The Badaling Great Wall is the essence of the Ming Great Wall. It is a national 5A-level scenic spot. It is famous for its ruggedness and magnificent facilities. It has hosted many Chinese and foreign heads of state. It is a must-visit place for "not being a good man if you don't go to the Great Wall".
I. Core basic information
1. Opening hours
• Peak season (April 1 - October 31): 6:30-16:30
• Off-season (November 1 - March 31 of the following year): 7:30-16:00
• Tips: It is recommended to arrive at the scenic spot 1 hour in advance, avoid the peak traffic, and reserve enough time for sightseeing.
2. Ticket information
People / Type Peak Season Price Off-season Price Remarks
Adult tickets 40 yuan / 35 yuan per person / real-name system tickets, swipe your ID card to enter the park
Student ticket (college students) 20 yuan / 20 yuan per person / purchase with student ID card
Free ticket-free for minors under the age of 18, the elderly over the age of 60 (with valid certificates), children under 1.2 meters
• Ticket purchase channels: Make an appointment 1-2 days in advance through the official account of "Badaling Great Wall" and the "Tourism Inside and Outside the Great Wall" applet. You can also buy on third-party platforms such as Meituan. There is no manual ticket window on site, and you need to swipe your ID card to enter the park.
II. Recommended transportation
1. Public transportation (cost-effective first choice)
• High-speed rail: Beijing North Station / Qinghe Station → Badaling Station, about 35 minutes by car, the ticket price is about 20 yuan, and it takes 10 minutes to walk to the entrance of the scenic spot after leaving the station, which is the fastest and most convenient. You need to grab tickets in advance during the peak season.
• Suburban Railway Line S2: Transfer to "Zhuxinzhuang Station" of Subway Line 8, 1.5 hours' drive, ticket price 12 yuan, you can enjoy the mountain view along the way, first-come, first-served seats, it is recommended to wait 30 minutes in advance on holidays.
• Bus: Take No. 877/NO. 879 from Deshengmen Station, which goes directly to the scenic spot. The ticket price is 12 yuan, which is economical but easily congested. It takes 1.5-2 hours.
2. Special line / self-driving
• Scenic spot direct train (Busda): departs from Exit C of Beitu City in the city, no stop on the way, round-trip ticket price is 80 yuan (excluding tickets), the car is equipped with a professional tour guide to plan the route, suitable for free tourists, WeChat official account can buy tickets.
• Self-driving: Navigate to "Badaling Great Wall Parking Lot", take the Beijing-Tibet Expressway (G6), take 1.5-2 hours, and the parking fee is 20 yuan/day. During the peak season, it is recommended to leave before 8 a.m. to avoid traffic jams.
III. Classic tour route (choose according to physical strength)
1. Classic North Line Tour (first choice for most tourists, 2-3 hours)
• Route: Entrance → North First Floor → North Second Floor ("If you don't go to the Great Wall, you are not a good man" stone monument) → North Fourth Floor (Good Man Monument Photo Point) → North Eighth Floor (the highest point, 888 meters above sea level, the best panoramic view) → Return to the original route or continue to the North 12th floor.
• Highlights: The essence section, with dense scenic spots and the most spectacular scenery; the slope from the north third floor to the north fourth floor is steep, so you need to pay attention to safety. After climbing to the top, you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
2. North-south all-line tour (for those who are physically strong, 4-5 hours)
• Route: Entrance → 50 meters in the direction of the south building (stone monument group photo) → return to the entrance → north first floor to north eighth floor → north eleventh floor → down the mountain passage → bear paradise → small commercial street.
• Highlights: Comprehensively experience the style of the Great Wall. There are fewer tourists from the south fourth floor to the south seventh floor, which is suitable for taking photos quietly. The whole process consumes a lot of physical strength. It is recommended to bring enough supplies.
3. Easy and effort-saving tour (the elderly, children or limited time, 1.5-2 hours)
• Cableway line: rolling ditch parking lot → north clue road → near the north eighth floor → return by the cable car after the tour, one-way 140 yuan/person, one-way 100 yuan/person, 8 minutes directly to the highest point, easy to enjoy the scenery.
• Cable car line: opposite Zhan Tianyou Memorial Hall → ground cable car → south fourth floor (the best viewing point of Nanfeng) → round trip 140 yuan / person, panoramic skylight design, suitable for tourists who want to visit the south line.
• Pulley line: one-way 30 yuan/person, two-way 60 yuan/person, with age limit, gravity sliding, suitable for young people to experience (the elderly and children are not allowed to ride).
IV. Highlights of scenic spots and photo guide
Must-check points:
• "If you don't go to the Great Wall, you are not a good man" stone tablet: 50 meters in the direction of the south building of the entrance, and there is a walkway outside the north second floor. There is no need to deliberately look for the south line to avoid going back.
• Good man slope (North Fourth Floor to North Eighth Floor): The slope is steep, which is the sign of "good man". You can ask the staff to take photos (30 yuan/photo).
• North Eighth Floor: The highest point of Badaling, with a wide view, can photograph the winding mountains of the Great Wall, and the light is best 1-2 hours before sunset.
• Wangjing Stone: a natural boulder outside the east gate of Guancheng. When the weather is sunny, you can overlook Beijing City, which is suitable for taking photos.
Niche photo spots: from the south fourth floor to the south seventh floor, there are few tourists, the vegetation is lush, the Great Wall blends with nature, and the shooting rate is high.
V. Food and accommodation recommendation
1. Catering (features + cost-effectiveness)
• In the scenic spot: You can have a simple meal in the food court, and the buffet of Badaling Hotel is 60 yuan/person, which is convenient and fast; you can also bring your own convenience rice, chocolate and other supplies and have lunch on the tower.
• Around the scenic spot:
• Badaling Hotel (500 meters from the entrance): the signature Great Wall roast duck, wood chicken stewed with mushrooms, 80-100 yuan per person, suitable for multi-person dinner.
• Farmhouse: Fried oil cake with tofu brain, roasted rainbow trout, 60 yuan per capita, fresh ingredients, authentic farmhouse flavor.
• Special drinks: sour date juice (5-8 yuan/bottle, anti-greasy and appetizing), old Beijing porcelain bottle yogurt (6 yuan/bottle, mellow taste).
2. Accommodation options
• Around the scenic spot:
• Beijing Badaling Huafeng Hot Spring Castle: 1.5 kilometers away from the scenic spot, including hot spring facilities, you can relax after playing, the average price is 400-600 yuan/night (including double breakfast).
• Rujia Hotel (Badaling Great Wall Store): 800 meters away from the entrance, chain brand, clean and affordable, average price 200-300 yuan/night, suitable for tourists with limited budget.
• Nearby attractions: Beijing Jingzhihu Resort Hotel (3 kilometers away from the Thirteen Tombs), mountain view room, average price 500-800 yuan/night, suitable for in-depth sightseeing of nearby attractions.
VI. Practical tips and pit avoidance guide
1. Preparation before the trip
• Wearing: Wear comfortable and non-slip sneakers (the steps of the Great Wall are uneven and slippery after rain), and avoid high heels; the temperature on the Great Wall is 5-8℃ lower than that of the city. You need to wear long-sleeved trousers in the morning and evening or in winter, and do a good job of sun protection in summer (wearing a sun hat, it is inconvenient to hold an umbrella).
• Items: lightweight backpacks, 1-2 bottles of water, snacks (to supplement physical strength), certificates, paper towels, sunglasses, you can bring hiking poles to assist in climbing; those who are physically weak can rent out-of-town skeletons (100 yuan/time).
2. Key points to avoid pitfalls
• If you don't buy the "bundled package" at the entrance of the scenic spot, you only need to buy the Great Wall ticket separately.
• The price of high-priced souvenirs (Great Wall models, commemorative coins) in the scenic spot is in vain, so be careful when buying.
• Don't believe the "black tour guide", the official interpreter is 100 yuan/time, and many people can form a group, and the explanation is more professional.
• Do not enter the unopened area, do not climb the pile, do not depict the city wall, and protect cultural relics; do not answer the phone in thunderstorms, and pay attention to safety.
3. Extra experience
• Night tour of the Great Wall: Open in specific seasons, the Great Wall under the bright lights has a special charm, and the ticket price starts from 298 yuan.
• Helicopter flying to the Great Wall: starting from 399 yuan, overlooking the whole view of the Great Wall from the air, with a unique perspective, suitable for tourists who pursue novel experiences.
VII. Peripheral joint tour (within an hour's drive)
• Ming Thirteen Mausoleums (Changling): 30 yuan for adults, the mausoleums of the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, the wooden structure of the Lingen Hall can be called the "ancient building miracle", and you can play for 1.5 hours.
• Juyong Pass Great Wall: 45 yuan in the peak season / 40 yuan in the off-season, "the first Xiongguan in the world", with dangerous terrain and few tourists, suitable for niche experience.
• Longqing Gorge: ticket 40 yuan + boat ticket 100 yuan, known as the "Little Li River", summer vacation in summer, ice lanterns in winter, and 3 hours of play.