I visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall during the summer holidays. It is outside central Beijing, but the high-speed railway makes the trip straightforward: you can connect from the city’s subway network to a train heading to the Wall.
Getting there from Beijing
From the city, take the subway to Qinghe Station (清河站), then transfer to a high-speed train to Badaling Great Wall Station (八达岭长城站). Those Chinese station names are useful when searching for tickets or following signs.
My original post quotes a train fare of RMB 10. Treat that as a figure from the trip notes rather than a guaranteed current fare: check the price and departure time for your chosen service on China Railway’s official 12306 website.
For international visitors, 12306’s ticketing FAQ confirms that valid foreign passports can be used to buy train tickets. Bring the same original identity document used for your booking, and leave time for station checks.
After arriving, the walk to the climbing entrance took roughly 10–20 minutes. You can also take a cable car to a higher point. Personally, I preferred walking: I had come to the Great Wall to walk on it, and the cable car adds to the cost. Choose what suits your energy and the time you have.
Planning your walk
I would pick an overcast day without strong sunshine. Around midday can work for a shorter visit, but if you want to explore both sides of the entrance, allow four to five hours and start earlier. Whether you head left or right, remember to budget time for the walk back to the entrance.
Opening-hours update: the original post mentions a 5 p.m. entry cutoff. Beijing’s official Badaling listing, checked on October 22, 2026, instead gives daytime hours of 06:30–16:30 from April through October and 07:30–16:00 from November through March. Check the notice for your visit date; do not plan around 5 p.m. as a universal cutoff.
Bring water from the city—my suggestion is two bottles, with more as needed in hot weather. I did not find anything for sale along the stretch of wall I walked, so I would not count on being able to buy drinks up there. The midday sun can be intense, and climbing uses up water quickly. There are now access passages to toilets at some sections, but facilities are not available everywhere along the route.
Leave the Wall as you found it
The photo below is one I took on the trip. Carving or writing on the Wall is prohibited, and I saw security staff stationed at intervals. Even so, the bricks are covered with marks left by earlier visitors.
I find it hard to understand damaging a historic site just to leave your name behind. For us in China, this is part of our shared cultural heritage, and it is sad to see it treated that way. I noticed a similar problem at the Temple of Heaven: in the areas I saw, it felt as though almost every brick had been scratched or carved into.
Translated from the original Chinese article, published October 22, 2026. Personal observations are from the author’s summer visit; the opening-hours note and international rail-booking information were checked for this translation.
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