The Great Wall and Three Peaks are two of the most iconic trail running routes in Beijing. And for us, the natural place to begin Run the Trails.
This journal explains why these routes matter to China’s trail running community, what they reveal about trail running in China, and why they set the foundation for our trail run holidays.
Running the Great Wall: Modern Movement on Ancient Ground
My relationship with the Great Wall began through racing. Two races in the same year, one at Jinshanling 金山岭, another at Badaling 八达岭, running alongside both local Chinese runners and international participants.
What stayed with me wasn’t just how foreign runners reacted. Of course, many of us stopped, gasped, pulled out our phones 📱🤳 (and the Garmin pause forgotten at this point). The scale, landscape, and history are overwhelming. What surprised me was seeing local runners pause too. Even those who train here regularly still felt the weight and majesty of the Wall.
There is something powerful about doing something so modern, such as chasing performance and testing limits, on something so ancient. The Great Wall was built to withstand invading armies. Today, it still stands strong enough to carry the impact of our running footsteps.
On our Badaling route, roughly 20% of the run is on the Wall itself, and every step is earned. Runners first take in the vastness of the landscape and the sweep of history. Then comes the reality: steep, narrow steps that often require all fours, relentless climbs, and legs that burn long before the views stop impressing.
At each pass or watchtower, there is a moment of quiet. You can see how far the Wall stretches, how strategically each window frames the terrain beyond. For most visitors, walking two or three kilometres here is already a challenge，and very few venture beyond. Running through it is the most immersive way to understand the craft, mystery, and human effort behind the Wall.
There is a well-known Chinese saying: “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true hero.” For trail runners, running it becomes a bucket-list experience -- not just for the bragging rights, but for the depth of perspective it offers.
Three Peaks: Where Beijing Trail Runners Are Made
If the Great Wall represents history and scale, Three Peaks represents initiation.
Among Beijing’s trail running community, Three Peaks is where runners go when they want to get serious. It’s the route many point to as the moment they were truly “converted” to trail running 😂 ,the one that nearly broke them, frustrated them, and then somehow pulled them back again.
Three Peaks is a test in every sense. Technical footing. Large boulders. Shards of rock on descents that punish poor grip and sloppy technique. Three major relentless ascents and descents that challenge glutes, lungs, and mental resolve.
In my early trail running days, I used to call Three Peaks “the shoe destroyer.” Even if your body survives the run, your shoes will tell you the truth about your technique. Bad foot placement, poor downhill control, or the wrong shoe choice become immediately obvious here.
This is why locals train on Three Peaks instead of easier scenic routes. It’s where runners test not just fitness, but readiness & skills before tackling bigger distances and higher elevation races. It’s a demanding, honest terrain that gives nothing away for free
Fragrant Hills: The Common Ground
Both trail run experiences are anchored by Fragrant Hills, where many Beijing runners take their very first steps into trail running.
Fragrant Hills acts as a confidence builder and skill classroom. Within a compact area, runners encounter varied terrain, short punchy climbs, technical descents, and changing surfaces, making it ideal for learning how to ascend, descend, use poles effectively, and move efficiently on trail.
For many participants, it’s also where they realise what’s been missing: not fitness, but technique and confidence.
Trail Run Training, Exploration, and Recovery — Together
These routes are designed to feel purposeful without losing their sense of holiday. Training matters, but so does recovery, exploration, and enjoyment.
Food and local culture are non-negotiable parts of a good trail running holiday. So is proper rest. After long days on the trail, runners return to high-quality hotel accommodation — places chosen deliberately for comfort, quiet, and familiarity. Proper hot showers, western-style toilets, safe and calm rooms — small details that matter greatly when the legs are tired.
This balance allows runners to push hard when it’s time to run, and fully relax when it’s time to recover.
Why These Two Routes, First
For international trail runners new to China, the Great Wall and Three Peaks offer two essential perspectives. One connects you to history, scale, and symbolism unlike anywhere else in the world. The other introduces you to the terrain that shapes Beijing’s trail running community today.
Together, they represent exactly what Run the Trails is about: meaningful routes, honest terrain, strong support, and experiences that stay with you long after the run ends.
This is why we chose to begin here.