Dalian International Marathon
Dalian, China · April · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Run since 1987; World Athletics Elite Label since 2025.
- Yellow Sea coastline and Xinghai Bay, with a downhill coastal finish.
- 25 aid points, about one every 1.7 km (1.1 mi).
- Metro Line 2 reaches Donggang, then a 10-minute walk to the start.
- Entry fee about 25 USD (180 CNY).
Watch out for
- Lottery entry; odds are not published but a guide says they are easier than Shanghai.
- Headwinds up to about 28 km (17.4 mi)/h (18 mph) after 35 km (22 mi).
- Climb of about 40 m (130 ft) mid-race; sources give 45 to 90 m (148 to 295 ft) total gain.
- Few runner reviews exist; most information is from guides and press.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
Mostly press and commercial-guide material: a long-running coastal race with good crowds and a well-organised field. Few runners have written about it. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
World Athletics Elite Label since 2025, 25 aid points and closed main roads, but all from one guide with no runner confirmation. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
The cutoff is 6 h 15 min, but coastal rolling hills, wind and a crowd of about 30,000 across events add difficulty. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.5
Gain 45 to 90 m (148 to 295 ft) with a downhill finish, but headwinds on the coast; course record 2:09:29. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.9
Yellow Sea coast, rocky shoreline, a sea-crossing bridge and Xinghai Bay, per guides and press. Few runner accounts. · Low confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
About 30,000 across events, crowded start advised against weaving; loop course. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.6
City and coastal roads of a large city; no surface complaints found, but no explicit praise either. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
Traffic control from 04:50 and main roads closed 06:30 to 07:00, per a commercial guide. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.2
Gain of 45 to 90 m (148 to 295 ft); the source page gives both figures. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.2
Loop; the last 12 km (7.5 mi) is mostly downhill on the source page. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Metro Line 2 to Donggang then a 10-minute walk; taxis are discouraged and shuttles are offered. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.4
Elite Label event with chip timing; pace group details not found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
Press and a returning runner call the locals enthusiastic, but a guide says it thins out and feels lonely from 21 to 30 km (18.6 mi). · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.8
25 aid points on the marathon, about every 1.7 km (1.1 mi), per a guide. No runner accounts of the stations. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind2.7
Sea breeze up to about 28 km (17.4 mi)/h (18 mph); headwinds reported at 35 to 40 km (22 to 25 mi). · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.1
Race-week average about 11 °C (51 °F), range 8 to 13 °C (46 to 55 °F), per a guide. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Spring coastal weather is usually cool, with a variable sea breeze. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.3
Metro access; coastal stretches are open but crowds thin between 21 and 30 km (13 and 19 mi). · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Highest point about 45 m (148 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.9
Large coastal city with plenty of hotels within about 3 km (2 mi) of the central squares. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.9
No price data; a large city outside the Shanghai price range. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable3.7
Metro to the start; many hotels within about 3 km (2 mi). · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.3
The airport is about 13 km (8 mi) away; most overseas visitors need a China visa and WeChat. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.3
Lottery and Chinese-language registration, plus early road closures. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood3.8
Fresh seafood and clean beaches, per one guide. Few first-hand reports. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.7
Lottery, but rundida says odds are reasonable and easier than Shanghai; no odds published. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
Fee is 180 CNY (about 25 USD) for a World Athletics Label race. Swag is not described. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Typical month
- April
- Latest or next date
- 25 April 2027
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 16,000 athletes
- First held
- 1987
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 90 m (295 ft)
- Descent
- 90 m (295 ft)
- Start time
- 07:30
- Cutoff
- 6.25 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- City and coastal roads
- How to get in
- lottery
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $25
- Air temperature
- 8–15 °C (46–59 °F)
- Humidity
- Coastal, moderate
- Altitude
- 25 m (82 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Dalian Zhoushuizi International (DLC), 13 km (8 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Zhongshan Square, Renmin Road, Xinghai Bay
- Booking
- Stay within about 3 km (2 mi) of Zhongshan Square or Renmin Road; Metro Line 2 reaches Donggang Station. Airport transfer by light rail about 40 minutes.
What racers and reviewers say
- rundida (Dalian page)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Commercial guide: coastal loop with about 45 to 90 m (148 to 295 ft) gain, 25 aid points, 6 h 15 min cutoff, headwinds at 35 to 40 km (22 to 25 mi), thin crowds at 21 to 30 km (13 to 19 mi) and a coastal finish called the best part.
- rundida (Dalian vs Shanghai)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Compares Dalian with Shanghai: about 16,000 marathoners, 8 to 13 °C (46 to 55 °F), good crowds, easier lottery and a more personal feel than big-city marathons.
- Nigeria News AgencyRaced 2023 · article · Positive
2023 coverage of the 33rd edition: nearly 30,000 runners from 25 countries and regions; route from Donggang, around Xinghai Bay, over a sea bridge and back along Huihua Avenue; a returning Japanese runner praised the locals' cheering.
- WikipediaRaced 2018 · article · Positive
Established in 1987, one of China's oldest marathons; the course record fell to 2:09:44 in 2018 (since beaten); about 30,000 runners in 2015.
Raced Dalian International Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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