Choosing between Cape Town Marathon and Chengdu Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Cape Town Marathon | Chengdu Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 30 May 2027 at 6:30 am | Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 7:30 am |
| Elevation | Rolling with notable climbs - approx. 25m above sea level. ↑ 205 m · ↓ 203 m · net +2 m | Very flat - approx. 499m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m |
| Typical weather | Mild autumn with coastal breezes | Mild and humid autumn |
| Typical participants | Approximately 11k finishers | Approximately 35k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | Competitive |
The Cape Town Marathon is Africa's first Abbott World Marathon Major, joining the series in 2027 as the eighth race. The scenic course starts and finishes at DHL Stadium with views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic coastline. With rolling terrain and around 205 metres of total climbing, it is the only AIMS Gold Label marathon on the continent and a landmark race for runners worldwide.
The Chengdu Marathon draws approximately 35k runners each autumn through Sichuan's relaxed capital, famous for pandas, hot pot, and teahouse culture. The course passes Tianfu Square, the Jinjiang River, and the Anshun Bridge with views toward the Qionglai mountains on clear days. October race weather in the Sichuan Basin is mild and overcast — ideal for a flat, fast urban loop.
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