Overview
The Foshan Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 12k finishers each November on an urban road in Foshan, China. It showcases Foshan's martial-arts and ceramics heritage within a fast Pearl River Delta course. The course passes Lingnan-style cultural landmarks, riverside sections, and broad delta-city roads. The course is very flat throughout.
Foshan Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.
Foshan Marathon 2026 race day
The next Foshan Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 1 November 2026 with a 8:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 50 m of climbing on a very flat layout.
Foshan Marathon course route
Starts and finishes in Foshan's urban center. The course passes Lingnan-style cultural landmarks, riverside sections, and broad delta-city roads. Level boulevards through the Pearl River Delta suit steady negative splits, with crowds gathering at riverside landmarks and the civic finish.
Foshan Marathon elevation profile
The Foshan Marathon course is very flat over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 50 metres of climbing and 50 metres of descent, with minimal net elevation change from start to finish.
Entry requirements
The Foshan Marathon uses a lottery or ballot through foshan.marathon.org.cn, with registration windows that typically open several months before the November race. Domestic applicants register via the official marathon.org.cn portal and demand routinely exceeds the mass-participation cap of roughly 12k runners. International runners must monitor the official site for overseas entry channels and health-credential requirements, as places fill quickly once the window opens.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Foshan Marathon elevation profile?
- The Foshan Marathon has 50 metres of total climbing and 50 metres of descent over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). The course is very flat, with 0 metres of net change from start to finish.
- How long is the Foshan Marathon?
- The Foshan Marathon is the standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles), certified to World Athletics rules. Starts and finishes in Foshan's urban center.
- What time does the Foshan Marathon start?
- The 2026 Foshan Marathon starts at 8:00 am local time on Sunday, 1 November 2026. Arrive early for baggage drop and corral access — official race communications on foshan.marathon.org.cn/ confirm any last-minute schedule changes.
- Where does the Foshan Marathon start and finish?
- Starts and finishes in Foshan's urban center. Updated course maps are published at https://foshan.marathon.org.cn/ each year.
- When is the Foshan Marathon and how do I register?
- Foshan Marathon is typically held in November. Registration opens through https://foshan.marathon.org.cn/ and may use a lottery or tiered entry when demand exceeds capacity.
- Is the Foshan Marathon course flat?
- Yes. Foshan Marathon is known for a largely flat profile with only minor undulations, making it popular with runners chasing steady pacing.
- What landmarks does the Foshan Marathon pass?
- The course passes Lingnan-style cultural landmarks, riverside sections, and broad delta-city roads.
- What weather should runners expect at Foshan Marathon?
- Typically mild and humid with light breeze and warm late-autumn temperatures.
Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.
Nearby Marathons
Other races closest to Foshan.
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