Where History Meets Trail Running: the GTWS Returns to the Great Wall of China

Just one week after the debut of Myoko Trail (Japan), the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) will continue their Asian journey with a visit to the Great Wall of China, one of the most iconic and distinctive venues on the calendar. There, the world’s trail running elite will compete in a truly unique setting, where top-level sport meets centuries of history at one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Scheduled for 27 September, the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race will also provide athletes with their final opportunity to score valuable points before the Muju Trail Grand Finale in South Korea.

The GTWS return to China for a third consecutive year. The country first joined the circuit in 2024 with the Four Sisters Mountain Trail, while the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race became part of the championship in 2025. The event perfectly reflects the essence of the GTWS: world-class competition, demanding courses, and venues of exceptional cultural and natural significance. Few locations embody this philosophy better than Jinshanling, nestled in the Yan Mountains, just two hours by road from Beijing and home to one of the most spectacular and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China.

JINSHANLING: ONE OF TRAIL RUNNING’S MOST EXTRAORDINARY STAGES

The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race was launched in 2023 with the ambition of becoming a leading international trail running event and a showcase for China’s rich natural and cultural heritage.

Its 23-kilometre course with 1,667 metres of elevation gain combines some of the best-preserved sections of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall with the spectacular scenery of the Yan Mountains, creating a route designed to capture the very essence of Jinshanling.

The race follows a circular course through the region, taking runners across the steep and uneven stone staircases that connect the Great Wall’s many watchtowers. After leaving the monument behind, athletes venture into the Yan Mountains, where ridgelines and winding trails create a true rollercoaster of short, explosive climbs, constant changes of rhythm and demanding technical sections.

As challenging as it is breathtaking, the Jinshanling course delivers a unique experience for both athletes and spectators. After making its GTWS debut in 2025, when it was held in April during the early stages of the season, the race returns in 2026 with an added attraction: an autumn date. At this time of year, the forests surrounding the Great Wall are transformed into a vibrant tapestry of gold, red and amber tones, creating an unforgettable backdrop alongside the centuries-old fortifications.

“At Jinshanling, runners are not only testing their speed, endurance and technical ability; they are also moving through a landscape steeped in centuries of history. The ancient Great Wall and the modern spirit of trail running come together to create a unique experience that connects the past with the future,” explain the organisers.

The Golden Trail World Series’ first visit to Jinshanling produced some truly memorable moments. Racing in hot temperatures and on a dry and dusty course, Patrick Kipngeno (Run2Gether On Trail) and Caroline Kimutai (Salomon) claimed victory.

Images of the world’s best trail runners racing across the Great Wall during the 2025 edition quickly became some of the most iconic of the season. “Those images reached audiences around the world and placed Jinshanling, one of the great symbols of China’s cultural heritage, at the heart of the global trail running conversation. Joining the GTWS has strengthened the race’s international profile and established it as one of Asia’s most distinctive trail events, attracting a growing number of elite athletes and international runners eager to discover China’s mountains and cultural richness, the organisers added.

The region’s cultural identity is woven into every aspect of the event, from the course itself to the race’s visual identity. The event logo is inspired by the only surviving Qilin mural found on this section of the Great Wall. In Chinese tradition, the Qilin is a mythical creature associated with good fortune, courage, integrity, harmony, protection and the pursuit of excellence.

These values reflect both the historical role of the Great Wall as a symbol of resilience and protection, and the spirit of trail running itself, a sport built on self-improvement, exploration and embracing the unknown. The presence of the Qilin within the identity of the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race perfectly encapsulates this connection between history, nature and contemporary trail culture. As the organisers explain, “the race aims to tell the story of a place through trail running, creating connections between mountains, communities, culture and sport.”

CHINA: A RISING POWERHOUSE IN TRAIL RUNNING

Over the past decade, trail running has experienced remarkable growth in China, with an ever-increasing number of runners heading into the mountains to discover the freedom, adventure and challenges that outdoor sports can offer. “This growth in participation is ushering in a new era for the sport, one in which race quality, athlete experience and stronger connections with the global trail running community are becoming increasingly important,” explain the organisers of the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race.

The arrival of internationally renowned events and the rapid development of an increasingly sophisticated racing ecosystem are establishing China as a major player on the global trail running scene. In fact, China is the only country that not only hosts a Golden Trail National Championship to crown its national champions, but also stages a full Golden Trail National Series, comprising four races plus a Grand Final. The top two men and women in the overall standings, as well as the top U23 athletes, earn a Golden Ticket, securing direct qualification for the Golden Trail World Series Grand Finale in South Korea.

The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race aims to contribute to this growth by introducing runners from around the world to China’s mountains, landscapes and cultural heritage through trail running. With the same objective in mind, and following the 50% increase in the overall GTWS prize purse for 2026, the two Asian races leading into the Grand Finale will offer a record prize fund of €40,800 shared among the top 10 men and women, including €6,000 for each race winner.

For the organisers, becoming part of the Golden Trail World Series has been a transformative milestone. “The GTWS has given the event significantly greater international visibility, allowing elite athletes, media and trail running fans from around the world to discover Jinshanling. At the same time, this partnership has encouraged us to continue raising our organisational standards, enhancing the athlete experience and strengthening our international communications,” they say.

As a result, the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race has become a bridge between China and the global trail running community, welcoming a growing number of international runners eager to explore the country’s mountains and rich cultural heritage.

On 27 September, the world’s best athletes will once again take on one of the most distinctive courses on the calendar, where elite competition meets centuries of history beneath the imposing presence of the Great Wall of China. In this extraordinary setting, runners will pursue the excellence symbolised by the Qilin while exploring some of the country’s most iconic landscapes.

The race will be broadcast live across Warner Bros. Discovery’s platforms (HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports), as well as through an extensive network of international broadcast partners.