Badaling Great Wall

Badaling, famed as the most representative section of the Great Wall of China, not only is the best-preserved and most visited part but also was the initial section to be restored and developed into a tourist attraction. It has allured millions of tourists and even caught the eyes of world leaders.

 It is the most popular section.

 It is the best-preserved and most complete section.

 Compared with other sections, most stairs are not very steep and they are equipped with handrails, so it is a relatively easier climb.

 This section has been equipped with cable cars and pulleys to save energy, and it even has some facilities to make it easier for seniors and the disabled.

 It is close to downtown Beijing, about 43 miles (70 kilometers) away, and easy to reach by public transportation.

 Most of the preserved parts were built and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD) to defend Beijing against the intrusion of northern Mongolians.

 The total length of this section is 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) with 43 watchtowers, however, only 3.74 kilometers (2.3 miles) and 19 watchtowers have been restored and opened to visitors.

 In this section the wall averages about 7.8 meters (26 feet) tall, and 6 meters (20 feet) wide, which would allow five horses to gallop or ten soldiers to march abreast.

 It is built of huge bar-stones and bricks. The interior of the wall was stuffed with rammed earth and small stones to make it firm and solid.

 A number of holes have been drilled in the wall to shoot arrows and to watch enemies.

 The watchtowers were built to accommodate soldiers, send messages, observe the enemy, and store supplies. It also has shooting and observing holes.

 It witnessed many significant events in history: Yuan Taizu, the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) conquered it, took control over Beijing, then the whole of China, and began the Yuan Dynasty; Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD) fled from there to western China in 1900 when an alliance of eight western countries controlled Beijing.

 It has drawn tens of millions of tourists both from home and abroad. More than 540 foreign leaders and celebrities have visited it, including former US presidents Nixon, Obama, Queen Elizabeth II of UK, former South Africa president Mandela, and Russian president Vladimir Putin.
 

Five iron cannons are displayed along the horse road near the entrance of the fort, the largest of which is 2.85 meters (9.35 feet) long, with a caliber of 105 millimeters (4.13 inches) and a range of over 1,000 meters (3,300 feet). These ancient cannons vividly depict the military history and defensive capabilities of the Ming Great Wall.

Ancient Cannons

Cultural relic in the China Great Wall Museum

Badaling Great Wall Map

Once you reach the No. 11 North Tower, you have two options: either directly descend the Great Wall along the fast walking path or first explore the farthest No. 12 North Tower and then return to No. 11 North Tower before going down the Great Wall. This fast walking path leads to the Bear Park. If time permits, it is worth paying a visit.

3. The route with the richest variety of attractions: Commence the tour by taking the aerial cable car to the No. 7 North Tower. Proceed with the exploration until reaching the No. 4 South Tower and then conclude the trip by taking the ground cable car down.

Cable Cars

Pulleys