Introduction Of Great Wall Of China
Living a stone’s throw from one of the Modern Wonders of the World – the Great Wall – is definitely a Beijing perk I never take for granted. There’s this famous saying by Mao Zedong, “不到长城非好汉” (Bú dào Chángchéng fēi hǎohàn), which translates to the rather intense “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.” Great Wall Of China
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So, when a friend of mine from Guangzhou swung by Beijing for a business trip and confessed she’d never seen the Wall, her words were clear: “I need to become a true woman! Let’s go!”
And just like that, we had a mission.
Now, if you’re planning a Great Wall adventure, you’ll quickly realize there’s a whole menu of sections to choose from. Your decision boils down to a few things: how far you’re willing to travel, what your budget looks like, and how much of a crowd you’re prepared to face. We landed on the Badaling section, mostly because it’s a breeze to get to using public transportation and it’s one of the more popular spots for a reason. Great Wall Of China
Getting to Badaling: Our Public Transport Adventure
Getting to Badaling is surprisingly straightforward if you opt for public transport, like we did:
- First, you’ll want to hop on either Line 8 or Line 13 of the Beijing Metro and head to Huoying Metro Station (霍营站).
- Once you arrive, look for Exit G4. Head out and you’ll find yourself a short walk away from the Huangtudian Railway Station (黄土店站).
- At Huangtudian, you can buy a ticket for the S2 train bound for Badaling. It’s super affordable at just 7 RMB, and if you’ve got a Beijing Transportation Card, you can even use that!
- Then, settle in for a scenic 1.5-hour train ride that takes you directly to the Badaling section.
Alternatively, you can catch a bus to Badaling, which costs around 20 RMB for a one-way trip. Great Wall Of China
Exploring the Badaling Great Wall
The Badaling section of the Great Wall is seriously impressive. It’s one of the most well-preserved and complete stretches, which naturally makes it a magnet for visitors. You’ll even find a bustling little area with souvenir shops, snack vendors, and yes, even a KFC right at the entrance! Great Wall Of China
Here’s a quick rundown of the essentials:
- Admission Fee:
- April 1st to October 31st: CNY 40
- November 1st to March 31st: CNY 35
- Opening Hours:
- April 1st to October 31st: 6:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- November 1st to March 31st: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Badaling is divided into two main areas for exploring: the North Side and the South Side.
- North Side: This side boasts 12 towers and has a cable car that conveniently takes you up to the 8th tower. It tends to be the more popular side for visitors.
- South Side: With 7 towers, the South Side also has a cable car, which goes up to the 4th tower. It’s generally less crowded than its northern counterpart. Great Wall Of China
How Much Time to Budget for Badaling?
If you’re an early bird and keep a good pace, you could probably experience Badaling in around 3 to 4 hours. However, if you’re like us and want to soak in the views, snap a million photos, and just enjoy being there, definitely carve out more time. We ended up spending almost 5 hours exploring, especially enjoying the relative peace and quiet (and photo ops!) on the South Side.
With a little bit of strategic planning (and some patient waiting), we managed to capture some pretty memorable photos! Great Wall Of China
Badaling: Weighing the Pros and Cons
The Perks:
- Getting there via public transport is a breeze.
- It’s one of the best-maintained and most complete sections of the Wall.
- Plenty of handrails make the climbs feel a bit safer.
- Cable cars are available on both the North and South sides if you want to skip some of the uphill trekking.
The Drawbacks:
- Its easy accessibility and relatively low cost mean it gets seriously crowded. Be prepared to navigate through throngs of people and be patient if you want photos without a cast of thousands in the background. Great Wall Of China
Essential Tips for Your Badaling Visit:
- Seriously consider hitting the South Side first. It’s just as stunning (if not more so in some ways) and significantly less crowded. We found that by late afternoon, the North Side also started to thin out.
- Pack some snacks! While there are places to buy food, they can be a bit on the pricier side.
- Don’t hesitate to use the cable cars if you’re not feeling up to a full climb. They offer great views too!
- Be a little flexible with the train schedule. The times we found online weren’t entirely accurate, and we ended up waiting a bit longer than expected for our return train. Great Wall Of China
Our Badaling Timeline: A Rough Guide
- 7:45 AM: Arrived at Huoying Metro Station, took Exit G4.
- 9:15 AM: Train finally departed for Badaling.
- 10:30 AM: Reached Badaling and purchased our entrance tickets.
- 11:15 AM: Started our climb on the South Side.
- 2:00 PM: Moved over to explore the North Side.
- 4:00 PM: Began our descent.
- 5:00 PM: Arrived back at the Badaling train station.
- 5:40 PM: Our train finally left.
- 7:00 PM: Arrived back at Huoying Metro Station.
- 7:30 PM: Metro ride back home.
Final Thoughts on Our Badaling Adventure
Overall, my trip to Badaling was fantastic! It was a very different experience compared to my visit to the Jinshanling section a few years back. Even with the crowds, the views were undeniably breathtaking, and it was a truly memorable day spent walking on the Great Wall. Now, I’m adding more sections of the Wall to my must-see list to see how they all compare! Great Wall Of China
Have you ever had the chance to walk on the Great Wall? Which section did you visit, and what was your experience like? I’d love to hear your stories!
