Badaling Great Wall - Masterpiece among All Great Walls

Badaling Great Wall is very popular among both domestic and foreign travelers because it is not only can be reached from Beijing easily, but also the best representative section of all Great Wall of China. It used to play a significant role in ancient Chinese history.

Badaling Great Wall Facts

The Badaling Great Wall of China was the first part of the wall to be opened to the public.

“Badaling” means you can reach in 8 directions.

If you stand on the wall, the ridges expand out in many directions.

It lies 50 miles northwest of Beijing, which because of its proximity, makes it highly accessible to tourists.

What are the features of the Badaling Great Wall?

Several hundred dignitaries have made the trip to visit this marvelous construction and engineering feat of man. One of the, more famous heads of state was former President Richard Nixon. He was the first U.S. president to visit China as the People's Republic of China in 1972. The premier of China invited Nixon to Badaling as his guest.

The Badaling Great Wall played a significant role in the ancient history of China. It lies in a valley that forms a natural pass, which was utilized by different clans, to infiltrate China from the north. This led to some of these groups, forming the Qing Dynasty. The Badaling Wall was first primitively constructed out of bricks made from mud during the Zhou Dynasty. The wall was substantially fortified in the early 1500s of the Ming Dynasty. It has been fortified several times throughout history. The last time was in 1957. Badaling had the highest vantage point of all the passes, which gave anyone who stood there a strategic advantage over their enemies.

Built for the purpose of defense, stretching over 5 miles, the Badaling Great Wall of China has 19 towers and lies across Pass Valley. It follows the peaks of the mountain tops, which at their highest represent over 3000 feet above sea level. Five ancient cannons grace the entrance of the Badaling Great Wall. Most were excavated in 1957 and were used during the Ming Dynasty.

About the Badaling Great Wall

The Badaling Wall is about 20 feet wide at its base and 19 feet at the top, enough room for 5 horsemen to ride alongside each other. Height is almost 26 feet. The wall has large slabs of rock that have been mortared with special glue. The inside of the wall has been fortified with gravel and trampled dirt. There is a drainage system to keep water from washing away parts of this spectacular wonder of the world.

Just before closing time, they turn on the lights at the great wall.

To date, the Badaling Great Wall of China has been seen and experienced by over 100 million tourists and Chinese as well as many presidents and foreign dignitaries. It is the most preserved and popular section of the wall to visit, and it continues to be one of the most amazing Seven Wonders of the World.

Recommended Visiting Route

If you want to hike the Badaling great wall, you can start hiking from the fortress to the connecting location of the southern section and northern section from which you need to first hike one section, and then return the same way to another section. The southern section is short with 4 towers, while the northern section has 8 towers. If you want to save energy and time, you can take the cableway directly to the No. 7 Towers on the northern section, then walk to the southern section.

Other nearby Sites

If you want to explore nearby of Badaling, there are several places to go. You can go to learn the history and other facts of the whole Great Wall of China in the Great Wall Museum or enjoy a documentary movie about the great wall in the theatre. There is also a Bear Zoo with a wonderful show performed by black bears.

Classic one-day route to Badaling Great Wall

Travelers usually need to transfer about 60km (approximately 1h) from Beijing downtown to Badaling Great Wall where you can stay about a half day. The rest time is for you to travel back downtown with a side trip to explore the imperial mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty – Ding Tomb. You will also stop at Olympic Village to see the brilliant stadiums - Bird Net and Water Cube.

Where is Badaling Great Wall - Location

Badaling Great Wall is located in Yanqing (延庆) County about 60km northwest of Beijing City. Being strategically located and difficult to access, it used to be the vital defensive pass for the capital city - Beijing.

How to go to Badaling Great Wall

From Beijing downtown, travelers can transfer to the Badaling great wall with flexible choices of transportation.

Travel with Travel Tour China (Top Recommended)

If you want to get rid of the hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package that covers sightseeing, dining, and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Badaling Great Wall with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on sightseeing.

Independent Travel

For independent travelers, you can take the public bus (998) at Deshengmen. The transfer takes about 90 minutes from Beijing City to Badaling. There are scheduled high-speed trains as another choice - S2 usually departs from Beijing North Railway Station to Yanqing County. Passengers can get off at Badaling Train Station which is the penultimate stop of line S2. Frequent and flexible schedules are offered for you to choose from.

Useful tips

Best time to go - seasonal advice - Different views in a different season

March to May & September to November is the best time to visit Badaling Great Wall. It is warm and comfortable in spring with fewer crowds. Red and golden leaves spread around great walls in autumn. The great walls are stunning when the snow covers the entire northern China.