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Great Wall of China at Badaling, Beijing
The Great Wall at
Badaling (part of the Great Wall of China), 75
km north from the city proper of Beijing, is a symbol of the ancient Chinese civilization
and it can be seen to the north of Juyongguan
Pass.
Stretching 6,350 km, it is classified under the
UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The best
preserved and most imposing section of the wall
is here at Badaling but the magnitude and beauty
of the wall can also be seen at Jinshanling,
Mutianyu and Simatai. The restored section is
about 1 km long before disintegrating into
ruins.
It was first built
in 1505 (the 18th year of the Hongzhi reign
period of the Ming Dynasty) with two gates, one
in the east and the other in the west, it was renovated
later. Over the eastern gate is a horizontal
tablet inscribed with Chinese characters meaning
Outer Juyong Town and the western gate too has a
horizontal tablets with characters meaning A
Strategic Pass in the North. Dangerously steep, the Great Wall
occupies a commanding position. It was an
important military pass of the Ming Dynasty and
it is also an important protective screen of
Beijing. The wall averages about eight meters
high and its top is wide enough to accommodate
five horses or ten men to walk along abreast.
There are peepholes and apertures for archers on
the top while the watchtowers are positioned
about five hundred meters apart.
A quarter of an hour
film about the Great Wall can be seen at the
Great Wall Circle Vision Theatre, a 3600
amphitheatre. A Great Wall Museum is also found
here.
Opening times:
6.30am to 7.00pm (during summer) and 7.00am to
6.00pm (during winter)
Admission: 35 yuan
(Mag-card ticket: 40 yuan)
Cableway: 50
yuan (a round trip) and 30 yuan (a single trip)
Location: At
the northern end of Guangou, Badaling Town,
Yanqing County, Beijing
Transport:
Visitors may get on bus No. 919 at Deshengmen to
go the Great Wall at Badaling. It
can be reached by special tourist buses Nos. 1,
5 and 8 on the weekends.
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