One Day Private Badaling Great Wall Hiking

We suggest you have a hearty breakfast at your hotel this morning as you will spend the whole day hiking the great wall which is a huge physical exertion. Lunch is not included. You need to prepare it for yourself the day before. Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel lobby in the early morning and transfer you to the Great Wall at Badaling. As the most original and best preserved section, Badaling has become one of the must-see places for travelers who first come to China. Hiking the wall is a once in a life time experience and the spectacular view from the wall is overwhelming. Upon arrival, our guide will accompany you to start the hike from the North 1st Watchtower and the tour will be finished after visiting the Great Wall Museum. Finally you will be driven back to your hotel with our private transfer. 

Meals: not included, but our guide will offer some suggestions.

There are 19 watchtowers open to visitors, including seven in the south and 12 in the north. Our hike starts from the North 1st Watchtower. The path to the north towers is gentle but longer than that to the south watchtowers. Going up from the first to the third tower and then on from the third tower, you have to descend first and climb another 100 or so steps to the fourth tower. Continue going up to the fifth watchtower, where you will find many arches. This is a two-floor tower and there are more than 30 arches under the second floor. These arches were used to watch the enemy, now they are windows for hikers to enjoy the majestic wall and beautiful scenery. It takes about one hour to finish the first five towers, and you can have a short rest there.

Badaling Section

The North 8th Watchtower

Continue your hike to the North 6th Watchtower. It is one of the largest on the Great Wall, and you can go to the top from the ladder inside. When you reach the North 8th Watchtower, you are at the highest point of the wall. The tower is 888 meters (2,913 feet) above sea level, and it is the best point to the view the wall and to enjoy sunrise or sunset, thus it is also named Sun Watching Tower. For photographers the tower is an ideal venue to capture the view of the majestic wall snaking along the mountain ranges.

The cable car

The starting point for Badaling hiking

After a photo stop at the eighth tower, you start to go downhill. When reaching the North 10th Watchtower, you will find it is different from the other towers: on the top of the second floor there is a small garret. In ancient times the garret worked as a temporary bedroom for the garrisoned soldiers. Your hike along the wall stops at the North 11th Watchtower. Have a break there and take some photos, then go down the mountain from the path nearby.

The North 8th Watchtower

Badaling Hiking

The Bear Garden is at the exit of the Great Wall scenic area. It is included in the entrance fee to Badaling. Over 300 black and brown bears live there. Visitors can feed them with fruit and vegetables. After your visit walk to the main road and continue to go north for about 1 km (0.6 miles) to the Great Wall Museum. You will see documents, pictures, models, and historic relics relating to the Great Wall and have a better understanding of this great manmade wonder. A surround screen theater is next to the museum, where you can see a 17 minute movie about the Great Wall in Chinese, English, and Japanese. The cost for the movie is CNY 40 per person.

Climbing on the wall

Badaling Section

Return to the city by bus again. The buses back to Beijing City run every few minutes.

The Bear Garden

Great Wall Museum

Tips:
1. Wear suitable shoes. Take some water, snacks, and fruit with you, as there are no restaurants or shops on the Great Wall. Sunglasses, sun cream, and hats are necessary on sunny days; while gloves, scarves, and caps are useful in winter.
2. Toilets are available at the entrance and the exit of the attraction, so please be prepared before hiking. Remember to take toilet paper with you.
3. The fruit and vegetables provided in the Bear Garden are charged CNY 3 per plate. Do not touch them if you do not want to feed the bears.

Userful Badaling Links:
Photos of Badaling