There are some races you photograph once and move on from.
And then there’s the Conquer The Wall Marathon in JingShanLing Great Wall 金山岭长城 , Beijing.
Back in 2015, Running Shots was first invited to cover the race. It was also my very first time visiting the Great Wall of China. I still remember stepping onto the ancient stones of JingShanLing Great Wall and just standing there in silence for a moment. The endless stretch of the wall weaving through the mountains looked almost unreal — like something out of a movie scene.
More than a decade later, after covering every edition of the race since 2015, that feeling still hasn’t gone away.
Every year, the wall humbles you again.
Returning To JingShanLing Great Wall 金山岭长城
This year’s edition, held on May 9th, 2026, brought almost perfect race conditions.
The morning started at a cooling 12°C, with temperatures slowly climbing to around 20°C in the afternoon. Unlike previous years where strong winds could make the exposed sections of the wall brutal, this year’s weather was kind. Mostly cloudy skies provided cover throughout the day, with occasional bursts of sunlight lighting up the mountains and watchtowers beautifully for photography.
Most overseas participants stayed in Beijing city, with many based at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Before race day even begins, runners already know they’re in for an adventure — the journey from Beijing to JingShanLing takes close to three hours by bus.
But as the buses pull into the race village before sunrise, fatigue disappears quickly.
There’s always this unique atmosphere before the start of Conquer The Wall. Excitement. Nervous laughter. Final gear checks. People taking photos of the wall while trying to mentally prepare themselves for what’s ahead.
Because this is not your usual road race.
Four Distances, One Great Wall
The event features four categories:
- 42km Marathon
- 21km Half Marathon
- 10km
- 5km Fun Run
The 42km runners were flagged off first at 6:30am.
And no — despite the early timing, it isn’t dark at all.
The sun rises around 5am in JingShanLing, so by 6:30am the entire mountain range is already glowing in soft morning light. For photographers, it’s honestly one of the most beautiful moments of the race.
Ten minutes later, the 10km and 5km runners began their race, followed by the 21km category shortly after.
Then the suffering begins.
The Wall Does Not Give Anything For Free
For both the 42km and 21km runners, the race starts with a deceptive 1.5 to 2km uphill run leading toward the Great Wall itself.
The runners eventually reach the famous ZhuanDuoKou Pass — and that’s where the real adventure starts.
Turning right from ZhuanDuoKou, runners head toward the iconic Six-Window Tower. This section is relentless. Endless elevation gain. Uneven stone steps. Sharp climbs that force even experienced runners to slow down and manage their effort carefully.
As photographers, this section is both spectacular and exhausting to cover. Every corner reveals another dramatic backdrop — ancient towers rising above the mountains, runners climbing steep stone staircases, clouds drifting behind the wall.
At Six-Window Tower, runners finally leave the wall briefly and descend onto a hiking trail before rejoining the course again at Gu Bei Kou.
And this is where the race becomes truly special.
The Wild Great Wall Experience
Unlike the more restored tourist sections of the Great Wall, parts of Gu Bei Kou remain largely untouched and unrestored.
These “wild wall” sections are rugged, weathered and partially dilapidated. Yet somehow, that makes them even more beautiful.
The broken stones, steep watchtowers and winding pathways still carry an incredible sense of history and grandeur. Standing there with a camera, watching runners carefully navigate these ancient structures surrounded by mountain ranges, feels surreal every single year.
Runners must clear a total of 23 towers within the Gu Bei Kou section, with hydration support available at Station 5 along the route.
Eventually, runners arrive at Station 6 — the major checkpoint stocked with water, fruits, energy bars and medical support teams.
For the 21km runners, this marks the turnaround point.
For the 42km runners?
Not even close.
The Marathon Route That Refuses To End
After Station 6, marathon runners head into a roughly 4km village loop around Gu Bei Kou before rejoining the wall again.
Both the 21km and 42km participants then make their long journey back toward ZhuanDuoKou Pass. 
And when we say long — we mean it.
Another 29 towers stand between them and the pass.
By this stage, fatigue becomes very visible. You see runners digging deep mentally just to keep moving forward. Some are cramping. Some are walking silently. Others are still smiling somehow.
That’s the magic of this race.
Once the runners return to ZhuanDuoKou Pass, the routes split again.
The 21km runners descend off the wall and finally head toward the f
inish line.
The 42km runners, however, continue toward the East Five-Window Tower — one of the toughest and highest sections of the entire course.
Some towers here are so steep that runners literally need to use all fours to climb up safely or sit down and ease themselves down.
As photographers, these are the moments we live for.
You see determination, exhaustion, grit and disbelief all happening at the same time.
Eventually runners descend toward the East Gate checkpoint before making a U-turn all the way back again.
And just when many runners think they’re almost done…
They realise they’ve only completed about 32km.
To complete the full marathon distance, runners must repeat another brutal loop toward East Five-Window Tower and back again.
This is not a race you casually sign up for.
The More Accessible Routes
Thankfully, the 10km and 5km categories offer a more approachable way to experience the Great Wall.
The 10km runners head left from ZhuanDuoKou Pass toward East Five-Window Tower before descending to the East Gate checkpoint and returning to the finish line.
Meanwhile, the 5km category is designed for family members and supporters who simply want to experience the atmosphere while waiting for friends and loved ones. Participants head toward the cable car tower beyond ZhuanDuoKou before completing a scenic pavement loop.
For many first-timers, even the shorter distances become unforgettable experiences.
So… Which Distance Should You Run?
The 42km route sounds exactly as brutal as it is.
This is a race reserved for runners who are both physically prepared and mentally strong. The Great Wall is unforgiving. Every staircase feels different. Every climb drains the legs differently.
Personally though?
I think the 21km category is the sweet spot.
It’s long and challenging enough to fully experience the wall, while still allowing runners to truly appreciate the scenery and atmosphere instead of purely surviving the course.
You still get the iconic towers. The wild wall sections. The mountain views.
And trust me — that’s already more than enough adventure for most runners.
A Medal Worth Every Step
At the finish line, exhausted runners are rewarded with one of the most unique race medals you’ll ever see.
Each year’s medal design corresponds with the Chinese zodiac animal of that year.
2026 happens to be the Year of the Horse, meaning finishers received a beautifully designed horse-themed medal to commemorate their conquest of the wall.
And after watching thousands of runners battle the Great Wall once again this year, it honestly feels like every single finisher earned it the hard way.
Why We Keep Coming Back
After covering this race since 2015, people often ask me whether it ever gets repetitive.
The answer is simple.
Not even close.
Every year brings different weather. Different runners. Different stories. Different emotions.
But the Great Wall always remains the star of the show.
As photographers, we don’t just document a race here. We document people challenging themselves against one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.
And every time we leave JingShanLing, tired and dusty after a long day of shooting, we already know one thing.
We’ll be back again next year. And we hope to see more Singaporeans at this race!
– Marcus
Running Shots
View the race photos at : https://photos.runningshots.sg/pages/events
For more info on the race, check out : https://conquerthewallmarathon.com/
