JD Ultra-Trail Great Wall by UTMB
JD Ultra-Trail Great Wall by UTMB (Dajingmen 100K)
Dajingmen, Zhangjiakou
Race guide
Updated 29 June 2026
The JD Ultra-Trail Great Wall by UTMB Dajingmen 100K is a hundred-kilometre loop starting and finishing at Dajingmen in Zhangjiakou, China, woven through the dramatic ridgelines and valleys that frame one of the world's most iconic landmarks. With 3,359 metres of cumulative ascent and a high point of 1,516 metres, the course is not the highest or gnarliest in the UTMB World Series, but it demands respect: the terrain is relentlessly varied, the footing on the Great Wall sections is technical and uneven, and a generous but firm cut-off of 11:00 at the finish keeps the race honest. What defines this event is the combination of cultural spectacle — running along and beside ancient fortifications — and genuine mountain running that rewards experience, composure and smart pacing far more than raw fitness.
Course & Terrain
The route is a loop returning to Dajingmen (810 m at the start, 798 m at the finish), so the net elevation change is negligible but the 3,359 m D+ accumulated over 100 km means you are never truly flat for long. Expect a mix of runnable valley trails, exposed ridge traverses, and the notorious flagstone and stepped sections on the Great Wall itself. The Wall sections are photogenic but punishing — the large, irregular stone steps demand full attention and eat into your pace far more than the distance on paper suggests. Descents off the ridgelines are often steep and loose, alternating with gentler valley floors that invite you to open up. Save something for those lower sections; they are where time is either banked or haemorrhaged in the back half of the race.
The Decisive Sections
With a high point of 1,516 m and base elevations hovering around 800 m, the major climbs each gain several hundred metres and the sustained ridgeline running at altitude is where the race sorts itself out. The Great Wall traverses are the crux not because of gradient alone but because of the technical underfoot conditions — uneven stone, abrupt steps up and down, and exposed sections where momentum is impossible. Runners who charge these sections early pay heavily later; those who treat them as mandatory resets and hike with purpose come through in far better shape. The final approach back into Dajingmen tests legs that have already absorbed the full 3,359 m of climbing, so any time deficit needs to be managed well before the closing kilometres.
How to Pace & Fuel It
The single most important decision you will make in this race is your effort level in the first half. The valleys and runnable sections early on feel inviting, almost too easy — treat that feeling as a warning, not an invitation. A patient, even social, first half is the deposit that funds a strong second half; going 'too easy' early is not a mistake, it is the strategy. Flip the effort in the second half and trust your legs to close. On fueling, the 100 km distance with 3,359 m of climbing means caloric demand is high and sustained — aim to eat real food at every checkpoint and do not wait until you are hungry to top up. Hydration needs will vary with conditions (see below), but plan your carries carefully between checkpoints and never leave a station under-fueled. Break the race mentally into segments rather than staring at the total distance; arriving at each checkpoint with a plan for the next section makes the whole thing manageable.
Conditions to Expect
Dajingmen and the Zhangjiakou region experience significant temperature swings between day and night, and race timing means you will likely run through both. Heat can be a genuine factor during daylight hours on exposed ridge and Wall sections where there is little shade and wind can be deceptive — it cools you just enough to mask how hard you are working. Prepare for the possibility of cold at the high point (1,516 m) during pre-dawn or late-evening hours, particularly if conditions deteriorate. Dust and dry, compact trail are the norm in this part of northern China, which generally means good grip but also dry air that accelerates dehydration. Carry a layer, respect the sun, and build heat management into your pacing plan from the start rather than reacting to it mid-race.
Kit & Race-Day Essentials
The cut-off of 11:00 at the finish gives a clear time target to work backwards from across 100 km — build your checkpoint splits conservatively and know where your buffer is. For footwear, a trail shoe with solid protection underfoot is strongly recommended given the flagstone and rocky Wall sections; a softer, cushioned race flat will suffer. Poles are worth considering for both the steep ascents and the long descents where quad preservation late in the race pays dividends. Given the remote nature of some ridge sections, carry the mandatory kit without compromise and ensure navigation aids are charged — the course markings may be clear in daylight but less so in darkness. A practiced nutrition plan, checkpoint drop bags used intelligently, and a mental strategy for the second half are what separate finishers from DNFs on this course.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
✓ Course data verified against the official source (2026-07-05) · official source
0 km · 833 m · —
7.9 km · 991 m · —
21.2 km · 915 m · Fri 14:30
28.1 km · 1000 m · —
36.8 km · 1493 m · Fri 18:30
45.6 km · 1148 m · —
54.6 km · 1141 m · —
61.1 km · 963 m · Fri 23:30
72.8 km · 1179 m · —
80.2 km · 1080 m · Sat 05:30
89.5 km · 975 m · Sat 08:15
99.6 km · 797 m · Sat 12:00
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