UNESCO World Heritage SiteNational 5A Scenic AreaNorth China
The Great Wall at Badaling
八达岭长城 · Beijing, Beijing
The most famous and best-preserved section of the Ming Great Wall, snaking along rugged mountain ridges.
Badaling is the most visited section of the Great Wall, its restored stone ramparts climbing steeply over forested peaks north of Beijing. Watchtowers punctuate the wall at regular intervals, offering sweeping views over the surrounding mountains. It was the first section opened to tourists in the 1950s.
The Ming-dynasty wall at Badaling was built around 1505 to defend the Juyong Pass and the approaches to the capital. The Great Wall as a whole was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Badaling has welcomed heads of state and millions of visitors, symbolising China to the world.
Day-by-day routes you won't find online — now starting with an 8-day, 1,500 km loop through western Sichuan. New regions are added regularly; tell us where you want to drive next.
