The Badaling Great Wall, located at the north entrance of the Guandong Ancient Path in the Jundushan Mountain area of Yanqing District, Beijing, is considered the essence of the “Great Wall of Ten Thousand Miles.” It is famous for its magnificent scenery, well-developed facilities, and rich cultural heritage. As a national symbol, the Badaling Great Wall represents the spirit of the Chinese nation and embodies patriotism in the new era. It is one of China’s first “5A” tourist attractions and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1987. For many Chinese and international visitors, climbing the Badaling Great Wall and becoming a “hero” has become a shared dream.
Badaling Great Wall Key Tips
Arrive by high-speed train
Travel light
Hike if you can
Avoid taking the cable car
Aim for North Tower 12
Book tickets in advance
Ticket Booking
Tickets can be purchased through the WeChat mini program “Great Wall Inside and Outside Travel.” You can buy admission tickets, cable car tickets, and night-tour tickets. Tickets are generally sufficient, but it’s recommended to book online in advance and enter directly with your ID card.
Adult ticket: 40 RMB/person
Student ticket: 20 RMB/person
Ticket booking / Cable car: Trip
PS: Seniors over 60 and children under 18 can enter for free and may enter directly by scanning their ID.
Cable Car
One-way: 100 RMB/person
Round trip: 140 RMB/person
PS: The cable car includes both the ground cable car and the aerial cable car. Tickets work for either one. During peak seasons, wait times may reach around 2 hours. It’s recommended to decide on-site depending on crowd levels, weather, and your physical condition whether to buy tickets and whether to choose a one-way or round trip.
Ground Cable Car
Route: From the ground station next to the commercial street → South Tower 4
One-way duration: 6 minutes
Aerial Cable Car
Route: From the ground station next to the Rolling Ditch parking lot to the right of the high-speed rail station exit → North Tower 7
One-way duration: 8 minutes
Sliding Car
One-way: 80 RMB/person
Round trip: 120 RMB/person
PS: Sliding car tickets are sold separately on-site.
Route: From the ground station next to Bear Park → North Tower 4
Duration: 10 minutes going up, 2 minutes going down
Night Tour of the Great Wall Ticket: ¥298 per person
Note: Includes night tour of the Great Wall (North Section: Tower 1 to Tower 4; South Section: Tower 1 to Tower 4) and the immersive performance “Dream Back to the Great Wall: Cranes Gathering from All Directions.” Children under 1.2 meters tall enter free. No other discounts apply.
Round-trip transportation
High-Speed Rail
Ticket Purchase Method: Railway 12306 App
Beijing North Station/Qinghe Station — Badaling Great Wall
Departing from Beijing North Station (West Gate Station, Subway Lines 2, 4, 13): ¥31/person, approx. 50 min journey, first train at 6:10
Departing from Qinghe Station (Qinghe Station, Subway Line 13, Changping Line): ¥18/person, 22 min journey, first train at 6:43
Return from Badaling: Last bus departs at 20:43
Be sure to purchase tickets 15 days in advance at the designated times: Beijing North Station (tickets released at 12:00), Qinghe Station (tickets released at 16:00). If tickets are sold out, periodically check for last-minute availability.
Suburban Railway Line S2
Ticket Purchase Method: Scan Alipay Travel QR Code on-site for subway travel
Huangtudian (Exit G from Huoying Station, Metro Lines 8 & 13; exit via G4) — Badaling Great Wall
Subject to daily timetable
One-way: ¥7/person, approx. 70-min journey
Bus Route 877
Deshengmen Terminal (adjacent to Jishuitan Station, Metro Line 2) — Badaling Great Wall (Qianshan Bus Stop)
Outbound: First bus 6:00 AM, last bus 12:30 PM
Return: First bus 10:30 AM, last bus 5:00 PM
One-way: 6 RMB/person, approximately 90-minute journey
Tourist Shuttle
Qianmen — Badaling Great Wall (Guntian Gou Parking Lot)
Round Trip: ¥80/person, Approx. 80 min. travel time (Ticket Booking: Trip)
Departure: 6:30-11:00, Qianmen Station, rolling departures, multiple trips, depart as soon as full (approx. 15 min. intervals during peak season, 30 min. intervals during off-peak season)
Return: 12:00-16:00. Gather at Badaling Great Wall scenic area parking lot for return to downtown. Stops at Bird's Nest and Water Cube en route for night views. Suitable for connecting with other tour routes.
Qianmen Departure Point Location: Exit C of Qianmen Station (Line 2). After reaching ground level, turn left without entering the underpass. Walk along the guardrail to the south side of Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower for boarding. Alternatively, exit I of Qianmen Station (Line 8). After reaching ground level, turn right at “Huguosi Snacks,” proceed straight to Qianmen Street, then turn right to reach the boarding point. Navigate to “Beijing Tourism Distribution Center Qianmen Branch” or “South Gate of Zhengyangmen Arrow Tower”.
Driving or Didi
Navigate to “Badaling Great Wall Black Dragon Pool Parking Lot” (i.e., Great Wall Sky Parking Lot). Parking fee: ¥10 per session. Upon arrival, take the free shuttle bus. Stops include: Pedestrian Street Station (walk forward to reach the entrance to the Great Wall) and Rolling Sky Gully Parking Lot Station (walk uphill to take the aerial tramway). Total journey time: approximately 8 minutes.
☆ Key Points ☆
Highly recommended: Take the bullet train. Bus 877, tourist shuttle, driving, or DiDi may take over 2 hours during peak season due to traffic congestion.
Tour Route
Route Overview
The Badaling Great Wall is centered around the Wengcheng Gate (hiking entrance), dividing the wall into northern and southern sections.
Southern Wall: Consists of 7 sections, with the highest point being South Tower 4. The slope from South Tower 1 to South Tower 4 is gentle. South Tower 4 marks the highest point of the southern wall. From South Tower 5 to South Tower 7, there are a few steeper steps. The entire section is manageable for individuals of average fitness. Ground-level cable cars operate between South Tower 4 and the base. Hiking the full loop from South Tower 1 to South Tower 7 covers approximately 2.5km, taking about one hour round trip.
North Great Wall: Consists of 12 sections, with the highest point at North Tower 8. The section from North Tower 1 to North Tower 4 is a gentle slope. The section from North Tower 7 to North Tower 8 is the “Heroes' Slope,” which is quite steep and requires a certain level of physical fitness. North Tower 8 is the highest point of the Great Wall. The section from North Tower 8 to North Tower 12 involves ascending and descending steps, all of which are relatively steep. The most challenging climb is the section from North Tower 8 to North Tower 10, which has a very steep gradient. A pulley system operates between North Tower 4 and the base. A cable car runs between North Tower 7 and the base. Descending trails are available from North Tower 8 and North Tower 11. Hiking the entire loop from North Tower 1 to North Tower 12 and descending via the North Tower 11 trail covers approximately 4km and takes about 2.5 hours.
Line Distribution
South 7th Floor — South 4th Floor (Ground Cable Car) — South 1st Floor — Wengcheng (Hiking Entrance) — North 1st Floor — North 4th Floor (Ropeway) — North 7th Floor (Aerial Cable Car) — North 8th Floor — North 11th Floor (Descent Path) — North 12th Floor
Route Selection
🌟 Easy & Leisurely Routes
① Hike from South Tower 1 to South Tower 4, then return the same way or take the ground cable car back.
Or hike from North Tower 1 to North Tower 4, then return the same way or take the sliding car back.
The distance is short, the road is easy to walk, the scenery is beautiful, and it is suitable for seniors, kids, and people with limited stamina.
② Take the aerial cable car to North Tower 7, hike to North Tower 8 (enjoy the view and take photos), then hike back to North Tower 7 and take the aerial cable car down.
③ “Just-for-fun” route:
Check in at the Great Wall reliefs and stone walls outside the West Gate, the West Gate “Key of the North Gate,” the East Gate “Juyong Outer Garrison,” Wangjing Temple and Wangjing Stone outside the East Gate, and the large Badaling Great Wall logo stone.
Enter the barbican for photos, first go to South Tower 1, view the full panorama of the North Great Wall, check in at the Hero Stele between South Tower 2 and South Tower 3, return to explore the barbican walls, and finally walk to North Tower 1. Depending on your stamina, climb to North Tower 2 or North Tower 3, then return the way you came.
🚶 Beginner Routes
① Hike the north section from North Tower 1 to North Tower 8, then return the same way or take the aerial cable car from North Tower 7.
This is the official core area. You can check in at the Hero Slope and Hero Stele at North Tower 4 and at the Hero Slope between North Tower 7 and North Tower 8. Reaching the highest point at North Tower 8 gives you a great panoramic view of the Great Wall.
This is the classic route, but extremely crowded, especially in the morning.
② Hike the south section from South Tower 1 to South Tower 7, then return the same way or take the ground cable car from South Tower 4.
The South Great Wall is more photogenic, has gentler slopes, and fewer people. You can also see the full panorama of the North Great Wall.
Checkpoints include three Hero Steles: at the South Tower 1 entry, between South Tower 2 and South Tower 3, and at South Tower 4.
③ “Spend money, save your legs” route:
Take the aerial cable car to North Tower 7, hike down from North Tower 7 to North Tower 1, then hike the south section from South Tower 1 to South Tower 4, and take the ground cable car back.
This saves physical effort but requires buying round-trip cable car tickets.
🏃 Intermediate Routes
① Hike the north section from North Tower 1 to North Tower 12, then return to North Tower 11 and exit through the downhill passage to Badaling Bear Park.
You can explore the entire North Great Wall for a deep experience. The hardest part is between North Tower 8 and North Tower 10, but after that the crowds thin out, and by the time you reach North Tower 12, you can enjoy the Great Wall almost completely to yourself.
② First hike the south section from South Tower 1 to South Tower 7 and return, then hike the north section from North Tower 1 to North Tower 8. Based on your stamina and time, either continue to North Tower 12 or return the same way or take the aerial cable car from North Tower 7.
🥾 Special Forces Challenge
① First hike the south section from South Tower 1 to South Tower 7 and return, then hike the north section from North Tower 1 to North Tower 12, return to North Tower 11, and exit through the downhill passage to Badaling Bear Park.
This is a full south-north loop, about 7 km total, taking around 4.5 hours.
② First hike the north section from North Tower 1 to North Tower 12, return to North Tower 11, exit through the downhill passage to Badaling Bear Park, return to the entrance, then hike the south section from South Tower 1 to South Tower 7 and return the same way or take the ground cable car from South Tower 4.
(PS: You can re-enter the scenic area on the same day with your ticket.)
☆ Important Notes
Recommended for anyone between ages 8 and 55: unless you have mobility issues or limited time, at least hike the full north section up to North Tower 12. After passing North Tower 8, the crowds thin out, and at North Tower 12 you can enjoy the entire Great Wall almost alone.
Seniors and children can choose the South Great Wall—it’s gentler and less crowded.
Check-In Spots
Great Wall relief: commercial walking street
“He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man” stone wall: commercial walking street
Large Badaling Great Wall logo stone: square outside the East Gate
“Key of the North Gate”: West Gate wall of the barbican entrance
“Juyong Outer Garrison”: East Gate wall of the barbican entrance
Hero Stele “He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man”: South Tower 1 entry, between South Tower 2 and South Tower 3, South Tower 4, and the path near North Tower 4
Hero Stone: North Tower 4
Hero Slope: between North Tower 7 and North Tower 8, reaching the highest point at North Tower 8
North Tower 12: endpoint of the north section
Things to Note
On weekends and holidays, the Great Wall can feel like it has “a hundred million people.” If you can walk, walk. If you can climb, climb. Lines for buses, shuttles, and cable cars are extremely long.
The Great Wall is completely outdoors. Check the weather beforehand and dress appropriately. Wear comfortable athletic shoes. Bring sun protection in summer, and windproof or warm layers in other seasons.
Supply points on the Great Wall: entrance, South Tower 4, North Tower 4, North Tower 7, and the downhill passage at North Tower 11.
Mondays and holidays are crowded; mornings are more crowded than afternoons.
If you plan to take the aerial cable car, it's best to arrive by high-speed train or tourist shuttle—the cable car station is just a short walk north. If you plan to take the sliding car, it’s best to take Bus 877—the sliding car station is also a short walk north. Arrange the rest as needed.
Other Information
Dining Options
Concentrated primarily along the commercial pedestrian street, offering diverse choices at reasonable prices. Options include KFC, Dicos, Fish with You, Qingfeng Baozi Shop, Subway, Mixue Ice Cream, Starbucks, and a food court featuring various cuisines...
Alternative Attractions
Near the Badaling Great Wall:
China Great Wall Museum, Zhan Tianyou Memorial Hall, Badaling Dream Great Wall Dome Theater, “Dream of the Great Wall” immersive show
Recommended Itineraries:
Tomb of the Ming Emperors (Changling & Dingling) → Night views of Bird's Nest & Water Cube → Badaling Wildlife Park → Summer Palace
