Badaling, 八达岭, is a section of the Great Wall in Beijing’s Yanqing District. Check that your transport and admission are for Badaling: a ticket or tour simply labelled “Great Wall” may be for a different section.

From living in Beijing

I’ve walked both the north and south sections at Badaling. The last time was one summer, with my father.

  • Only one day for the Great Wall? I’d choose Badaling. In my view it has the most complete visitor facilities, which makes a first visit easier.
  • Getting there was easy. I went by metro and public bus. The trains in this guide are another straightforward option.
  • We walked without the cable car, and it was worth it. The wall winding along the ridges really does look like a dragon’s back. Every Chinese visitor knows Mao Zedong’s line 不到长城非好汉: you’re not a true hero until you’ve climbed the Great Wall.
  • It gets crowded. A cloudy day keeps the heat down, and late autumn is a good time to go.
  • No special kit needed. Ordinary trainers are fine; just don’t wear flip-flops. I was able to buy water on the wall. Go at your own pace and turn back when you’ve had enough.

Tickets and passport bookings

Beijing’s passport ticketing guide describes booking through Changcheng Neiwai (长城内外) and help at English-language service windows. Carry the original passport used for your booking. The city’s visitor page also lists on-site ticket sales; this doesn’t guarantee availability for your date.

Read what the price covers. Wall admission, cableways, other local transport and transfers from Beijing may be sold separately.

Planning the journey from Beijing

For a first independent visit, start by comparing trains to Badaling Great Wall / Badalingchangcheng (八达岭长城). Beijing’s railway information identifies services from Beijing North / Beijingbei (北京北) and Qinghe (清河). Choose the departure station that fits your hotel location and the trains available on your date.

  1. Search both directions on China Railway 12306. Select 八达岭长城, not 八达岭: Badaling station is the separate S2 suburban-rail stop.
  2. Book your outward and return journeys using your passport details. Keep the original passport handy for station checks; a saved itinerary sheet is not a boarding ticket.
  3. At the destination, follow signs for the scenic-area entrance or the cable car you’ve chosen. The train ticket does not include wall admission or a cable car.
  4. Save 八达岭长城站 as your return point and allow for the walk back, station checks and queues before your train.

Make Badaling the main outing that day. A coach or arranged transfer can suit a group that prefers one pickup point; the train is worth comparing if you can manage the station journeys yourself. For a coach, confirm the return pickup as well as the outward trip.

Choosing a route on the wall

The north and south sections offer different walks. Beijing’s tourism bureau describes the southern terrain as relatively gentler and distinguishes the north aerial cable car from the south ground cable car.

Your preference Start with
You want to head towards North Tower 8 (北八楼) The north section. Compare walking with the north cable car, depending on how much climbing you want.
You prefer a gentler section The south section. It still has slopes and steps; “gentler” does not mean step-free.
You mainly want a short walk on the wall Walk part of either open section and return when you’ve had enough. You don’t need to buy a cable-car ticket just to visit.

If you pay for a cable car, match the ticket to the section and check whether it is one-way or return. It saves part of the climb, but you still need to plan the walk on the wall and the route back to your train or pickup point. Check the weather and on-site notices: wet surfaces, wind and crowds can change how difficult the walk feels.

Take breaks and turn back when you need to. Reaching a particular tower isn’t necessary to enjoy the wall and the surrounding views.

The Great Wall winding over green mountain ridges
The Great Wall winding over green mountain ridges
A watchtower above low cloud
A watchtower above low cloud
Stone steps leading towards a watchtower in autumn
Stone steps leading towards a watchtower in autumn
The Great Wall across sunlit hills
The Great Wall across sunlit hills
A stone wall and watchtowers surrounded by dense trees
A stone wall and watchtowers surrounded by dense trees
A steep section of wall rising towards a watchtower
A steep section of wall rising towards a watchtower

Before you go

  • Check your confirmed booking and the document you need to bring.
  • Review current opening and access notices.
  • Save your full outward and return journeys.
  • Bring a backup way to pay.
  • Leave time before any evening booking back in Beijing.

For a different historic site in the city, read my Temple of Heaven guide.

Sources and updates

Sources checked on 30 Oct 2026.

Check the latest official information for your travel date before making a booking.

Spotted a mistake? Let me know.