Beijing is gearing up for one of its biggest running events of the year, with the 2026 Beijing Marathon taking place on Sunday, October 18.
Starting at Tiananmen Square at 7.30am, participants will follow a 42.195-kilometer course through four districts before finishing at Olympic Park.
The race will also serve as this year’s National Marathon Championships.
More than 265,000 people registered for this year’s marathon, but only 32,000 places were available.
Road Closures: What You Need to Know
Image via Beijing Marathon homepage
The marathon will introduce temporary traffic restrictions across central and northern Beijing, beginning at 10pm on Saturday, October 17, around Tiananmen Square.
On Sunday, October 18, restrictions will expand in stages:
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7am: Roads around the National Stadium and Olympic Park begin closing.
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7.20am: Sections of Chang’an Avenue close to westbound traffic.
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7.30–7.55am: Closures extend through Fuxingmen, the West Third Ring Road service road, Linglong Road, Landianchang Road, and sections of the North Fourth Ring Road service roads.
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8.05–9.05am: Further restrictions affect Haidian, Xueyuan Road, and streets surrounding Olympic Park.
Roads will reopen progressively as the race advances, with timing determined by traffic police.
Residents should allow extra travel time, particularly when driving or booking taxis near the course.
Public transport may be more convenient, although some bus routes could be affected.
The Marathon Has Seen It All
Image via Beijing Marathon homepage
The Beijing Marathon began in 1981 with just 86 registered runners.
Since then, the race has witnessed its share of extraordinary performances and unexpected moments.
In 2022, 86-year-old Beijing runner Zhang Shun became the last participant to finish, completing the course in 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 15 seconds.
Accompanied by 12 closing pacers, he crossed the line to cheers before they bowed in tribute.
Image via Chinanews.com.cn
Zhang had first dreamed of running the marathon after watching it pass his neighborhood in 1989.
He finally entered the Beijing Marathon in 2004, 15 years after watching the runners pass his neighborhood for the first time.
Another remarkable chapter belongs to Chinese champion Sun Yingjie, whose women’s course record of 2:19:39, set in 2003, remains unbeaten.
Image via Sina Sports
In a post-race interview that year, Sun introduced an elderly supporter who had traveled around China to watch her compete, paying her own way to races in cities including Guangzhou and Shanghai.
Not every memorable marathon moment, however, has gone according to plan. In 2005, Kenyan runner Benson Cherono accidentally followed a television vehicle off the official course, missing approximately 800 meters.
His victory stood, but his finishing time was not officially recognized.
This Sunday, another 32,000 runners will take to Beijing’s streets, with a new chapter of marathon history waiting to unfold.
[Cover image via Beijing Marathon homepage]
