Badaling Great Wall
Located in Yanqing County 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of the city, the magnificent Badaling Great Wall is the best preserved wall construction from the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).
Depending on the terrain, materials used to construct the Great Wall varied from tamped earth to stone blocks. The wall in this section was constructed of stone slabs and the top of the wall was paved with bricks. The crenellated battlements on the outer side of the wall provide archers cover and the large and small holes on it were used for watching and shooting. A range of beacon towers were built on several high points of the winding wall serving as signal towers. In wartime, they were used to send smoke signals and messages to troops who were stationed at different parts of the lengthy wall. Doors leading to flights of steps were built into the body of the wall and gave access to the top.
Juyongguan Pass, strategically situated in a valley in this section is one of the three greatest passes of the Great Wall. A main gate tower perched above the marble gate has a placard saying 'The First Pass under Heaven'.
Tips:
Badaling Great Wall has parts which are of a gentle gradient. However, a visit that would include all parts would be physically tough for the elders and children.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
It could be windy on top of the wall, prepare for this as well.
The steps on the wall could get slippery and dangerous in snowy or wet weather.
Cable car services are available in the attraction area. A single trip costs CNY 40 and CNY 60 is charged for a round trip.
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How to Get to Badaling Great Wall from Beijing
1. Bus no. 877 directly to Badaling Great Wall: take it at Deshengmen, which is 10 minutes’ walking distance from Jishuitan subway station, exit B2 of subway line 2. The non-stop bus takes around 1.5h and costs CNY12.
2. Tourist bus line 1: it leaves from Qianmen near Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch. The bus operates from the end of the Flag-Raising Ceremony to 11:00.
| Admission Fee: | April 1st to October 31: CNY40; November 1st to March 31st: CNY35 |
| Opening Hours: | April 1st to October 31: 06:30-19:00; November 1st to March 31st: 07:00-18:00 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit: | Two and a half hours |
| Trains: | Visitors can also take the bullet trains from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling G |
Recommended China Tour with Badaling Great Wall
4 Days Beijing Tour with Badaling: Luxury tour to visit Beijing Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Badaling Great Wall, Summer Palace and more
5 Days Beijing Tour: Small group tour to Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Badaling, Bird's Nest and more as well as enjoying Beijing Duck Dinner and Chinese Kungfu Show