Beijing Marathon

Since the first Beijing Marathon in 1981, this worldwide sports event has been more and more popular and attracts thousands of participants around the world every year. During the race, this old imperial city of China will once again become the realm of sports.
 

 Date: the third Sunday in October
 Length: 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers)
 Duration: 6 hours
 Starting Point: Tiananmen Square
 Terminal Point: Convention Center of Olympic Park
 Race Event: men's race, women's race, team race
 Participants: professional athletes and amateurs from all over the world
 Men's Race Record: 2:07:16 by Tadese Tola Woldegeberel from Ethiopia in 2013
 Women's Race Record: 2:19:39 by Sun Yingjie from China in 2003
 

The emblem of the Beijing Marathon represents five athletes rushing to the finish line. The five figures with different colors stand for runners of different complexions from five continents. The finish line was designed to look like a waving ribbon. In China, once there is a celebration, people would merrily gather together and brandish colorful silk strips while dancing. The ribbon in the emblem implies that the race is also a world-wide festival.

 

Generally, Beijing Marathon is held in the middle of October. Temperature of this period is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (15 and 25 degrees centigrade) with modest humidity, it provides a perfect environment for athletes to achieve success.

The city enters the autumn at that time and the scenery is recognized as the most beautiful. You may want to take a walk around in the spare time. During that time, tree leaves turn into golden yellow, decorated modern blocks with specks of shining color. The Gingko Avenue of Diaoyutai is reputed as the best site to feel the beauty of the autumn. Towering gingko trees stand along the road, with an eyeful of golden leaves hanging on stretching branches. A lot of them even fall down to the ground, looking like a glittering carpet rolling out on the road under the sun light. The scene would be totally different in Fragrant Hill Park, where maple trees grow all over the hillside. Seen from a distance, the hill is like an oil painting, which uses fiery maple leaves as the pigment.

 

Tiananmen Square – Financial Street – Diaoyutai State Guest Hotel – Kunyu River – Zhichun Road – Xueyuan Road – Olympic Forest Park – Convention Center of the Olympic Park

Since the first race, the route has been covering landmark sites of the city and has changed for many times. After 2009, the route was nearly settled, from Tiananmen Square to the Convention Center of the Olympic Park. The whole route passes by the financial, cultural, and technological centers of the capital, and renowned spots like the National Stadium (the Bird's Nest) and Aquatics Center (Water Cube).

 

Marathon is a high-intensity event which requires a strong body. Therefore, the first and most important thing is to make sure you are vigorous enough to finish the race. You can register on the official website (www.beijing-marathon.com/en/). The entry fee is USD 100 for foreign applicants. There is a limit on the number of runners. If the number of applicants is over 30,000, the committee would draw lots to select participants.

 

Beijing Marathon is one of the most important sports events of the city and is really worth watching. Beijing subway lines can take you to each section of the route to cheer for athletes.

Line 1	Tiananmen West (start point), Xidan, Fuxingmen, Muxidi, Military Museum, Gongzhufen
Line 4	Xidan Station
Line 6	Cishousi Station
Line 8	Lincuiqiao, Olympic Park, Olympic Sports Center (terminal point)
Line 9	Military Museum Station
Line 10	Cishousi, Chedaogou, Changshouqiao, Huoqiying, Suzhoujie, Zhichunli, Zhichunlu, Xitucheng
Line 13	Zhichunlu Station
Line 15	Liudaokou, Beishatan, Olympic Park, Anlilu

 Go to see: China Great Wall Marathon