Badaling Great Wall 八达岭长城Bādálǐng Chángchéng

Ming ramparts climbing both ways from a fortified pass, a short fast train from Beijing

Best time: Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Time needed: Half a day
Days to budget: Half a day
Stay in: Beijing
Region: Beijing
Type: Heritage
Listed as: 5A scenic area, National heritage site, UNESCO World Heritage

Why go to Badaling Great Wall

In Yanqing district, about 70 km by road north-west of central Beijing, Badaling's Ming wall and watchtowers climb away on both sides of a fortified pass. Walk the steep North Wall up to the North 8th Tower, its highest point, or take the shorter and gentler South Wall.

The story

The wall here was built in the early 1500s, under the Ming dynasty, to guard the approach to Juyong Pass and the road to Beijing beyond it. US President Richard Nixon walked here on 24 February 1972, during his visit to China.

What to see at Badaling Great Wall

Guancheng Pass 关城: The fortified gateway at the heart of Badaling, with an east gate inscribed 'Outer Guard of Juyong' and a west gate inscribed 'Key to the Northern Gate'.
North Wall and North 8th Tower 北线与北八楼: The steeper climb, rising to Beibalou at about 1,015 m, the highest point of the Badaling section and the best vantage for the wall rolling along the ridges.
South Wall 南线: The shorter, gentler side, reached by a ground funicular that carries you up to the fourth tower of the South Wall.
Zhan Tianyou Memorial Hall 詹天佑纪念馆: Opposite the funicular's lower station, a small museum on the engineer of the Beijing–Zhangjiakou railway, the line that runs through the pass below.

How to visit Badaling Great Wall

Walk through Guancheng Pass and choose a side: the North Wall is the steep, popular climb, the South Wall the easier one. A ground funicular serves the South Wall and cable cars serve the walls, so you can ride up and walk down. Allow two to three hours on the wall; with a half day you can do one side, and the Zhan Tianyou Memorial Hall fits in beside the funicular.

How to get to Badaling Great Wall

High-speed trains from Beijing North (beside Xizhimen, Metro Lines 2, 4 and 13) and Qinghe (Metro Line 13 and Changping Line) reach Badaling Great Wall station in about 20–40 minutes; by car or taxi allow about 1.5 hours.

Where to stay

Most visitors stay in central Beijing and make the trip by train. If you want to be at the wall early, base yourself in the town of Yanqing or near Badaling station, though choices there are limited.

What to eat

Beijing roast duck 北京烤鸭: The classic Beijing meal, carved at the table with pancakes; best saved for dinner back in the city.
Noodles with fried bean sauce 炸酱面: Wheat noodles topped with a savoury pork and soybean-paste sauce and fresh vegetables, an everyday Beijing lunch.

Tips for visiting Badaling Great Wall

Book your entry ticket ahead on the official Changcheng Neiwai WeChat account (ID changchengnw) using your passport, which also gets you through the gate.
Book high-speed train seats early on China Railway's 12306 app or website, return included: every seat is reserved and trains can sell out.
Crowds peak at weekends, on Chinese public holidays and in July–August; on other days, arrive early or come in the afternoon to miss the morning tour groups.

Nearby

Ming Tombs 明十三陵 20 km
Stone guardians on the Sacred Way and an emperor's underground palace to walk through
Longqing Gorge 龙庆峡 20 km
Boat rides between sheer cliffs in summer, a festival of lit ice sculptures in winter
Fragrant Hills Park 香山公园 40 km
Wooded former imperial hills that turn red with smoke-tree leaves each autumn
Summer Palace 颐和园 50 km
An imperial lakeside garden of painted corridors, temple-topped hills and a marble boat
Old Summer Palace 圆明园 50 km
Broken marble arches of Qing European-style palaces beside lakes of summer lotus
Great Wall at Mutianyu 慕田峪长城 50 km
Restored Ming watchtowers riding a wooded ridge, with a toboggan run back down

Also within 30 km: Qinglongqiao Station, Jingzhang Railway 京张铁路青龙桥站 (under 10 km), Shuiguan Great Wall (Badaling) 水关长城 (under 10 km), Juyong Pass 居庸关 (under 10 km), Beijing Horticultural Expo Park 北京世园公园 (10 km), Yeya Lake National Wetland Park 野鸭湖国家湿地公园 (10 km), Leduogang Holiday Plaza 乐多港假日广场 (20 km).

On the map

Open Badaling Great Wall on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Open Badaling Great Wall on the map