Badaling Great Wall Day Tour

Get picked up by your private guide and driver at around 08:00 from your hotel to kick off your 1 day Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs tour. Be prepared to witness one of the greatest engineering feats in human history and the greatest royal necropolis of ancient China!

In one hour, we will arrive before the Badaling Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections of the enormous military defense system from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). You will spend the whole morning on the Wall appreciating how it snakes through the wilds and towards the horizon on the ridges of rolling mountains. Badaling is so famous that it has received more than 300 celebrities from around the world, including even the former US President Nixon and Mrs. Thatcher. The wall is divided into 2 parts by Badaling Pass, with 12 watchtowers distributed along the northern part and 7 on the southern part. You can climb to the No. 8 North Tower, perching on the highest point, to discover a sweeping view of the Great Wall. Take a look around there far into the distance and be spellbound!

Lunch will be arranged on your own, but your guide is glad to offer some suggestions. Badaling recently launched a drone delivery service to allow visitors to order takeout from Meituan, a popular shopping app in China. If you want to experience purchasing food or water from it, just ask your guide for help, but please note that you will need to go south to collect your package at the No.5 or No.9 South Tower.After that, drive to the Ming Tombs, a collection of mausoleums of thirteen Ming emperors. Get off, enter the gate and approach the necropolis via the Sacred Way, paved for the majestic souls to hang out in afterlife and later generations to offer sacrifice. On the way, observe lifelike ancient statues of officials and animals and learn about the Yongle Emperor (1360 - 1424)’s achievements from a giant stele. You will visit the underground Dingling Tomb, the first excavated and shown to the public. People often refers the archeological work of the tomb as a tragedy, as archeologists didn’t seem to take enough appropriate measures to protect unearthed relics like invaluable fabrics and timber from decaying, not to mention the skeletons of the Wanli Emperor (1563 - 1620) and his two empresses, which were burned during social upheaval. Because of this, the Chinese government even stipulated that no imperial tomb shall be excavated. Here, your guide will take you to explore the smart layout and hidden highlights, check out treasures collected by royal family, as well as peek into the life of the emperor and his time.

Afterwards, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel. Thanks for traveling with us!

► Insider Tips on Dinner:
If you are staying at a downtown hotel and interested in local food, we recommend you let your driver drop you off at any branch of He Yan Meat Pie. As the name implies, they feature Beef Pie which is a must-try, but you will also want to sample some authentic Beijing dishes they offer, like Shredded Pork With Sweet Bean Sauce (Jing Jiang Rou Si). The pie will amaze you with mouthful succulent beef, and the latter with a rich texture especially when wrapped in beancurd sheet with sliced scallion. The dishes are served in a quick manner so you don’t have to wait long. The eatery is easy to spot since its facade is in a Chinese style. It’s clean and comfy inside. Average cost per person: CNY 55 / USD 7.5.