
The current season's finishing window, medal collection and fees may change from year to year; check the official announcements before you enter.
The four races at a glance
| Race | City | First held | 2026 race day | Start / finish | Course features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chongqing Marathon | Chongqing | 2011 | January 18 | Yanyu Park, Nanbin Road | Along the Yangtze riverside road; a rolling course in the mountain city |
| Wuhan Marathon | Wuhan | 2016 | March 22 | Starts on Sanyang Road | Links the Yangtze, the Han River, the East Lake Greenway and the Yangtze River Bridge |
| Beijing Marathon | Beijing | 1981 | October 18 | Starts at Tiananmen Square | North along Chang'an Avenue and the central axis; mostly flat |
| Guangzhou Marathon | Guangzhou | 2012 | December 20 | Tianhe Sports Center โ Haixinsha | Along the Pearl River past Canton Tower; mostly flat |
Race days are announced each year by the organising committees; check each race's official website. The 2026 Beijing Marathon was combined with the National Marathon Championships.
The four races
Chongqing Marathon
Founded in 2011 and usually held in March in past years, it moved earlier to January 18 in 2026. It starts and finishes at Yanyu Park on Nanbin Road in Nan'an District and runs along the Yangtze riverside road. Chongqing is a mountain city, and its course is noticeably more rolling than the other three, so hill training beforehand helps. About 25,000 runners took part in 2026.
Wuhan Marathon
Founded in 2016 and held each spring during cherry blossom season. In 2026 it started on Sanyang Road in Hankou, and the course linked the Yangtze, the Han River and the East Lake Greenway with city landmarks such as the Yellow Crane Tower and the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, with about 30,000 runners.
Beijing Marathon
Founded in 1981, it is China's oldest marathon and is held each autumn. It starts at Tiananmen Square and heads north along Chang'an Avenue and Beijing's central axis on a mostly flat course. Entry is highly competitive with a low ballot success rate. The 2026 race was held on October 18 with 32,000 runners and also served as the National Marathon Championships.
Guangzhou Marathon
Founded in 2012 and held each December, it is the latest of the four races in the year. It starts at Tianhe Sports Center, follows the Pearl River past Canton Tower and finishes at Haixinsha. December weather in Guangzhou is mild and the course is flat.
Planning tips
The following are suggestions, not official guidance.
- Run them in date order. Taking 2026 as an example: Chongqing in January, Wuhan in March, Beijing in October and Guangzhou in December leaves plenty of time to run all four in one year. Race days may change each year; check the official announcements.
- All four use ballots, so enter over several years. Beijing generally has the lowest ballot success rate; treat it as the hardest race to get into and enter every year.
- Train for hills before Chongqing. Chongqing is the most rolling, while Beijing and Guangzhou are relatively flat and better suited to chasing a personal best.
- Keep a record of your results. Record each finish on your Finisher Club runner profile to track your Majors progress.