The Destination

Beijing has two airports for commercial flights - Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX).

On the Great Wall Marathon arrival days Tuesday and Wednesday race representatives will be present in both airports from 08:00-20:00 ready to assist if necessary. Transfer from the airport is not included and it is thus each participant's own responsibility to get to the hotel in Beijing.

PEK:
Depending on the airline you will arrive in either Terminal 2 or Terminal 3. In both terminals the race representatives can be found at the Starbucks café in the arrival hall.
From both terminals it is possible to take taxi and the Airport Express train to Beijing.

In Terminal 2 official taxis are parked just outside the arrival hall (Exit 9) on the same ground level. The Airport Express train platform is two floors down (escalators between Exit 5 and 7) but ticket vending machines are found in the arrival hall.

In Terminal 3 the arrival hall is located on the second floor (2F). Official taxis are found two floors down at level B1. The Airport Express train departs from level 2F but across the walkway - follow the signs to "Subway" and ticket vending machines are found just before reaching the platform.

A taxi from PEK costs between RMB 150-250 depending on your hotel and the traffic situation.
The Airport Express train stop at Sanyuanqiao, Dongzhimen, and Beixinqiao subway stations from where it is possible to take the subway. The Airport Express train ticket cost (as pr. April 2026) RMB 25 and a ticket to the subway cost RMB 3-5 depending on how far you go.

PKX:
Being the world's second largest airport Daxing Airport is fairly easy to navigate despite its size. Arrivals on domestic flights exit on the second floor (2F) but depending on airline it can be from either the East Exit or the West Exit - roughly 100 meters apart from each other. International arrivals including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan exit on the first floor (1F) and has only one exit.
The race representatives will be just to the right of the International arrivals exit on the first floor by the large LCD screen from "Beijing Service" - close to exit door 18.

Taxis are found on the first floor (1F) as you exit from door 18. Note that Daxing has two taxi lines - one for Beijing taxis (cars with a yellow stripe) and one for Hebei taxis (cars with a white top) - make sure you get in the right queue to the Beijing taxis.

The Airport Express train departs from level B1 (one floor down from the international arrivals hall). Escalators are found just to the left of exit door 18. Ticket vending machines are located straight ahead as you step off the escalators.

A taxi from PKX costs between RMB 250-350 depending on your hotel and the traffic situation.
The Airport Express train stop at Caoqiao subway station from where it is possible to take the subway. The Airport Express train ticket cost (as pr. April 2026) RMB 35 and a ticket to the subway cost around RMB 5 depending on how far you go.

NOTE:
While the Airports Express train and subway is cheaper than a taxi we do recommend taxi as travelling with luggage on the train/subway is subject to security check.

Arrival to Beijing by train
If you arrive to Beijing by train the end station in Beijing depends on where you travel from. There are 5 major railway stations in Beijing. It is possible to take taxis from the railway stations but the subway will also be in close proximity to the stations.

There will not be any race representatives in any of the railways stations.

All participants are responsible for checking whether their nationality requires a visa or not, and responsible for obtaining the visa if so. 

Although China has extended the list of countries who can enter visa free in 2026, we still advise you to check with the Chinese embassy or consulate appointed to your country for more information.

If you do require a visa to travel to China kindly be aware that there are different categories and you will most likely need a tourist visa (L) since the Great Wall Marathon is considered a tourist event by the local Chinese authorities and not a competitive sports event.

The visa application procedure normally requires submitting a visa application form, paying a fee and providing the Chinese authorities with a service voucher from the Great Wall Marathon containing hotel information and dates.

Around late March or early April, you will receive the service voucher, which you can use for acquiring a visa. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after entry.

The currency in China is RMB (renminbi), more popularly referred to as Yuan.

Major credit cards are widely accepted but it can still be a good idea to carry some cash with you - especially for taxi rides.
ATM's are found in the airport arrival halls, in banks and in some hotel lobbies.

The most common way to pay in China, however, is with WeChat Pay or Alipay - both apps allow you to connect your credit card for smooth payment all over China. 
Before using WeChat or Alipay you should pay attention to the fact that they demand access to certain (and many) features on your smartphone that may conflict with your wish to remain anonymous...

In general, the people of China are friendly and welcoming to visitors. If you act kindly, and with respect, there are not many special rules to abide by. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Cuisine etiquette
In respect for Chinese beliefs and traditions, never place your chopsticks vertically into the rice bowl as this is associated with incense sticks at funerals.
Do not point at people with or wave chopsticks around; it is considered rude.
Avoid tapping, drumming, or stirring food with your chopsticks.

Bargaining
It is typically expected that shoppers haggle about the price when browsing markets and stalls.
Bargaining for prices in supermarkets, restaurants and retail stores, however, is considered rude.

Photographing
Do ask for permission before you take photos of people - it's a respectful gesture.

Water
Tap water in China should not be considered safe to drink without boiling it first. Most hotels will provide guests with bottled water or a kettle to boil water for drinking and brushing your teeth. It's best to avoid ice cubes. Bottled water and soft drinks are easily available to buy all over China. 

Cuisine
"Anything that walks, swims, crawls or flies with its back to heaven is edible" - This famous Chinese saying tells you a lot about the rich and bold tapestry of flavors found in Chinese cuisine. Dining often occurs around large tables equipped with a turntable, making it easy to share and sample a variety of dishes. 

Dietary preferences and health requirements: 
We understand that allergies and special diets are a common concern among our guests. We do our very best to accommodate any diet for medical, allergy or religious needs; however, we cannot guarantee that all dining establishments can fulfill special requests. 

Delicious vegetarian and vegan alternatives are available at most establishments. 

If you require a special diet during your travel, please inform us no later than 45 days before your tour begins. 

Internet
WiFi services are accessible from hotels, airports, and some tourist areas. 

Be aware that many popular websites and apps are blocked in China. This includes Google, WhatsApp, X, YouTube, META's platforms and more. Consider subscribing to a VPN before you travel to China or buy an eSIM with data roaming to be able to use your everyday apps and websites.

Telephone
The international country code for China is +86. Overall, mobile coverage is generally good in China. Speak to your service provider about rates and roaming services, as roaming fees can be high. An eSIM with data can be a way to save money while you are away.

Medical assistance in general

It's advisable to purchase medical insurance that covers one of the internationl joint venture hospitals in many of the bigger cities like Beijing or Shanghai. If you fall ill, our guides and office team will assist in locatin a suitable hospital.

Medical assistance during the marathon event

An international team of doctors and nurses is available prior to, during and immediately after the marathon event. The doctors patrol the route and can be found at the Yin & Yang square. 

Please note

If any treatment is unable to be carried out by our doctors and it is necessary to refer a participant to a local meIical facility, our medical team and travel agency will not be held liable for any treatment carried out by local medical facilities. 

Most hotels in China feature universal sockets, but the most common types of plugs are type A (two flat parallel pins), type C (two round pins), and type I (three flat pins in a triangle).

The voltage in China is 220V/50Hz.

Modern and newly renovated hotels have also installed USB-A in some of their sockets. Nevertheless, we recommend that you bring an adapter to ensure your electrical appliances can be charged.
A voltage converter is necessary for 110V devices.

See under Arrival to Beijing for info on how to take taxi from the airport to Beijing city and approximate fares.
It is always a good idea to ask the driver to turn on the taximeter.
Taxis usually don't accept credit cards, so have cash available or WeChat or Alipay app with a connected credit card.
DO NOT use "taxi service" from drivers approaching you outside of the official taxi stand - doing so will mean you end up paying overprice. Use the official line to get to the actual Beijing taxis. Official Beijing taxis will always have license plates starting with "京B".

Private taxi service is also possible to use via the DiDi app (like a Chinese Uber). If you have WeChat or Alipay with a connected credit card you can also book via their built in DiDi service. Fares are usually cheaper than official taxis and when booked through the official app the price will be fixed and paid via the app.
However, if you are a first time visitor to China the official taxis may be easier to use.

You can always ask the hotel reception to order a taxi for you (technically you can walk in to any hotel and ask if you have trouble hailing one on the street). Note that some hotels use the DiDi app to book a private taxi. This is as safe as using an official taxi, but may seem a bit suspicious at first as the receptionist will likely use his/her private DiDi to call the driver and payment will also be from the receptionists app meaning you will have to pay the receptionist in cash.
Larger and more upscale hotels, however, will call for official taxis.

Hailing a taxi from the street can sometimes be difficult - especially in rush hours and at night. Be aware that private cars may stop and offer taxi service. Be sure you agree on the price before you get in. We do, however, recommend that you only use official taxis or DiDi.

Tipping is never mandatory, but will of course be appreciated in "tourist-areas" and by local guides and bus drivers. Cash is recommended if you want to give tips, but WeChat and Alipay can also be used to tip your local guide and driver.

When travelling on a group tour the "standard" level for local guides is 30-35 RMB (around €4) pr. day and 15-20 RMB (around €2) pr. day for bus drivers.
While your bus driver may change from day to day your local guide will be with the group throughout the tour and tipping can thus be done Sunday on the way to the Gala Dinner.

At hotels a normal level for bellboys and housekeeping is 5-15 RMB pr. day if the service is satisfying.

Restaurants may already have added a 10-15% service charge to the bill in which case additional tips should only be given if the service and food have been extraordinary.

Tipping to taxi drivers is unusual, but if paying cash rounding up the bill is appreciated.

In May, spring is in its prime with sunny, blue skies and lush green vegetation lining the Great Wall. In recent years the weather during the Great Wall Marathon has been somewhat unpredictable, varying from a low of 16°C /61°F to a high of 35°C / 95°F.  Rain is unusual during the race, but can occur. Expect high humidity.