Choosing between Dalian 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 | Dalian Marathon | Zhengzhou Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 9 May 2027 at 7:30 am | Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 7:00 am |
| Elevation | Mostly flat with gentle undulations - approx. 33m above sea level. ↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m | Very flat - approx. 104m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m |
| Typical weather | Mild spring | Mild autumn |
| Typical participants | Approximately 30k finishers | Approximately 36k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Easy | Competitive |
The Dalian Marathon brings approximately 30k finishers each May to the Liaodong Peninsula's most cosmopolitan port. The coastal loop passes Xinghai Square — one of Asia's largest city squares — the Dalian waterfront, and forested coastal roads with Yellow Sea views. May's mild Liaoning spring and fresh sea breezes make it one of northeast China's most popular marathons.
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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