Badaling is truly beautiful after the snow

Number of days: 1 day
Time: January
Average cost: 150 yuan
With whom: and friends

Badaling Introduction

The Great Wall is a symbol of the Chinese nation's 5,000-year-old civilization. Regarding the Great Wall, I believe everyone has heard the saying, "If you haven't visited the Great Wall, you're not a true man," and they all know a bit about its history and introduction. Badaling, home to the "Haohan Slope," is a must-see for nearly every visitor to Beijing. As a popular attraction for both Chinese and international tourists, I find the Badaling Great Wall's most striking features to be its rolling hills, rugged terrain, majestic grandeur, rich history, and well-preserved architecture.

The Badaling Great Wall is located at the northern entrance of the Guangou Ancient Trail at Jundu Mountain in Yanqing County, Beijing. Historically known as one of the Nine Great Fortresses of China, it served as a forerunner to the important Juyongguan Pass. It is the best-preserved and most representative section of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, and therefore the earliest section of the Great Wall to be open to the public.

Tickets

You can log in to the official website and WeChat public account "Badaling Great Wall" to purchase.

Tickets are divided into off-season and peak season: the peak season is from April 1st to October 31st every year, and the adult ticket is 40 yuan/person.

The off-season is winter, which is from November 1st to March 31st of the following year, and the adult ticket is 35 yuan/person.

People under 18 and over 60 are free of charge.

Students and those with various certificates also have discounted tickets. Please check the official website for details.

We chose a direct bus this time, so we asked the tour guide to buy the round-trip tickets and fare instead of buying them ourselves. The round-trip bus plus tickets cost 120 yuan per person for adults and 40 yuan per person for children, which was a good deal.

Transportation

There are three ways:

The first is to take the "Train to Spring" - the S2 EMU, which takes you from Beijing North Railway Station. It's a bit more troublesome and doesn't go directly.

The second is to take the bus. You have to reverse, which is inconvenient.

The third way is private car or through bus (PS: This time we took the bus to the through bus and the meeting place was at Beitucheng Metro Station)

Tour Route

It is recommended to climb from the North First Floor to the North Eighth Floor, which is the most classic section of the Badaling Great Wall (on your right after entering the main gate). After entering through the main gate, you can also climb the southern towers (on the left) first, and then return along the original route to visit the northern tower. Of course, you should choose the appropriate climbing length according to your physical strength, etc.

Lunch and optional expenses

Badaling Restaurant, Yonghe Dawang (Badaling Branch), Subway (Badaling Great Wall Branch), Qingfeng Baozi Shop (Badaling Great Wall Branch) There are quite a lot of options in the Great Wall Food Culture Plaza, and some businesses offer discounts for the price of Bastard, which is quite cost-effective.

(1) Cableway (Back Mountain)

Located on the back mountain of the scenic area, the Badaling Cableway, operated by the Beijing Badaling Tourism Corporation, is one of the safest and most advanced cableways in the world and the fastest and safest way to reach the city. With ample capacity and comprehensive facilities, the cable car offers the fastest and most direct access to the scenic North Eighth Tower, making it a great option for travelers with limited stamina or those with elderly family members.

A round-trip ticket for the cableway costs 140 yuan.

(2) Sliding Car (Front Hill)

The sliding car is located in the front hill of the scenic area. You can take the sliding car to the North 4th Tower, and then walk to the North 8th Tower. It is the main way to climb the city for a day trip to Badaling. Due to outdated facilities and safety issues, I personally do not recommend this way of climbing the city. It happened to snow when we went there, so the sliding car tickets were no longer available.

A round-trip ticket for the sliding car is 100 yuan.

Notes

1. Pay attention to your personal appearance. Do not carve on the Great Wall, do not make loud noises, and be courteous and respect the rules.

2. Several sections, such as Haohanpo, are steep, and some sections on the wall are narrow, allowing only two people to climb side by side.

3. The Great Wall is crowded with tourists on weekends and holidays, so it is recommended to depart early to avoid peak hours. There are no shops on the mountain, so please bring supplies, especially food and water. There is a restroom on the fourth floor of the north building and one on the fourth floor of the south building.

This is the end of our Badaling Great Wall check-in. See you at the next stop.

On the way back, we met at the Great Wall Museum. The museum in the snow was particularly majestic.

The day trip ended here. It was almost dark and we were ready to go home. We also passed by the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. Here is a picture.

We also got a souvenir from the bus tour guide, which we loved.

Summary: Badaling is truly worth a visit. It's a very fulfilling day, and not too tiring. The bus is definitely worth the trip; it's convenient and quick, and there's a guide. In fact, compared to other options, this one is really worth it, and we have plenty of time. And with a guide, it's especially suitable for families with children. If you're thinking of going, this is a good option.