Badaling is the Great Wall section about 60 km northwest of Beijing, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by car or about 20 to 40 minutes by high-speed train. Adult tickets cost CNY 40 from April to October and CNY 35 from November to March, with real-name booking. As of November 2026, only the south cable car line is running.
- Tickets: adults CNY 40 (about US$6) April–October, CNY 35 (about US$5) November–March
- Reservation: real-name booking online, or on site; book ahead for July, August and public holidays
- Opening hours: 1 April–31 October 6:30–16:30; 1 November–31 March 7:30–16:00 (as of November 2026)
- Open stretch: North Tower 12 to South Tower 7.5, about 3.7 km of wall
- Cable cars: south funicular to South Tower 4, CNY 140 return; the north line to Hero Slope is closed for maintenance 20 October–25 December 2026
- Getting there: private car, or a high-speed train to Badaling Changcheng station
Badaling’s history and famous visitors
Badaling was the wall that defended the northern approach to Beijing, nicknamed the “lock and key of the northern gate.” An old saying held that the strength of Juyongguan lay not in its own pass but in Badaling. The ramparts are built of dressed stone and grey brick and follow the ridgelines up and down, so from the high towers the wall seems to snake away over the hills like a dragon.
It is also the section that heads of state are taken to. India’s prime minister Nehru was the first foreign guest, in October 1954, and since then Badaling has hosted Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret Thatcher, Nelson Mandela, Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama. It was listed as a national key heritage site in 1961, inscribed by UNESCO in 1987 as part of the Great Wall, and named among China’s first 5A scenic areas in 2007.
Badaling is the most developed section near Beijing, with two lifts, a high-speed station by the north cable car and a museum at its foot, so it makes an easy day for families. Peach blossom comes out along the funicular line in spring and lilac in summer; by autumn the leaves turn red, and winter can leave snow along the wall.
North or south: the two sides of the wall
The open wall runs from North Tower 12 to South Tower 7.5, a stretch of 3,741 m with 21 towers and platforms. The north side climbs to North Tower 8 on the “Hero Slope,” the highest point at Badaling. On the south side, from South Tower 4, at 803.6 m the high point of the south wall, the wall snakes away to the northeast and Guanting Reservoir shines in the distance to the west.
For an easy visit, ride up, walk for as long as you like, and ride back down. While the north cable car is closed for maintenance, that means the south funicular to South Tower 4. Strong walkers can still climb the north side to Hero Slope on foot, and travelers report that the short rail-car ride (滑车) up to around North Tower 4 is running as usual.
Tickets and free entry
| Ticket | April–October | November–March |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | CNY 40 (about US$6) | CNY 35 (about US$5) |
| Student (half price) | CNY 20 | CNY 17.5 |
| Cable car, either line | CNY 140 return, CNY 100 one way | Same |
Under Badaling’s published rules, minors under 18 and seniors 60 and over enter free with valid ID, as do disabled-card holders. Free visitors still need to reserve a ticket, which is issued at CNY 0. The rules do not say whether a foreign passport counts for these groups, so foreign visitors should ask us to confirm eligibility when booking. Children under 1.2 m ride either cable car free.
Booking is real-name, through the “长城内外旅游” WeChat mini-program, the Badaling Great Wall WeChat account, the scenic area’s website or approved third-party platforms, and tickets are also sold on site. On our tours we book the included tickets with the passport details you send us after you confirm.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Cable cars: north line and south funicular
- North line cable car: enclosed eight-person cabins, about an eight-minute ride up to North Tower 8 on Hero Slope. It first opened in 1991 and was rebuilt in 2014. Hours: 8:00–16:30 from April to October, 9:00–16:00 from November to March. As of November 2026 it is closed for equipment maintenance from 20 October to 25 December 2026, and the notice gives no exact reopening day, so we check before your visit.
- South line “ground cable car”: a funicular that climbs in about six minutes to South Tower 4. It opened in 2017. Hours: 9:00–16:30 from April to October, 9:00–16:00 from November to March. The official notes say it may pause in the off-season, but as of November 2026 it is the line that is running, while the north cable car is closed for maintenance.
Tickets for the two lines are interchangeable, so you can ride up one side and down the other. Travelers report that north-line tickets bought before the closure can be used on the south funicular or refunded through the channel where they were bought.
The new China Great Wall Museum
At the foot of Badaling, the rebuilt China Great Wall Museum reopened for a trial period on 24 October 2026. Its glass-walled Great Wall Hall looks straight out at the ramparts, and the permanent exhibition shows over 700 objects. Entry is free, with ID, from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30). It is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays. During the trial period there is no booking, and visitor numbers are limited to 4,000 a day. The museum is an easy stop before or after your walk.
Getting to Badaling
By car
The drive is about 65 to 80 km and takes about 1 to 1.5 hours from central Beijing in normal traffic. The expressway toward Badaling gets busy at weekends and on public holidays, so on those days we leave early and allow longer. Cars park in designated lots, and a free shuttle carries you into the scenic area.
By high-speed train
Badaling Changcheng (Great Wall) station on the Beijing–Zhangjiakou high-speed line is only about 100 m from the lower station of the north cable car. While the north cable car is closed, train travelers walk to the wall entrance instead; travelers report it takes about 10 to 15 minutes from the station. Trains leave from Qinghe (19–23 minutes) or Beijing North (27–40 minutes). Only some trains stop there, 25 on a sample weekday in November 2026, so book ahead on 12306 with your passport. Second-class fares were CNY 21–31 on that date, and fares change.
By suburban train and bus
The S2 suburban line stops at its own Badaling station, separate from the high-speed station and about 300 m from the south funicular; check 12306 for S2 times. Public buses 919, 880 and 877 also serve Badaling.
Pairing Badaling with the Ming Tombs
The Ming Tombs are about an hour’s drive from central Beijing, and Badaling with the Ming Tombs is a common and comfortable one-day pairing. In 2026 Badaling also ran a summer night opening from late April to early October; dates for 2027 had not been announced as of November 2026.
Badaling or Mutianyu?
Both are easy, well-restored sections with lifts, and both suit grandparents and young children. Badaling has the train link, the museum and the history of state visits. Mutianyu has double-sided battlements, views toward the Jiankou ridge and a toboggan ride down. Our Mutianyu private day tour suits most families, and we can plan a private day to Badaling and the Ming Tombs on request. Compare every section in which part of the Great Wall to visit, and see our guide to Beijing with seniors and families for an easy-pace plan.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Badaling Great Wall ticket?
As of November 2026, adult tickets are CNY 40 (about US$6) from 1 April to 31 October and CNY 35 from 1 November to 31 March. Students pay half price. Either cable car line costs CNY 140 return or CNY 100 one way, and children under 1.2 m ride free. Until 25 December 2026 only the south funicular runs, because the north line is closed for maintenance.
Do I need to reserve Badaling tickets?
Badaling uses real-name booking online and also sells tickets on site. Book ahead in July, August and on public holidays. Visitors who qualify for free entry still need to reserve a CNY 0 ticket. On our private tours we book the included tickets for you.
Is Badaling free for seniors and children?
The published rules give free entry to minors under 18 and seniors 60 and over with valid ID. They do not say whether a foreign passport qualifies, so foreign visitors should bring their passport and ask at the ticket office. Free tickets still have to be reserved.
How do I get to Badaling by train?
High-speed trains run from Qinghe (19–23 minutes) or Beijing North (27–40 minutes) to Badaling Changcheng station, about 100 m from the north cable car. Only some trains stop there, so book ahead on 12306 with your passport. The S2 suburban line uses a separate Badaling station near the south funicular.
What are Badaling's opening hours?
From 1 April to 31 October the wall opens 6:30 to 16:30, and from 1 November to 31 March 7:30 to 16:00, every day, as of November 2026. The north cable car normally runs 8:00–16:30 from April to October and 9:00–16:00 from November to March, but it is closed for maintenance from 20 October to 25 December 2026; the south funicular is running.
Which is better, Badaling or Mutianyu?
Take Badaling if you want to go by high-speed train or see the new China Great Wall Museum; both sections are restored and have lifts. Mutianyu has battlements on both sides, views toward Jiankou and a toboggan ride down. For most families, we suggest Mutianyu.
What is there to see besides the wall?
The rebuilt China Great Wall Museum at the foot of Badaling reopened on 24 October 2026. Entry is free with ID, 9:00 to 17:00, closed on Tuesdays except public holidays, with over 700 objects on display. Many travelers also pair Badaling with the Ming Tombs.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.