Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
izhàn), which is beside Xizhimen subway station, at the following times: 6.12am, 7.58am,
8.34am, 9.02am and 10.57am. Afternoon trains return at 1.02pm, 3.19pm, 3.52pm,
4.21pm, 5.33pm and 7.55pm.
» Tours All tour operators and almost all hotels run tours to Bādálǐng.
» Taxi Expect to pay around ¥400 to ¥600 for a round trip.
Need to Know
» Location 70km from Běijīng
» Price Adult/student ¥45/25
» Hours Summer 6am-7pm, winter 7am-6pm
Exploring the Wall
Běijīng's most-visited chunk of brick-clad bastion ticks all the iffy Great Wall boxes in
one flourish: souvenir stalls, T-shirt flogging hawkers, restaurants, heavily restored brick-
work, little authenticity, guardrails and mobs of sightseers. On the plus side, the scenery is
raw and striking and the Wall, which snakes off in classic fashion into the hills, is ex-
tremely photogenic. It dates back to Ming times (1368-1644), but underwent particularly
heavy restoration work during the 1950s and 1980s, when it was essentially rebuilt.
There is a cable car ( lǎn chē; one-way/return ¥60/80; 8am-4.30pm) as well as disabled access.
You'll find a Bank of China ATM near the west car park.
Eating
There are dozens of restaurants on the main drags leading up to the entrance to the Wall.
Most lead up from the west car park, and most are fast-food outlets or snack stalls. Give
KFC and Subway a miss and go next door instead to Yong He King ( Yǒnghé Dàwáng; mains
¥10-20;
) for the Chinese version of fast food: rice meals, dumplings,
10am-9pm;
noodles.
Hiking the Great Wall
Běijīng is within striking distance of a number of stretches of the Great Wall and that
means there are plenty of excellent hiking opportunities for would-be adventurers. Below
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