Badaling Great Wall
“He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man; he who has not reached Badaling Great Wall has not reached the true Great Wall.” Situated approximately 50 miles (80 km) northwest of downtown Beijing, Badaling Great Wall is the most well-preserved and the most popular section of the Great Wall. It is also the earliest section of the Ming Great Wall to be open to visitors and contains the Great Wall of China Museum.
In 1991, on behalf of the Great Wall of China, it received the Certificate of the World Cultural Heritage of Humanity issued by the United Nations.In November 2020, it was selected as the first Internet hotspot attraction in Beijing. On 3 February 2022, the torch for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics was carried at Badaling Great Wall in Yanqing.
Fast Badaling Great Wall of China Facts:
Brief Introduction of Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall was built in 1505, and reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), commanding a strategic position for transportation and defense in ancient times. It is a witness of many significant events in history.
The well-restored and opened length of this section is 3,741 meters long (2.3 miles) with 19 watchtowers. And the wall is about 8 meters (26 feet) tall, and 6 meters (20 feet) wide, which could allow 5 horses to gallop, or 10 soldiers to march abreast. The highest point of it is about 1,015 meters (3,330 ft.) above sea level. Besides, Badaling Great Wall was the first section of the Great Wall to open for tourism in 1957.
And nowadays, Badaling Great Wall has become a must-go place of Beijing Tour. According to the statistics, more than 370 state leaders and celebrities have climbed it, and admire its beautiful and magnificent scenery.
Why is It Named Badaling?
1. The name is derived from the phonetic pronunciation of “Eight Great Mountains”. Legend has that the Great Wall built here had to make eight turns and cross eight large mountains. The construction was very difficult, and eight supervisors died because of the delayed completion of the project. Finally, through the enlightenment of the immortals, the construction materials were transported to the mountains by adopting the “eight methods of building the wall”.
2. It is said that in the Yuan Dynasty, an emperor called “Bada Lili" came to this place and named it “Bada Ling" because of its dangerous terrain.
3. According to legend, during the Ming Dynasty, the Badaling area was once the front line of defence against the Manchu army. Since the Han Chinese in the Ming Dynasty called the Manchus in the north-east ‘Tartars’, some people believe that Badaling is a portmanteau of “guarding the Tartars”.
Badaling Great Wall History
According to the Historical Records and the census of cultural relic workers, it is proved that there was a Great Wall in the Badaling area during the Warring States period. Today, the remnants of the wall and piers can still be discovered.
1500 years ago during the Northern Wei Dynasty the Great Wall was also built around Badaling. In 446, the Wall was built north of the capital Pingcheng (present-day Datong), from the Badaling area in the east to the banks of the Yellow River in the west. Later, in 555, the Great Wall was built again, from Datong to the sea.
Since the 18th year of Hongzhi (1505) of the Ming Dynasty, the Badaling Great Wall has been under construction for more than 80 years, totalling more than 1,300 miles. And the famous general Qi Jiguang was transferred to the north to command the defence of the Great Wall.
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What to See & Do
Compared to other sections, Badaling Great Wall is much easier to get to the top and enjoy the views, and the stairs are not very steep, so you will not need to cost too much energy. Moreover, the scenic site is divided into north and south sections, and each of them is equipped with cable cars. But we recommend you to take a cable car only when you’re exhausted. After all, as an ancient military stronghold, a tiring trek helps understand the Badaling Great Wall better. Furthermore, the awesome and breathtaking horizon from Badaling Great Wall makes your sweat worth it. Especially the highest watchtower, also known as the “Sun-watching Spot”, is a perfect place to overlook the Great Wall.
Badaling Ancient Wall & Shuiguan Wall
The Badaling Ancient Great Wall, the southwestern extension of the Badaling Great Wall, is the western gate of the Badaling Great Wall defence system.
The spectacular Shuiguan Great Wall is one of the ruins of the Ming Great Wall, more than 400 years old. It is one of the important passes to guard the capital city and was built under the supervision of Qi Jiguang.
The Great Wall Museum
The Great Wall Museum of China is located in the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area and records the history, military, architecture, economy, culture and art of the Great Wall and its current situation.
It was opened in September 1994, with a building area of more than 4,000 square metres.
Badaling Great Wall Night Tour
In July 2022, Badaling lauched the Great Wall night tour experience. It was open to visitors every Friday, Saturday and legal holidays until the National Day Golden Week holiday.
From 30 April to 7 October 2025, the Night Wall at Badaling will once again be illuminated from 17:00 to 22:00 every night.
Badaling Great Wall Helicopter Tour
Want to take in the breathtaking view of the Badaling Great Wall from the air? You can realise this dream with a helicopter tour! Hovering over the Badaling Great Wall for 10-30 minutes in a helicopter, you'll get a new perspective on the magnificence of the Great Wall.
Best Time to Visit Badaling Great Wall
Spring is a very good season to visit Badaling Great Wall. The gentle wind, the perfect temperature, the warm sunshine and abundant colorful wildflowers will make your trip very comfortable.
If you visit Badaling Great Wall in summer, you will probably encounter rain, thus the air is cool and fresh, and the picture of the wall in rain is very mysterious and attractive.
The best time to visit Badaling Great Wall is autumn. The grass on mountain start to turn yellow, maple trees turn red, even the sky become more blue and clearer, sometimes with several clusters of fluffy white clouds drifting across the sky. All who see this scenery will think that it is a perfect art of majesty and peace. And this will be your memorable China Great Wall Tour.
In winter, the weather turns cold. But the Badaling Great Wall in snow is still so enchanting that attract many photographers come here to capture the breathtaking beauty. Of course, if you want to admire the stunning views and take good pictures on the wall, you should get ready to handle the low temperatures and some physical exertion. >> Learn more about Best Time to visit the Great Wall of China
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Badaling Great Wall Opening Hours & Tickets
Opening hours:
Ticket Price
Admission Fee:
40 Yuan (Peak Season: April to October)
35 Yuan (Off Season: November to March of next year)
Note:
1. Free admission for children under 6 years old (including 6 years old), children under 3.9 feet (1.2 meters).
2. Free admission for disabled people, retired veteran cadres, military personnel in retired and active service. (Valid Certificate is required.)
3. Half-price admission for the elderly with senior citizen card.
4. Half-price admission for children between 6 years old (not including 6 years old) to 18 years old (including 18 years old), students with bachelor degree or below (not including postgraduates, those at adult education colleges and spare-time colleges) with valid documentation.
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall from Beijing
The Badaling Great Wall is well developed with hotels, restaurants, and improved transportation. It is convenient to take a train or bus from central Beijing:
By Bus
Take Bus 877: Deshengmen ↔ Badaling
By S2-series Train
Line S2, Beijing Suburban Railway, from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Railway Station
Badaling Great Wall Travel Tips
1. Accommodation and Restaurants: The Badaling Section is well developed with many small inns, restaurants and a KFC not far from the entrance. But we do not recommend eating around the section, because the food price there is generally too high, while the quality is just so-so. You’d better bring some snacks for lunch and treat yourself a good meal on your way back to downtown.
2. Try to avoid visit the Badaling Great Wall in peak season on your China tour, especially China’s pubic holidays.
3. Choose comfortable shoes and clothes. Apply sunscreen in summer, and wear more clothes in winter. It can feel much colder on the wall. And I suggest you bring an umbrella for protection from rain or the burning sun.
4. Do not trust the tourist information providers on the road easily, especially those of unknown origin. Otherwise, your trip will turn to be a nightmare.
Badaling vs Mutianyu Great Wall
The Mutianyu Great Wall was built during the Northern Qi Dynasty and was expanded and restored during the Ming Dynasty. Due to its more remote location, the Mutianyu Great Wall is better preserved, with its restored portions combining perfectly with the original style. Since fewer domestic tourists visit Mutianyu, it is more suitable for international tourists.
The Badaling Great Wall is an important part of the Ming Great Wall and is famous for its majesty and grandeur. It is also the most internationally influential section of the Great Wall for welcoming many heads of state to visit.
Because of the Mutianyu Great Wall toboggan, it is more suitable for China family tours with children. The Badaling Great Wall, on the other hand, is more suitable for wheelchair visitors because of its barrier-free access. Explore China Disabled Tours
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