Shanghai International Marathon
Shanghai, China · November/December · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Starts at the Bund Bull beside the Huangpu River and the Pudong skyline.
- Flat, with 26 to 45 m (85 to 148 ft) of gain.
- 43 medical stations and about 4,400 volunteers in 2025.
- Finishes at Shanghai Stadium with seating for families.
Watch out for
- Expect 5 to 6 security checks at the expo and 2 to 3 on race day.
- Lottery entry: about 150,000 applied for about 38,000 places in 2019.
- Toilets can be hard to find at the start.
- Some years run warm; 2019 started in extreme heat.
- Few recent runner reviews exist, and many sources date from 2010 to 2016.
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: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
Few reviews: RaceRaves gives 4.5 from 2 runners and MarathonGuide 5.0 from 1 in 2010. Recent coverage is official and positive. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Runners call the expo huge and the event well organised, with 43 medical stations. Against that: 5 to 6 expo security checks and hard-to-find toilets. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.5
A flat course and big support, but entry is by lottery with long odds, older years needed a medical form, and the cutoff is unclear. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.3
Only 26 to 45 m (85 to 148 ft) of gain and records of 2:05:35 and 2:16:36. Heat in some years. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.8
The Bund, Huangpu riverfront, Nanjing Road and Xintiandi. Older reports found the Pudong stretch under an elevated road dull. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.6
Three waves and refined corrals since 2025, but a field of 23,000. A U-turn at Xintiandi was removed in 2016. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.3
Smooth asphalt on wide boulevards per course listings. No runner comments on surface. · Low confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.5
Central roads are closed for the race, though older years included a tunnel crossing and route changes. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.9
Total gain of 26 to 45 m (85 to 148 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Point to point but flat. Boston eligibility is not confirmed. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.4
A Bund start with good atmosphere and three waves. Bag drop worked, but repeated security screening and hard-to-find toilets. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Chip timing with fast finish certificates in older reports. Pacer range was not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Music stations, 18 school orchestras in 2016 and big crowds at the Bund start. Spectators were sparse on Pudong in older years. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Water, sports drink and sponge stations, plus 43 medical stations. Figures come from official coverage; runners advise carrying fuel. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.7
City canyons and river banks. No wind complaints were found. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
December highs of 12 to 19 °C (54 to 66 °F), lows of 3 to 8 °C (37 to 46 °F). Some years are warmer. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Usually mild and dry, but 2019 started in extreme heat and the date has moved. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.6
Spectator seats beside the stadium track and metro access, but sparse crowds in Pudong. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Shanghai is about 4 m (13 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityPlentiful4.8
A huge hotel market. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.7
Wide price range; race week rates rise. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
The start at the Bund Bull is near Nanjing East Road metro, and the stadium finish has metro links. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.6
A major international hub, but visa and transit rules add friction. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
A huge expo but multiple security checks, set bib pickup days and a medical form in older years. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.8
Shanghai food, the Bund and old-town sightseeing. · Medium 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 inHard2.0
Lottery: about 150,000 applied for about 38,000 places across all races in 2019. · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.8
Entry runs 120 to 1,150 CNY ($17 to $160). Medal, towel and shirt were praised. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Shanghai, Shanghai, China
- Typical month
- November/December
- Latest or next date
- 6 December 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 23,000 athletes
- First held
- 1996
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 45 m (150 ft)
- Start time
- 07:00
- Surface
- Smooth asphalt
- How to get in
- lottery
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $17
- Air temperature
- 8–15 °C (46–59 °F)
- Humidity
- About 65%
- Altitude
- 4 m (13 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA); Pudong (PVG) for most long-haul, 14 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- The Bund, People's Square, Xintiandi
- Booking
- Book early for race week.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Two reviewers (2.0 difficulty average, 4.5 overall). Both loved the lively Bund start and swag; one found the expo huge and well organised, the other counted 5 to 6 checks to enter and 2 to 3 on race day and struggled to find toilets.
- MarathonGuideRaced 2010 · aggregator · Positive
Gave 5.0, called it very well organised and expects further improvement as a Majors candidate. Raced in 2010 so evidence is old.
- Untour Food Tours (2010)Raced 2010 · blog · Mixed
Packet pickup was hard to find and shirts ran out; the course crossed the Fuxing Lu tunnel and Pudong under an elevated road with few spectators. Water stations alternated with sponge stations that littered the road; finish had quick certificates, snacks and a medal.
- Untour Food Tours (2011)Raced 2011 · blog · Mixed
Registration needed an extra PayPal step and a medical form. Route ran south along the Bund then flat Pudong with sparse puzzled spectators; the finish had a free shuttle and fast printed results.
“Usually only XL and XXL are available if you go on the 2nd day.”
- AIMS Distance RunningRaced 2016 · article · Positive
2016 coverage: 38,000 runners, 18 school orchestras and music stations, stadium-infield finish with space to slow down, massage tents, towels and medals; Xintiandi U-turn removed.
Show 3 more
- Shanghai government (English)Raced 2025 · article · Positive
Official 2025 recap: 23,000 starters at 7 a.m., about 4,400 volunteers and 43 medical stations. Organiser source, so treat as promotional.
“I hope Shanghai becomes part of the world majors.”
- Marathon IndexRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Course listing: 45 m (148 ft) of gain on smooth asphalt through the Bund, Pudong skyline and Huangpu River.
- China Services Info (2019)Raced 2019 · article · Positive
A half-marathon finisher quoted in 2019 said the event has always been very well organised and praised the water points.
Raced Shanghai 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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