Badaling is the most famous and visited section of the Great Wall. It is heavily restored, very accessible, and offers the classic postcard views many people imagine when thinking of the Great Wall.
The Badaling Great Wall was the first section to open for tourism in 1957 and continues to be the favorite among locals. It is very popular with tours and tends to get very crowded, specially on national holidays when it should be avoided.
Why Visit Badaling?
Badaling is the easiest section to reach from Beijing and has excellent facilities. This is the highest section of the Jundu mountain and the views from here are truly breathtaking.
The wall here is well-maintained, with wide walkways and beautiful mountain scenery.
About 2.3 miles (3.7 km) and 19 watchtowers of the Badaling section of the Wall have been restored and outfited with facilities for the public, including plenty of handrails to help you along the way.
How to Get There
- By Bus: Take Bus 877 from Deshengmen Bus Station (near Jishuitan Metro Station, Line 2). The journey takes about 1.5 hours.
- By Train: High-speed train from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall Station (about 1 hour), then a short walk.
- Private transfers to Badaling are convenient and flexible with pick up and drop off at your hotel
Tip: Public transport is reliable but can be crowded on weekends. Leaving early helps avoid the worst crowds.
Practical Visiting Tips
- Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon. Badaling is the most popular section and can get very crowded, get there early to beat the crowds and by all means, avoid National Holidays!
Badaling is one of the few sections that is lit up at night. This is also a very good time to visit as there are no crowds and the views are spectacular.
- This section of the wall is well-restored and suitable for seniors and children. The cable cars also make it easier as they drop you right on the wall.
- During peak hours (10:00 am to 1:00 pm), the lines to board the North Cable Car can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- What to Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, sunscreen, and a light jacket (it can be windy).
- There are restaurants and toilet facilities near the main entrance and by the bus and train stations
Cable Cars, Route Suggestions, Night Visit
Badaling features three different transport systems to help you on your hike:
| System Name | Type | Location | Where It Drops You |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Cable Way | Ground Cable Car (Funicular) | South Section | South Watchtower 4 |
| North Cable Way | Aerial Cable Car (Gondola) | North Section | North Watchtower 7 |
| The Pulley / Slideway | Open-Air Coaster / Toboggan | North Section | North Watchtower 4 to Bear Garden |
Planning your route:
- You can mix and match tickets for the North and South Cable cars but not for the Pulley/Slideway.
- Both the North and South Cable Cars travel up and down. The Pulley is mostly used for coming down.
- The Pulley/Slideway is a series of linked open-air mini-roller-coaster cars. While it can pull people up, the vast majority of tourists use it exclusively as a fast, thrilling way to descend after hiking up.
- The Northern Section contains Towers North 1 through North 12 while the Southern Section contains Towers South 1 through South 7.
- Evening illuminated zone is between North 4 Watchtower and South 4 Watchtower
These are Badaling's most popular routes:
North / South Loop
1. North Line Cable Car Up: Arrive at Watchtower 7 or 8.
2. Walk Toward the South Section: Walk towards South Watchtower 4.
3. South Line Cable Car Down: Ride down from South Watchtower 4.
Time needed: 3.5 to 4 hours, depends on lines for cable car. The walking portion is about 2 hours.
North Route and Hero's Trail
1. Walk from Main Entrance to North Watchtower 8: This is the highest point of Badaling and the most famous, heavily trafficked section. About 1.5 hours, depending on crowds and stamina levels! It's an easy stroll between Towers 1 and 4. After Tower 4, the incline increases sharply. The stretch between Towers 7 and 8 is known as the "Hero's Slope" and is very very steep. If you are on easy mode: take the North Line Cable Car!
3. Continue to North Tower 12: About 1 hour. You leave the crowds behind. Although steep, the path is mostly downhill. This segment is quite peaceful and quiet.
4.Exit from North Tower 12: Just past Tower 11/12, there is an official exit pathway that leads you down off the Wall. This path guides you smoothly down to the Bear Garden at the base of the mountain, putting you just a 15-minute flat walk away from the main exit gates and transit hubs, no need to backtrack.
This route requires strong physical endurance but offers the most dramatic, iconic photos.
Time needed: 3.5 to 4 hours, depends on crowds and your own pace.
Scenic South Route
1. South Line Cable Car Up or Walk from Main Fortress: Arrive at South Watchtower 4.
2. Walk back down to Main Fortress Only about 45 minutes to one hour.
This section has fewer crowds, gentler slopes, and is highly recommended for families and seniors. It is the recommended route for the evening visit.
We Highly Recommend - Late Afternoon / Night Badaling Visit
Go in the late afternoon. Explore the wall while there is still good daylight, enjoy the sunset views, and stay to see the wall beautifully lit up at night. The evening atmosphere is magical, with far fewer crowds and a completely different feeling. This is one of our favorite ways to experience Badaling and creates wonderful memories.
We took the Night Tour of Badaling Great Wall - US$23.99, the shuttle bus left from Beitucheng Subway Station Exit B at 4:40pm, arrived at the wall with still plenty of good daylight. This is not a "guided tour" per se, it is basically transport and entrance tickets so you can roam on your own. All the pictures on this page are from this tour. You can see there are hardly any crowds at this time and no lines for the cable car. The wall lighting up little by little was magical.
The shuttle bus starts the return trip at 9:00 pm and you have the option of getting off at the Olympic Village, which we did:
Our very first trip to the Great Wall more than twenty years ago, was to this section. Crowds and all, Badaling was a magnificent sight and still remains such a special memory...
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