Next race
Sunday, 6 June 2027
8:00 am start
Distance
42.195 km / 26.2 mi
Urban road
Elevation
Rolling · 100 m gain
100 m climbing
Race profile
The Baotou Marathon draws approximately 8,000 finishers each June on an urban road in Baotou, China. Dry air and plateau exposure make the race feel tougher than the profile suggests. The course passes broad Inner Mongolian avenues, parks, and open industrial-city landscapes under huge skies. Thin air at altitude is the main pacing challenge despite a flat layout.
Baotou Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Approximately 8,000 finishers
Course & terrain
Starts and finishes in Baotou's central district. The course passes broad Inner Mongolian avenues, parks, and open industrial-city landscapes under huge skies. Very flat at high altitude. Moderate terrain throughout.
The Baotou Marathon course is rolling over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 100 metres of climbing and 95 metres of descent, with a net climb of 5 metres from start to finish.
Rolling · 100 m gain — approx. 1,064 m above sea level
↑ 100 m · ↓ 95 m · net +5 m
Registration
The Baotou Marathon uses a lottery or ballot through baotou.marathon.org.cn, with registration windows that typically open several months before the June race. Domestic applicants register via the official marathon.org.cn portal and demand routinely exceeds the mass-participation cap of roughly 8k runners. International runners must monitor the official site for overseas entry channels and health-credential requirements, as places fill quickly once the window opens.
Getting there
Baotou Donghe International Airport (BAV)
16 km / 10 mi
Common questions
Official resources
Last updated 11 October 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Close to this race
Other races closest to Baotou.
The Hohhot Marathon draws approximately 10k finishers each May on an urban road in Hohhot, China. Altitude and dry air matter more here than hills do. The course passes Mongolian-style civic spaces, wide avenues, and open skies on the Inner Mongolian plateau. Thin air at altitude is the main pacing challenge despite a flat layout.
Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027
The Shijiazhuang Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 12k finishers each April on an urban road in Shijiazhuang, China. Its straightforward flat layout gives runners few terrain surprises. The route passes broad Hebei boulevards, civic plazas, and city parks built on the North China Plain. The course is very flat throughout.
Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027
Planning guides
Practical guides to help you plan, train for, and run this race.
What flat, rolling, and hilly really mean — and how to read elevation gain, net change, and altitude on a marathon course.
How major marathons allocate places — open entry, lotteries, charity bibs, tour operators, and what to check before you commit to a trip.
How temperature, humidity, wind, and rain affect marathon performance — and how to use typical race-day weather when choosing a start line.
