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The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China​​ is an ancient defensive marvel stretching ​​over 13,000 miles​​ across northern China. Originally built over ​​2,000 years ago​​ during the Qin Dynasty and expanded in the Ming Dynasty. Today, it stands as a ​​UNESCO World Heritage site​​ and one of the world’s most iconic wonders.

Recommended sightseeing time:2-4 hours Address: Huairou District, Beijing, China

The Great Wall of China Ticket Prices & Discounts

  • Ticket (Adult)

    Conditional cancellation, Ticket pick-up not required

  • One-way Aerial Ropeway or Ground Cable Car

    Choose 1 from 2, Excluding General Admission of the Great Wall

  • Ticket + One-way North Line Aerial Ropeway

    Multiple Options Available

Best Hotels Near The Great Wall of China

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4.7/5
11702 reviews
5/5
The place is worth for the price we paid
review picture
5/5
I found the group easily, even without a local messenger! Thank you so much!
review picture
5/5
It’s worth a visit but must go early. When we said early, it’s recommended real early, 630 open. We arrived around that time. Less cried and there’s no queue at the cable car station. We took to higher tower and start our journey to climb the Great Wall. We’re travelling with kid so we decided to have a relax climb. By 9am.. we could see the opposite of where we arrived by cable car and the top tower, it’s really crowded.. we were already climbing down to tower 4 to take the slide down(toboggan) . It’s a short slide down.. it’s a mistake to do this way as we realised we ended at the opposite direction of where we came. That area we ended doesn’t have a bus back to our hitel(orange Badaling hotel/ they only provide free 2 ways rides). We took a private cab back costing (30 yuan per person- reasonable prices) as it’s a distance away. Overall it’s a really enjoyable tour to Badaling Great Wall. We were back to hotel before 12pm to check out.
review picture
5/5
Reservation and use are very convenient. The whole family enjoyed it and we are satisfied.
review picture
5/5
It's so convenient to make reservations, use, and change, I can't get away from it 😂 ㅋㅋㅋ
review picture

The Great Wall is one of the must-visit tourist attractions in Beijing. Its architecture and scenery are extremely stunning, and you can also feel the strong historical atmosphere! If you want to know more detailed information about the Great Wall, such as opening hours, ticket prices, transportation and other details, then keep reading.

The Great Wall of China｜Introduction​

The Great Wall of China｜Introduction​

Source from: Jplenio

The Great Wall of China is the most representative military defense project in ancient Chinese mainland. It originated in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods (770 BC–221 BC). To defend against foreign enemies, various states built city walls one after another. It was not until Qin Shi Huang unified China that the Great Walls in different regions were connected. Since then, it has been successively reinforced and expanded in various dynasties, and finally reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty. It is approximately 21,196 kilometers long and spans 15 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, including Beijing, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places.

The main function of the Great Wall was to prevent foreign invasions, and it also served the purposes of border management and military defense. Nowadays, the Great Wall has become a World Cultural Heritage Site, attracting countless tourists to visit. Among them, the Badaling Great Wall in Beijing is the most famous. It is conveniently located, well-preserved and suitable for visiting all year round. It is one of the most beloved Great Wall scenic spots for tourists.

Opening hours: 06:30 a.m. to 16:30 p.m. every day

Address: Exit 58, G6 Beijing-Xizang Expressway, Yanqing District, Beijing

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The Great Wall of China｜Facts about The Great Wall

The Great Wall of China｜Facts about The Great Wall

Source from Unsplash: akaguglielmo

How Long is the Great Wall of China?

​​Total length:​​ Approximately ​​21,196 km (13,171 miles)​​.
• This measurement includes all historical sections (walls, trenches, and natural barriers) across 15 Chinese provinces.
• Note: Only ~30% remains well-preserved today. The Ming Dynasty section (most visited) is ~8,850 km (5,500 miles).

How Long Would It Take to Walk the Great Wall?

​​Estimated duration:​​

Route

Distance

Time Required

Entire Wall (theoretical)

~21,196 km

​

​18+ months​

​ of continuous walking

Ming Dynasty Sections

~8,850 km

​

​14–18 months​

​

Popular Tourist Route (e.g., Jinshanling to Simatai)

10 km

3–5 hours

​​Realistic factors:​​
• Physical barriers: Ruined sections, steep cliffs, and restricted military zones make a full walk ​​impossible​​.
• Only ​​4 people​​ have verifiably walked the full length (taking 17–20 months).

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Why Was the Great Wall Built?

​​Primary purposes:​​

  1. ​​Defense:​​ Protect northern borders from nomadic invasions (e.g., Mongols, Xiongnu).
  2. ​​Trade Control:​​ Regulate Silk Road commerce and impose tariffs via guarded gates.
  3. ​​Border Control:​​ Monitor immigration and smuggling.
  4. ​​Symbolism:​​ Project imperial power and unify Chinese states psychologically.

Key insight: The wall served as a ​​military corridor​​ (for troop movement) rather than just a barrier.

When Was the Great Wall Built?

​​Major construction phases:​​

Dynasty

Period

Contribution

​

​Early States​

​ (Qi, Chu)

7th century BCE

First walls

​

​Qin Dynasty​

​

221–206 BCE

Linked existing walls into unified defense

​

​Han Dynasty​

​

206 BCE–220 CE

Extended west into Gobi Desert

​

​Ming Dynasty​

​

1368–1644 CE

Rebuilt 90% with bricks/stones (structure seen today)

Total construction span: ​​Over 2,300 years​​ (completed around 1644 CE).

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How Was the Great Wall Built?

​​Construction methods:​​

  • ​​Materials:​​ Vary by region:
    • Northern plains: Rammed earth (soil compacted with reeds/wood).
    • Mountains: Granite and limestone blocks.
    • Ming Dynasty sections: Kiln-fired bricks (sticky rice mortar mixed with lime).
  • ​​Labor force:​​

    70%: Soldiers, peasants, prisoners (lifelong conscription).

  • ​​Engineering:​​
    • Walls: 7–9 m (23–30 ft) tall × 4–5 m (13–16 ft) wide (fit for troop movement).
    • Strategic features: Beacon towers, arrow slits, horse-deterring ramps.
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Buy The Great Wall Tickets

The Great Wall of China｜Badaling Great Wall Tickets​

The Great Wall of China｜Badaling Great Wall Tickets​

Ticket Type

Description

AUD Price

Adult (18-59 years)

Valid ID required

​

​$8​.57

​

Student

18-25 years; full-time undergraduate or below (excl. adult education); valid ID

​

​$4​

​

Entrance + Cable Car/Funicular (Low Season)

Adult (18-59 years) - Round-trip cable car OR funicular

​

​$38​

​

Entrance + Round-Trip Shuttle (Downtown↔Scenic Area)

All ages - Shuttle between Beijing downtown and Badaling

​

​$26​

​

Cable Car/Funicular Only (No Entrance)

All ages - Round-trip cable car OR funicular

​

​$30​

4.7/5
11702 reviews
5/5
The place is worth for the price we paid
review picture
5/5
I found the group easily, even without a local messenger! Thank you so much!
review picture
5/5
It’s worth a visit but must go early. When we said early, it’s recommended real early, 630 open. We arrived around that time. Less cried and there’s no queue at the cable car station. We took to higher tower and start our journey to climb the Great Wall. We’re travelling with kid so we decided to have a relax climb. By 9am.. we could see the opposite of where we arrived by cable car and the top tower, it’s really crowded.. we were already climbing down to tower 4 to take the slide down(toboggan) . It’s a short slide down.. it’s a mistake to do this way as we realised we ended at the opposite direction of where we came. That area we ended doesn’t have a bus back to our hitel(orange Badaling hotel/ they only provide free 2 ways rides). We took a private cab back costing (30 yuan per person- reasonable prices) as it’s a distance away. Overall it’s a really enjoyable tour to Badaling Great Wall. We were back to hotel before 12pm to check out.
review picture
5/5
Reservation and use are very convenient. The whole family enjoyed it and we are satisfied.
review picture
5/5
It's so convenient to make reservations, use, and change, I can't get away from it 😂 ㅋㅋㅋ
review picture

The Great Wall of China｜Transportation Guide​

Reach China's most iconic landmark via high-speed rail, suburban train, bus, or shuttle. Choose based on budget/time!

​

​Method​

​

​

​Route​

​

​

​Key Details​

​

​

​High-Speed Rail​

​

​Beijing North Station → Badaling Great Wall Station​​

• Journey: ​​30 min​​

• Frequency: 1-2 daily departures

• ​​Book in advance​​ on Trip.com

​

​Suburban Railway (S2 Line)​​

(Most Budget-Friendly)

​

​Changping → Badaling → Yanqing​

​

• Direct access to Badaling

• Check timetables carefully

• Cashless payment accepted

​​Bus 877​​

(Direct, Non-Stop)

​​Deshengmen Bus Station → Badaling​

​

• Zero intermediate stops

• Ideal for avoiding transfers

• Operates 6:00 AM - 12:30 PM

​

​Tourist Shuttle​​

(Most Convenient)

​

​Beitucheng / Chaoyangmen → Badaling​

​

• Multiple daily departures

• Downtown hotel pickups available

• English-speaking staff onboard

​​Key Travel Tips​​

  1. ​​High-Speed Rail​​:
    • Departure times vary seasonally
    • Arrive 45+ mins early for security
    • Show passport + printed ticket
  3. ​​S2 Railway​​:
    • No seat reservations (first-come basis)
    • Scan QR code for real-time schedule
  5. ​​Bus 877​​:
    • Payment: ​​A$5 exact cash​​ / Beijing Transit Card
    • Free for children <3 ft
  7. ​​Tourist Shuttle​​:
    • Round-trip fare: ​​A$17​​ (includes bottled water & map)
    • Amenities: USB charging, free Wi-Fi
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Mainland China Travel｜Pre-Trip Preparation​

Mainland China Travel｜Pre-Trip Preparation​

Source from Unsplash: alber_catine

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS​​

​​Passport​​: ≥6 months validity + 2 blank pages

​​China Visa (L)​​: Apply at Sydney/Melbourne/Perth Visa Centre ​​4+ weeks ahead​​

​​eSIM/Mobile​​: Pre-download ​​Airalo China eSIM​​ (Trip.com 4G backup)

​​MONEY & PAYMENTS​​

​​Cash​​: Exchange ​​AUD→CNY in Australia​​ ($300–500 AUD emergency cash)

​​Cards​​: Notify bank​​ for Visa/Mastercard use (block Amex!)

​​Alipay​​: ​​Link Visa card BEFORE arrival​​ (WeChat Pay requires Chinese bank)

​​Cash Survival​​: Keep ¥100 bills for markets/street food

​​CONNECTIVITY​​

​​VPN​​: ​​Install ExpressVPN/Astrill BEFORE landing​​ (Google/WhatsApp blocked)

​​Maps/Translate​​: Download ​​Baidu Maps offline​​ + ​​Microsoft Translator Chinese pack​​

​​PACKING ESSENTIALS​​

​​Power​​: Universal adapter (Type A/C/I) + power bank (220V voltage)

​​Footwear​​: Sturdy walking shoes (Great Wall = 10K+ steps)

​​Local Know-How​​

  • ​​Cultural Tips​​: Avoid political discussions. Tipping is rare.
  • ​​Emergency Contacts​​:
    • ​​Australian Embassy​​ (Beijing): +86 10 5140 4111
    • ​​Police​​: 110
    • ​​Ambulance​​: 120
    • ​​Lifeline China (English hotline)​​: 400 821 1215
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Mainland China Travel｜Must-Have Apps​

Category

App Name

Key Features

​​Payments​

​​Alipay​

Link int'l Visa/MC cards for 90% of transactions

​​Transportation​

​​DiDi​

Uber alternative; English interface, accepts int'l cards

Transportation

​​AMAP​

Offline maps with bus/metro routes (basic English)

​​Translation​

​​Baidu Translator​​

Photo/voice translation, offline packs for Mandarin

​​Food & Discovery​

​​Meituan

Yelp + OpenTable hybrid (use photo translate for reviews)

​

​Accommodation​

​

​Trip.com​​ or ​​Ctrip​

​

Best rates for local hotels/trains/flights

The Great Wall of China｜Badaling Accommodation​

From now until stock last, you can enjoy up to 8% off hotel deals on Trip.com when you register as a member on desktop or app!

Luxury accommodation in Beijing (4-5 Stars)

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NO.1
9.5/101336 reviews
Shiyuan Pusen Hotel
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Restaurant
24-hour front desk
NO.2
9.8/10460 reviews
Zhaohua·Tingzhu Homestay
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Restaurant
24-hour front desk
NO.3
9.5/10417 reviews
Guanshanyue Homestay (Great Wall)
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Parking

Mid-range accommodation in Beijing (3-Stars)

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NO.1
9.6/101915 reviews
Orange Hotel(Beijing Badaling store)
Hotel in Beijing
Restaurant
24-hour front desk
NO.2
9.7/10440 reviews
Yueli Great Wall View Homestay
Hotel in Beijing
Restaurant
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NO.3
8.9/10357 reviews
Not late Great Wall Landscape Private Soup Homestay
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Airport pickup service
Restaurant

Beijing Accommodation: Budget accommodation/Youth hostels

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NO.1
8.4/1081 reviews
Badaling Qianbaoduo Homestay
Hotel in Beijing
Restaurant
24-hour front desk
NO.2
8.9/1042 reviews
Yimingxiaozhu Guesthouse
Hotel in Beijing
Restaurant
24-hour front desk
NO.3
9/1064 reviews
Nanshan Inn
Hotel in Beijing
Restaurant
24-hour front desk

Questions about the Great Wall of China

  • What are 5 facts about the Great Wall of China?

    10 Things to Know about the Great Wall of China The total length of the Great Wall is 21196.18 km. ... There are 15 strategic passes from the East to the West. ... It took over 2,000 years to construct the wall. ... It is not a wall but a series of fortifications. ... Various materials were used to build the Great Wall.

  • How long is China's Great Wall and why was it built?

    The Great Wall was continuously built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD on the northern border of the country as the great military defence project of successive Chinese Empires, with a total length of more than 20,000 kilometers.

  • Why did China put up the Great Wall?

    Over its history, The Great Wall served three different purposes throughout its history: to protect the Chinese Empire from foreign invaders, act as a psychological barrier between northern and southern civilizations, and protect the Silk Road Trade.

  • What is the true story of the Great Wall of China?

    The history of the Great Wall of China began when fortifications built by various states during the Spring and Autumn (771–476 BC) and Warring States periods (475–221 BC) were connected by the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, to protect his newly founded Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) against incursions

  • Where is the Great Wall of China?

    The Great Wall of China is located across northern China, spanning over 21,000 kilometers from the Bohai Sea in the east to the Gobi Desert in the west, encompassing 15 Chinese provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. It was built over two millennia to defend the country's northern border, with the most well-known and best-preserved sections dating from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).
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