Great Wall at Badaling
Badaling is the most famous and best-preserved section of the Great Wall of China, built during the Ming Dynasty.
Information
Ticket price
Time
Location
G6 Beijing-Tibet Expy, Exit 58, Yanqing District, Beijing, China
View maps
More about the trip
Great Wall at Badaling: China's Iconic Ancient Defense
Badaling is the most famous, best-preserved, and most visited section of the Great Wall of China, located about 80 kilometers northwest of Beijing. Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this section served as a crucial military stronghold protecting the capital. It offers a magnificent and accessible experience of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
What to See and Do
Walk on the Wall: The main attraction is to walk along the restored sections of the wall. You can choose to walk on either the North or South sections. The North section is generally steeper and offers more watchtowers, while the South section is less crowded and provides a more gradual climb.
Watchtowers: Explore the various watchtowers along the wall, which served as strategic points for defense, communication, and storage.
Badaling Great Wall Museum: Located near the entrance, the museum provides a comprehensive overview of the Great Wall's history, construction, and cultural significance through exhibits, models, and historical artifacts.
Great Wall Cable Car and Pulley: For those who prefer a less strenuous ascent, a cable car and a pulley system (toboggan) are available to take visitors up and down the wall, offering scenic views during the ride.
Badaling Bear Park: A small park near the Great Wall where you can see Asian black bears.
Best Time to Visit
Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) offer the most pleasant weather and beautiful scenery. Autumn, in particular, provides stunning fall foliage. Avoid visiting during major Chinese public holidays (e.g., National Day, May Day, Chinese New Year) as it can be extremely crowded.
How to Get There
Badaling is easily accessible from Beijing. You can take the S2 train from Huangtudian Station (黄土店站) to Badaling Station (八达岭站), which is a popular and convenient option. Alternatively, there are various tourist buses (e.g., Bus 877 from Deshengmen Bus Station) or private tours available.
Travel Tips
Arrive early: To avoid the largest crowds, especially during peak season, try to arrive as early as possible.
Wear comfortable shoes: The wall can be steep and uneven in places, so sturdy, comfortable walking shoes are essential.
Bring water and snacks: While there are vendors, it's good to have your own supplies.
Sun protection: The wall offers little shade, so bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
Related Tour Packages
Imperial Echoes of the Capital
Culinary Delights: Indulge in a variety of Chinese cuisines, including water dumplings, private home-cooked Beijing dishes, Peking roast duck, and Donglaishun mutton hotpot. Iconic Landmarks: Visit world-famous attractions such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Badaling, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, Yonghe Temple, and Tiananmen Square. Royal Temple Experience: Explore Yonghe Temple, a former imperial residence, and seek blessings for a peaceful life. Enhanced Experience: Enjoy a guided audio tour of the Forbidden City and experience the breathtaking aerial view of the Great Wall. Personalized Service: Our experienced tour guides will ensure a memorable journey.
Beijing 5-Days Red Legacy: A Capital's Dream Quest
"The legacy of the Imperial Capital lives in the dialogue between patinaed bronze relics and shimmering glass curtain walls, where guardian beasts on palace roofs watch over satellites launching from Zhongguancun. At dawn, the hum of diabolo strings cuts through the steel angles of China World Tower, as Quanjude chefs count ancestral rotations of roast ducks—now accompanied by digital order notifications. This city is a living manuscript, its margins bearing crimson seals of ancient scholars, the blank spaces now vibrating with metro construction, composing new verses."
Beijing 5-Days Kyoto's Canvas: First Brush with the World
"Beijing's grandeur reveals itself when vermilion palace walls shatter morning light, and when the enchanted spires of Universal Studios pierce the clouds. The creaking oars of Shichahai still sketch ink-wash landscapes from 'Scenes of the Imperial Capital,' while rollercoaster screams send cybernetic tremors through ancient eaves.
Beijing 5-Days Beijing Unveiled: Gateway to the Universal
"Beijing's tech-powered journey begins with AR-enabled digital palace maidens guiding you through the Forbidden City, and holographic bronze vessels rotating in your palm at the National Museum. Ride autonomous buses along the Central Axis while BeiDou satellites date every ancient brick, as AI screens reconstruct Lao She's novel characters at hutong entrances. In 798 Art District, robotic arms reinterpret classical landscapes, while the Science Museum's quantum computers converse with ancient armillary spheres. At midnight, drone fleets paint dynamic versions of 'A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains' over Yongding River, your blockchain-certified e-ticket meanwhile crystallizing eternal hutong snowscapes in the metaverse."
Beijing Essence: Where Emperors Walked & Dynasties Thrived
Uncover the soul of China's capital: from ancient dynasties to modern marvels.
Related attractions
Dashilar
A 500-year-old cultural history district. Daguaren Street was originally called Liangfang Fourth Lane and has a history of nearly 500 years. It is also one of the first batches of Chinese historical and cultural districts in Xicheng District. It‘s a traditional commercial area in Beijing, formerly known as "Four Courtyards Lane."Daguaren was first built in the 14th year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1420). At that time, it was called Liangfang Fourth Lane; in the first year of Hongzhi of the Ming Dynasty (1488), a fence was set up at the entrance of the alley, so it was renamed "Daguaren". Historically, it was home to century-old brands such as Tongrentang, Ruifuzhao, and Renlinseng, which covered industries including medicine, silk, and shoes and hats, forming a commercial pattern known as "top is Ma Juyuan, bottom is Renlinseng." The street once had five opera theaters and Beijing's earliest cinema, Da Guanlou, and had both commercial and entertainment functions.
Huanghuacheng Water Great Wall
Huanghuacheng, also known as the "Water Great Wall," is a unique section of the Great Wall located about 70 kilometers north of Beijing. Built during the Ming Dynasty, this section is famous for its picturesque setting where parts of the wall are submerged in the Xishuiyu Reservoir, creating a stunning combination of mountains, water, and ancient architecture. The area is also known for its beautiful wild flowers, particularly yellow flowers that bloom in summer, giving the section its name "Yellow Flower Wall."
Jinshanling Great Wall
Jinshanling is a section of the Great Wall of China located about 130 kilometers northeast of Beijing. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it is known for its well-preserved original features and breathtaking mountain scenery. This section stretches for about 10.5 kilometers with 67 watchtowers and is less crowded than other sections, making it popular with hikers and photographers. The varied terrain and stunning vistas make it one of the most picturesque parts of the Great Wall.
Liao and Jin City Wall Museum
The Beijing Archaeological Site Museum preserves and displays important archaeological discoveries from Beijing's rich history. The museum features excavated artifacts, ruins, and exhibits that trace the development of human civilization in the Beijing area from prehistoric times through various dynasties. Interactive displays and detailed explanations help visitors understand the significance of these archaeological findings in the context of Chinese history.
Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site
The Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where fossils of Homo erectus pekinensis, dating back 200,000 to 700,000 years, were discovered in the 1920s and 1930s. Located about 50 kilometers southwest of Beijing, the site includes caves, archaeological excavations, and a museum displaying fossils, stone tools, and exhibits about human evolution. It provides valuable insights into prehistoric human life and evolution in East Asia.
