Ethiopia's Sutume Asefa Kebede grabbed the women's title in 2:23:31. Local runner Li Zhixuan finished second in 2:29:06 while Mulu Seboka Seyfu of Ethiopia was third in 2:29:09.

Li was happy with her second-place finish. "It is my second Beijing Marathon. I didn't expect to finish second as my time was not good. I am not in my best shape," she said.

"I will work hard in the winter training spell to prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games," added the 25-year-old.

Around 30,000 runners from home and abroad took part in this year's Beijing Marathon, which was launched in 1981.