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| Badaling Great Wall Map |
Chinese Name: 八达岭长城 (bā dá lǐng cháng chéng)
Admission Fee: CNY 45 (Apr. 1 to Oct.31); CNY 40 (Nov.1 to Mar.31)
Cable Car: CNY 60 (single trip); CNY 80 (round trip)
Pulley: CNY 30 (single trip); CNY 60 (round trip)
Opening Hours: 06:30 - 19:00 (In summer); 07:00 - 18:00 (In winter)
Best Visiting Time: Spring and autumn especially September to October
Location: A mountain pass of Jundu Mountain, Badaling Great Wall is located in southern Yanqing County, about 60 km (37.3 miles) northwest Beijing.
Introduction: The first section opened to the public among all of the great wall sections, Badaling Great Wall is the best-preserved Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) great wall and the most representative section of China Great Wall, enjoying a high reputation both at home and abroad. It is a place of great strategic value and difficult of access, known as 'one of the nine fortresses' in China. The walls of Badaling were built with huge but regular stone slabs with an average height of 7.8 m (25.6 feet). On the top of the walls were built with crenellated battlements for shooting arrows through and for keeping watch over the enemies. Besides, there is a watch tower every few hundred meter, and a beacon towers every 2 - 5 km (1.2 - 3.1 miles). In addition to its significant position and unique constructions, Badaling is also reputed for its magnificent natural sceneries during all four seasons. In spring, various colorful wild flowers make it full of vitality; after a rain in summer, it becomes a vigorous huge dragon floating on the cloud and fog; in autumn, its northern part is covered by red and yellow smoke and maple trees, while the southern part is still green; coming to the winter, a snow may last for a whole winter without melting, which changed it into a jade dragon speeding across the sky.
History: Being an important area since the ancient times, Badaling was originally built in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC) and the Warring States Period (476 - 221BC) to defend the northern border from being invaded by the northern nomadic tribes. Over 1,000 years later in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), Badaling was rebuilt in a large scale, which took more than 80 years. As a result, it became a firm defensive fortification starting from the Yalu River in the East and ending at Bulongji Town west of the Jiayuguan Pass in the west, spreading a total of 3,741 m (4,091 yards). However, Badaling was gradually deserted since the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Some of the platforms were destroyed more than a half and most of the body of the walls, battlements and arrow towers were in ruins. Later after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Badaling was rebuilt and renovated once more according to its scheme in the Ming Dynasty.
Badaling Transportation
A. Take Bus No. 877 (Through line to Badaling), 919, or 880 from Deshengmen of Beijing City to Badaling.
B. Take a bullet train from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling.
C. During the peak season Apr. to Oct., there are special tourism buses from Qianmen, Dongdaqiao, Beijing Zoo and some other places of downtown Beijing to Badaling.
D. If from Beijing Capital International Airport, take Airport Express to Dongzhimen, transfer to Beijing Subway Line 2 to Jishuitan, and then walk to Deshengmen to take Bus No. 887, 919, or 880.
E. If from Tiananmen Square, take Beijing Subway Line 1 at Tiananmen East or West to Deshengmen, and then transfer to Bus No. 877, 919, or 880.
Dining
Badaling Restaurant: Located on the south side outside of the West Gate of Badaling Great Wall, it is largest foreign-related hotel equipped with full functions in the area. The restaurant specializes in Huaiyang Cuisine (also called Jiangsu Cuisine) and Cantonese Cuisine, but also provides some Sichuan and Shandong food.
Badaling Cafeteria: It is situated on the north side of the road inside Guancheng, offering various Chinese-style fast food, box meal and drinks.
Badaling Hotel: On the west side of Badaling Restaurant, it provides both accommodation and dinning services.
Julong Restaurant: Located on the south side outside of the West Gate of Guancheng, it mainly offers authentic Sichuan food.
Badaling Tourism Company: Lying on the south side of the road inside Guancheng, it offers both Chinese and Western food.
Accommodation: Farmhouses located in the villages at the foot of Badaling Great Wall may be the nearest accommodation. The well-known ones are Tieguowang Farmhouse, Happy Holiday Farmhouse, Chadao Guyi Farmhouse and Baoyancheng Farmhouse. At these farmhouses, there are also special dinning services provided. Farther to Badaling, there are many hostels, guest houses and hotels in Yanqing City like Badaling Hot Spring Holiday Resort and Pengda resort Hotel.
Badaling Great Wall Travel Tips:
Special Services in Badaling
Recommended tour routes in Badaling
Badaling Nearby Attractions
Popular One-day Badaling Tour Routes
