Choosing between Chengdu Marathon and Zhengzhou 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 | Chengdu Marathon | Zhengzhou Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 7:30 am | Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 7:00 am |
| Elevation | Very flat - approx. 499m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m | Very flat - approx. 104m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m |
| Typical weather | Mild and humid autumn | Mild autumn |
| Typical participants | Approximately 35k finishers | Approximately 36k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Competitive | Competitive |
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.
The Zhengzhou Marathon attracts approximately 36k finishers each October through Henan province's transport hub on the Yellow River. The course links the Zhengdong New Area CBD towers, Erqi Memorial Tower, and the Songshan foothills approach on wide Henan boulevards. October's mild central-China weather and a largely flat profile make it one of the country's fastest major mass-participation marathons.
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