When it comes to marathons, not all 42.195 kilometers are created equal. Some are scenic, some are festive, but a rare few earn the title of “devilish courses.” In Asia, runners find some of the world’s most punishing routes, where bridges, tunnels, stairways, and endless slopes turn every step into a test of willpower. These are the races that chew runners up, spit them out, and leave them begging to return.
Hong Kong Marathon – The Devil of Bridges and Tunnels
Imagine running across three massive bridges, plunging into three deep tunnels, and climbing nearly 300 meters in total. That’s the Hong Kong Marathon.
Nicknamed “Asia’s Devil Course,” the race is a carnival of pain and spectacle. At the 30 km mark, runners drop into the infamous Western Harbour Tunnel, 30 meters below sea level. Cramped legs, heavy air, and the dreaded “wall” strike many here. But the real sting comes right afte, an energy-sapping flyover climb that feels like running straight into despair.
Yet, Hong Kong adds charm to the suffering. Each year’s Zodiac Medal, inspired by Chinese tradition, keeps runners hooked, collect all 12 over 12 years, and you become a legend of the course. As a local ad says: “No matter how hard, it’s just another stretch of road.” Easy to say, hellish to run.
Liupanshui Marathon – China’s Highland Devil
If Hong Kong is urban punishment, Liupanshui is nature’s chokehold. At an average altitude of 1,818 meters, oxygen thins out and every breath becomes a battle. The course twists through Guizhou’s rugged west, climbing nearly 300 meters with more than 10 serious hills.
The real boss fight comes at 27 km: a brutal 3 km uphill stretch that feels endless under thin air. For flatland runners, this is where the devil appears. Legs burn, lungs scream, but the cool “Summer Capital of China” gives no mercy.
What softens the blow? The views, wetlands, mountain ridges, suspension bridges. But when runners stagger into People’s Square at the finish, it’s not the scenery they remember, it’s that they survived a devilish high-altitude war.
Danzhou Marathon – The Tropical Rollercoaster
Think marathons are hard? Try one where the course is basically a rollercoaster. Welcome to Danzhou, Hainan’s devil course.
With nearly 200 meters of elevation and slopes packed from start to finish, the race feels like one endless ride of ups and downs. Between 16 and 30 km, runners hit wave after wave of climbs followed by sharp descents that shred the legs.
The tropical sun adds spice to the torture, baking the asphalt as sweat pours. Still, runners call it addictive. As one said: “Danzhou beats me up a thousand times, but I still love it like my first crush.” That’s the essence of this race, you curse it, you suffer, and then you come back for more.
Great Wall Marathon – The Stairway of Doom
If there’s one marathon that terrifies even seasoned athletes, it’s this one. The Great Wall Marathon in Beijing is not just a race, it’s survival against history.
The stats are staggering:
- 5164 ancient steps to climb, many uneven and brutally steep
- Elevation gain equal to climbing the Empire State Building two and a half times
- Slopes so steep they hit 45°, forcing runners to use hands as well as feet
- A dropout rate of up to 20%
Runners start with stair climbs that sap the legs, then trudge through villages and rocky trails, only to be dragged back onto the Wall in the dreaded final 10 km. The last climb, nicknamed the “Slope of Despair,” is nearly vertical. Every step is agony, every meter feels eternal.
And yet, those who finish hold a medal unlike any other. It’s not just proof of 42 km. It’s proof you conquered one of mankind’s greatest wonders, step by step.
Guiyang Marathon – The Kingdom of 18 Slopes
Highland air. Cool breezes. And 18 devilish slopes. That’s Guiyang Marathon, China’s one and only “Kingdom of Slopes.”
At 1,100–1,300 meters altitude, oxygen dips just enough to sting. The course throws 311 meters of climbing at runners, with its signature “Hero’s 18 Slopes” spaced across 42 km.
The deadliest? Between 25–35 km, known as the “Combo of Despair.” Here, tired runners smash into slope after slope while battling the wall. Many crack. Few glide.
But Guiyang rewards the stubborn. The course weaves through shimmering lakes, wetlands, and karst landscapes, with temperatures around 23°C offering a deceptive sense of comfort. Every finisher knows they didn’t just complete a marathon, they conquered a devilish gauntlet designed to test the very soul of endurance.
Devilish Pain, Heavenly Glory
What unites these races, Hong Kong’s tunnels, Liupanshui’s altitude, Danzhou’s rollercoaster, the Great Wall’s stairway of doom, Guiyang’s 18 slopes, isn’t just difficulty. It’s the promise that on the other side of pain lies something unforgettable.
These devilish courses break bodies but forge legends. Each finisher carries not only a medal, but a story of suffering turned into triumph. Because in the end, that’s the magic of a devil course: the harder it hurts, the sweeter the victory.