Badaling Great Wall: Entry Tickets, Rail and Night Access
Visit Badaling: ticket prices and hours, the right 12306 rail station, and how the 2026 Night Great Wall worked.
Photo: Melissa / Unsplash
Contents
Badaling is the Great Wall’s best-known visitor section, in Yanqing District about 60 kilometres northwest of Beijing, at the north gate of the Guangou ancient road in the Jundu mountains.[1] It is one place to see the Wall, not the whole monument: the Great Wall was built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD and runs for more than 20,000 kilometres in total. UNESCO notes that tourist facilities and a cable car have affected the visual integrity of the Wall at Badaling,[2] so follow the signed visitor route and head for the towers that are open.
Tickets and opening hours
The scenic area sells tickets by real-name reservation and on site.[3] Bring the ID document you booked with. In July 2024 the Beijing government’s ticket listing gave adult admission as CNY 40 in peak season (1 April to 31 October) and CNY 35 in off season (1 November to 31 March), with discounted tickets at CNY 20 and CNY 17.5. The same listing gave opening hours of 06:30 to 16:30 in peak season and 07:30 to 16:00 in off season.[1] Check the price on the booking page before you pay. Questions go to the scenic-area office on +86 10 6912 1268.[3]
Things to Do
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Getting there by rail
S2 line trains run to Badaling from Beijing North Station.[4] When you search on China Railway 12306, choose Badaling Great Wall Station (八达岭长城站) as your destination, not just “Badaling”, and book the return train at the same time. Time your day around the last train back.
Cable car and night visits
| Option | What it is | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime Wall visit | Walk the towers on the Wall | Admission as above, 06:30 to 16:30 in peak season[1] |
| Night Great Wall 2026 | Evening opening of the Cultural Block and the Wall from North Fourth Tower to South Fourth Tower, with lights and live performances | Ran from 30 April to 6 October 2026. Entry from 18:30 to 21:00, lights on from 19:20 to 22:00[5] |
| South line night cable car | Ground cableway up to the Wall for the night event | One way uphill only, 17:30 to 19:30[5] |
Night tickets were sold through the “长城内外旅游” (Great Wall Inside and Outside Tourism) WeChat mini-program.[5] The 2026 night season has ended, so look for a new announcement before you plan an evening visit.
A practical visit checklist
- Book a real-name ticket and bring the ID document you booked with.
- Choose Badaling Great Wall Station on 12306 and book both directions.
- Arrive when the gate opens: peak season 06:30, off season 07:30.[1]
- Ask the scenic-area office about the cableway and accessibility before you go.
Badaling is one stop within the much larger Great Wall World Heritage property. For other destinations and onward planning, see our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] People's Government of Beijing Municipality: Badaling Great Wall visitor ticket listing. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [2] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: The Great Wall. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [3] Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area; copyright identifies Beijing Yanqing District Great Wall Administration and Badaling Great Wall Management Center: Badaling official site. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [4] China Railway 12306: Beijing North Railway Station. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [5] People's Government of Beijing Municipality: 2026 Badaling Night Great Wall seasonal notice. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Badaling is one visitor section. The Great Wall was built from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD and runs for more than 20,000 kilometres in total.
Choose Badaling Great Wall Station (八达岭长城站) on China Railway 12306. S2 line trains to Badaling leave from Beijing North Station.
The scenic area sells tickets by real-name reservation and on site. Bring the ID document you booked with.
In July 2024 the Beijing government’s listing gave CNY 40 per adult in peak season (1 April to 31 October) and CNY 35 in off season (1 November to 31 March). Check the booking page for the current price.
The 2024 listing gave 06:30 to 16:30 in peak season and 07:30 to 16:00 in off season.
The Night Great Wall ran from 30 April to 6 October 2026, with entry from 18:30 to 21:00 and lights from 19:20 to 22:00. That season has ended, so check for a new announcement.
Call the scenic-area office on +86 10 6912 1268.
