Badaling Great Wall has been carefully restored, and in 1957 it was the first section of the Great Wall to open officially to tourists. The immediate area has seen some useful development, including hotels, restaurants and a cable car. A Great Wall Museum has been established near to the wall. Over 100 million visitors have climbed Badaling Great Wall.

Best time to visit Badaling Great Wall:

Badaling Great Wall offers an interesting climb and great views, but it can also be the most crowded (near the start). On a hot day, it can be quite exhausting to reach the top, so if possible, try to avoid going on a national holiday or at the weekend.

How to get to Badaling Great Wall and come back

The Badaling Expressway provides a fast and direct route to Badaling from Beijing taking 65 minutes only. You can take coach (bus) 919 from Deshengmen (a little east of JiShuiTan subway station). The price is only 12 yuan each way. The last return bus is about 17:30pm. On arrival, turn right, up the gift shop and cafe lined hill and under the Great Wall itself; the ticket office and entrance is on the right. For the return journey, take the bus from the same bus stop as where you arrived. The entrance to Badaling Great Wall that you will see close to the bus stop is for the cable car that can take you up about 2/3 of the way to the peak - but that would spoil the fun! Take it down if you're in a hurry for the last bus. If you do miss the last bus, there will be private cars offering to take you. Join with others and try to strike a hard bargain (perhaps 150 yuan total for 2 or three in a car). Alternatively, you can ask to be taken to ChangPing which is halfway to Beijing and from where there are busses into the evening to Beijing (route 345, last bus 22:00).

Badaling Great Wall Tour Routes:

Once you enter the park from the ticket office, you can go either left or right (or both, but not at the same time!). Left : A bit shorter than to the right. Quite steep at first, then levels out. Return the same way. Right : Takes you to the highest point. From there, continue to the second half which is both much quieter and even more interesting. There is an exit in a valley near the end of the second part - take the road (right, uphill) for 10-15 minutes back to the starting point ticket office. Or trace your journey all the way back again - The light will be different and the fact that you are going in the opposite direction (up where you had gone down, and vice versa) makes for a whole new experience. To trek first to the left, then back, then the longer right and back takes about 3 to 4 hours. Just the right loop (back by road) takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Badaling Great Wall Hours and Tickets:

Open daily, 6:30 - 18:30. Admission: 50 yuan. Tips: 1. Some parts of the Great Wall are steep so be careful, especially of your footing when taking photos or after a shower of rain. Wear appropriate footwear. 2. Wind chill can be significant in winter. In summer, you will need plenty of fluids. 3. Films, drinks and snacks are available up on the wall, but pricey - so it is best to take sufficient with you. If you need more film or batteries, bargain hard - but you probably will have to accept paying more than normal.

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