Badaling, one of the must-visit sections and the most outstanding representatives of the Great Wall of China, was an important strategy center in ancient times. It was largely built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and it is situated in Yanqing District, about 75 kilometers (46 miles) northwest of Beijing. At Badaling, roads extend in all directions and people can go anywhere, so that’s why it is called “Bada” (in Chinese it means “convenient transportation”). At present, it is the most well-equipped and well-preserved section of the Great Wall of China.
Basic Facts about the Badaling Great Wall:
- The total length of Badaling Great Wall is 12 kilometers（5miles), but nowadays it only opens 3.74 kilometers (2.3miles) for visitors.
- There are in total 43 watchtowers built at each interval with regular distance, each with its own unique style. The watchtowers were used not only as a shelter by soldiers, but also to store some arms and ammunition and observe the enemies. At present, visitors can only visit 19 watchtowers.
- The ramparts of this section are 6-9 meters tall. And the breadth of the passage is about 7 meters, which is wide enough to allow 5 horses or 10 people walking side by side.
- 8 North Tower, also known as Sun-Viewing Platform, is the highest point of Badaling, standing at 888 meters in elevation. It offers the best perspective to take in the bird’s-eye-view of the Great Wall.
- This section has attracted a great number of tourists of home and abroad each year, and many national leaders and celebrities around the world have visited the Great Wall, such as former US presidents Nixon, Reagan and Gorge W Bush, Queen Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher of UK, Vladimir Putin of Russia…
- Since 1996, many cultural exchanges programs between China and other countries have been held at Badaling Great Wall.
Read more: 20 Interesting Facts about the Great Wall of China
Why Choose to Visit the Badaling:
- It is the most famous section of the Great Wall of China, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Most tourists, especially first-timers, would like to put Badaling on the to-do list for their Beijing tours.
- It is the most well-equipped attraction with various kinds of tourism facilities,such as cable car and toboggan (slide car), which could bring more convenience for visitors and save their energies during the Badaling is also equipped with barrier-free facilities like wheelchair ramp and lifts, and handrails to help disabled people to ascend the wall.
- Badaling is only about 70kilometers (43 miles) away from downtown area, and it is convenient for visitors to go there by public transportation.
- There are various sites at the foot of the wall, such as Great Wall Museum, Memorial Hall of Zhan Tianyou, Great Wall Dome Cinema and Bear Garden, adding more delights to your hiking tour.
History of Badaling Great Wall
Located at the key passage to Beijing City, Great Wall at Badaling was of great military significance in the past. The construction work can be traced back to as early as the Warring States Period (476-221BC). From then on, almost every dynasty had renovated and extended this section. In 1505 during the Ming Dynasty, Badaling was reconstructed on a grand scale. The renovation work lasted for more than 80 years to reach the present dimension.
North Section vs South Section
Great Wall at Badaling is divided into the North Section and the South Section at the entrance. The two sides showcase quite different views and offer diverse visiting experience to visitors.
The North Section – Essence of Badaling Great Wall
The North Section boasts the essential scenery and has attracted more visitors. The wall stretches for 2,565 meters long along jagged mountain ridges, which means it requires more physical strength to hike the entire length.
However, this section has been well-restored and is equipped with both cable car and toboggan to help visitors save energy. Besides, along the way you will see 12 watchtowers. Among them, the No. 8 North Watchtower occupies the highest point. Visitors can enjoy wonderful vistas of the surrounding.
The South Section – Offering A Relaxing Tour
The South Section is about 1,176 meters in length and has 7 watchtowers. The landmark sight – Hero Stele – is located at No. 4 South Watchtower. Without much renovation, this side displays a primitive beauty and offers a tranquil atmosphere. Compared with the North Section, the south side has fewer tourists and a gentle slope. Hiking along the South Section provides a more comfortable and leisurely tour.
How to Tour Badaling Great Wall
Generally, we suggest tourists take a half-day tour on Badaling Great Wall. If you want to hike the entire journey, you can ascend the wall at the entrance and then choose one side to start the exploration. For those who travel with families, especially with the old and kids, there are cable car and toboggan to help make the hiking much easier.
Badaling Great Wall Hiking
- North Section
Generally, it takes about 4 hours to hike all the way from No. 1 Watchtower to No. 12 Watchtower along the North Section. The stretch of path from No. 1 Watchtower to No. 3 Watchtower is relatively gentle. Then the slope gets steeper. The segment between No. 7 Watchtower and No. 8 Watchtower is the most challenging part of the whole hiking.
You don’t have to return by the same route when you finish the tour. There is an exit between No. 11 Watchtower and No. 12 Watchtower, or you may go back to No. 8 Watchtower to take the cableway downhill.
- South Section
Hiking along the South Section is easier, as it is a shorter journey and with a gentle slope. The whole hiking tour on this side takes 1-2 hours. Once you reach the No. 7 Watchtower, either turn back in the same way to the entrance, or descend from No. 4 Watchtower by cable car.
Badaling Great Wall Cable Car
- Cable car is available both in the North Section and the South Section.
- The South Section is equipped with the funicular which shuttles between Memorial Hall of Zhan Tianyou and No. 4 South Watchtower.
- In the North Section, there is the aerial cableway taking visitors ascending and descending the wall. The upper station of the cableway is near the No. 8 North Watchtower and the lower station is at the Gun Tian Gou Parking Lot.
| Ticket Price | One-Way Ticket: CNY 100 |
| Round-Way Ticket: CNY 140 | |
| Opening Hours | North Line Aerial Cableway: 06:30 – 16:30 |
| South Line Ground Cable Car: 08:50 – 16:30 |
Note: Both north line and south line stop selling round-way tickets at 13:30.
Badaling Great Wall Toboggan (Slide Car)
Toboggan of Badaling Great Wall is only available at the North Section, running between the Bear Park and No. 4 North Watchtower. It is an open-style vehicle, not recommended for the old or children under 3 years old to take.
Ticket Price:
One-Way Ticket: CNY 80
Round-Way Ticket: CNY 120
Recommended Badaling Great Wall day tours:
How to Buy Entrance Tickets?
From June 1st, 2019, Badaling has implemented the real-name ticketing system, which enables visitors to book the tickets online. Visitors can make the reservation either on the official website or using the official account on Wechat. Please note that the maximum visitor capacity per day is 65,000 people, so it’s better to book tickets 7 days in advance.
- Entrance Fee of Badaling Great Wall:
The ticket price of Badaling is different in peak season (Apr. 1st to Oct. 31st) and low season (Nov. 1st to Mar. 31st).
| Peak Season | CNY 40 |
| Low Season | CNY 35 |
- Opening Hours of Badaling Great Wall:
| Peak Season | 06:30-16:30 |
| Low Season | 07:30-16:00 |
When is the Best Time to Visit Badaling Great Wall?
We highly recommended tourists come to visit this section in April, May, September and October. During these months, the weather is pleasant, very comfortable for hiking. Besides, the rolling mountains are covered by lush plants, which add a wealth of vitality to this solemn ancient military construction. The wonderful scenes will definitely leave a deep impression on you.
Tips: It is advised visitors avoid visiting Badaling during Chinese New Year (around January or February), Labor Day Holiday (May 1st – May 3rd), and National Day Holiday (October 1st – October 7th), as the scenic area will be overcrowded with domestic travelers during these periods.
How to Get to the Badaling Great Wall from Beijing City?
1. Self-Driving:
There is an expressway to Badaling from downtown Beijing. The total length of this route is about 70 kilometers, which takes about 1.5h on the way.
Toll: about CNY 30
2. Public Bus:
- Bus 877: Deshengmen ⇔ Badaling
Taking bus is the cheapest way to get to the Great Wall. This bus departs from Deshengmen, and the bus station is only 500 meters east of Exit B2 of Jishuitan Station on subway line 2. The bus ride would take about 1-1.5h with non-stop.
Bus Ticket: CNY 12 per person
Running Time:
| From Deshengmen | 06:00 – 12:30 (Apr. 1st – Nov. 15th) |
| 06:30 – 12:30 (Nov. 16th – Mar. 31st) | |
| From Badaling | 10:30 – 17:00 (Apr. 1st – Nov. 15th) |
| 11:00 – 16:30(Nov. 16th – Mar. 31st) |
- Straight Tourist Bus:Qianmen ⇔ Badaling
This straight tourist bus departs from the Arrow Tower at Qianmen, and it would take about 100 minutes to reach the Great Wall.
Bus Ticket: CNY 50 for a single trip; CNY 80 for a round trip
Running Time:
From Qianmen: 07:00 – 11:00;
From Badaling: 11:00 – 16:00
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall by Train?
- Bullet Train:
There are 17 bullet trains leaving Qinghe Railway Station for Badaling Great Wall Railway Station every day. It only takes about 20 minutes to reach the destination. Get out of the station and you will find yourself right next to the lower station of the North Cableway. The climbing entrance is 800 meters away.
Train Ticket: about CNY 20 for a second-class seat
- Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway:
After the completion of Beijing-Zhangjiakou Intercity Railway in 2020, visitors can take high-speed trains from Beijing North Railway Station to the Badaling Great Wall Railway Station, which will just take less than 1 hour.
Train Ticket: CNY 23-31 for a second-class seat
- Beijing Suburb Railway Line S2:
The train starts from Huangtudian Railway Station and arrives at Badaling Railway Station in around 1.5 hours. After getting off the train, visitors can either walk for around 1.5 kilometers or take a free shuttle bus to get to the entrance.
Train Ticket: CNY 7 per person
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall from Capital International Airport?
- Airport Express –Bus No. 877
Take Airport Express to reach Dongzhimen Station, and then transfer to subway line 2 to Jishuitan. Get out from Exit B2 and walk eastwards for 500 meters to Deshengmen Bus Station to take bus No. 877.
- Airport Express –Straight Tourist Bus
Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen Station, and then transfer to subway line 2 to Qianmen. Get out from Exit E3 and walk westward for 150 meters to take Straight Tourist Bus opposite the Arrow Tower of Qianmen.
- Airport Express –High-Speed Train
Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen Station, and transfer to subway line 2 to Xizhimen. Get out from Exit A2 and you will arrive at Beijing North Railway Station, where you can take a high-speed train to the Great Wall
- Airport Express –Suburb Railway Line S2
Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen Station, and transfer to subway line 13 to Huoying. Get out from Exit G4 to reach Huangtudian Railway Station, where you can take train S2 to Badaling.
Popular Great Wall of China Tours:
- Badaling Hiking with 15 Minutes Helicopter Tour
- Half Day Badaling Great Wall Private Tour – No Shopping
What to Eat & Where to Eat
There is a pedestrian street in front of the entrance, lined up with a variety of restaurants that could cater to different tastes. For example, if you want some western fast food, you can go to international chains such as KFC, Subway and Dicos; for those who want to try Chinese foods, restaurants like Shaxian Delicacies (沙县小吃), Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop (庆丰包子铺) and Kung Fu Steamed Cuisines (真功夫) are highly recommended…
Badaling Great Wall vs Mutianyu Great Wall
Both Badaling and Mutianyu are the most-visited Great Wall sections of China, and can be easily accessed by public transportation from downtown area. However, the two sections offer visitors with different sightseeing experiences.
Great Wall at Badaling is the best-preserved section in China and the majestic views of the Great Wall earn this section a higher reputation among tourists. It has both gentle part and steep, challenging part, and has been installed with a complete set of facilities including aerial cableway, ground cable car and slide car. Not only energetic visitors, but also the old and kids can enjoy themselves at Badaling. There are also barrier-free facilities like wheelchair access and lifts, enabling disabled people to have a chance to ascend the Great Wall.
Mutianyu, with more than 90% forest coverage, showcases a harmonious combination of natural beauty and this ancient wonder. It was built along gently rolling mountains, so it is much easier to hike the entire length. Without too many tourists, you can enjoy a more leisurely hiking experience at Mutianyu and explore this section at your own pace.
Other Famous Sections of Great Wall of China:
