Badaling is the most visited section of the Great Wall near Beijing.
Located in Yanqing District about 80 kilometers northwest of Beijing’s city center, Badaling is the Wall’s best-known tourist section. Its broad, restored Ming-era ramparts, mountain scenery, transport links, visitor facilities, and relatively accessible route have made it the standard first stop for many travelers.
The section seen today was built mainly in the early sixteenth century, during the Ming dynasty, when the area protected the strategic approach through Juyong Pass toward Beijing. Badaling was the first Great Wall section opened to tourists by the People’s Republic of China, in 1957, helping establish its international fame.
Badaling’s popularity does not mean it is the oldest or most representative part of the entire Wall. Simatai and Jinshanling are known for more rugged scenery, while Mutianyu is another heavily visited and well-restored section. The Great Wall is a huge network rather than a single uniform structure, and visitor numbers vary by season and by the section being measured.