🏯 Ultimate Badaling Great Wall Travel Guide｜How to Beat the Crowds & Get the Best Photos!

#hellohalloween If you’re planning a Beijing day trip, the Badaling Great Wall is an absolute must-visit — and with the right timing and route, you can avoid the crowds and get those cinematic “Great Wall all to myself” shots! 📸 ⸻ 🚆 Getting There ✅ High-speed train: the best option! From Beijing North / Qinghe Station → Badaling Great Wall Station ⏰ About 20 minutes ｜💰 ~25 RMB 🚶♀️ Exit directly connects to the cable car entrance — super convenient! ⚠️ Tickets can sell out fast, so book early on the 12306 app. ❌ Bus 877 (Deshengmen): Expect 1-hour lines and no air-con escape from the heat 😩 ❌ Driving: Parking is far and weekend spots are like winning the lottery 🎟️ ⸻ 🎫 Tickets & Cable Car • 🎟️ Entrance ticket: 40 RMB (half-price for students; free for children/minors) • 🚠 Cable car: One-way 100 RMB / Round-trip 140 RMB 💡 Worth it if you’re bringing parents, kids, or just don’t want to climb 45° slopes! ⸻ 📸 Top Photo Spots 1️⃣ Between North Tower 8 → North Tower 9 🔥 The iconic S-shaped slope with endless watchtowers — perfect for panoramic shots! 🔥 Try looking back while walking — you’ll catch stunning perspectives. 2️⃣ South Tower 4 Viewing Deck 👀 The best full “zigzag” Great Wall view — especially beautiful in the afternoon light. 3️⃣ North Tower 4 – “Hero’s Stone” (好汉石) ⚠️ Avoid the front crowd! Go to the side staircase for an upward angle with fewer people. 4️⃣ Inside the Watchtowers Cool, shady, and photogenic — the windows perfectly frame the mountain views (but be prepared to wait for your turn!) ⸻ 👟 Route Tips 👉 Two main sides: • South Route – shorter (~1 km), easier climb. • North Route – ~4 km, steeper but more scenic (and includes the famous highest point). 🏔️ North Tower 8 = highest point; North Tower 12 = furthest open section. Most visitors stop around Tower 8–9, but walking further gets you peace and great views. 🐻 If you reach Tower 12, you’ll pass a small bear park and reach the exit shortly after. 💡 On your way down, take the side road, not the same path — less crowd, safer descent. ⸻ ⚠️ Pro Tips from Experience ❗️Wear non-slip shoes — some sections are really steep and slippery. ❗️Arrive before 10 AM — tour buses flood in after noon. ❗️Bring a hat or light sun jacket — very little shade! ❗️Umbrellas help, but climbing while holding one is a workout on its own 💪 ⸻ 🧊 Bonus Tip Right before the entrance, there are two Mixue Ice Cream shops 🍦 — a lifesaver after that climb!