1 Day Badaling Great Wall Tour

Kindly note: The helicopter is currently not operating. We will update here once operation resumes. Thank you!

At 8:00 am, your private guide and driver will pick you up at your self-booked hotel in downtown Beijing, and then escort you on a 1.5-hour private transfer to Badaling Airport. Along the way, your guide will introduce you to the Great Wall of China.

Upon arrival, dedicated staff will brief you on the itinerary and guide you into an R44 helicopter, which can accommodate 3 passengers at a time and features large windows for excellent visibility. Wear a noise-cancelling headset used for communication with your veteran pilot, and go on with the sensational aerial adventure you’ve long been waiting for. For 15 minutes, you’ll fly at lower altitudes over the Badaling Great Wall, the best preserved and the most magnificent of the Great Wall of China, and take in its major area - the ramparts, watchtowers, and beacon towers scattered on it in contrast with the wild nature around.  Airborne, have a bird’s-eye view of the infinite ‘stone dragon’ twisting and turning along rugged mountain ridges - a unique angle that makes it impossible to assess its sheer scale and significance from ground level! Upon your landing, take the chance to pose by the helicopter for a photo to record this enviable moment!

► Thing to Know:
1. An ID card or a passport is required for the check-in process. 
2. For your safety, this activity is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 3, or guests over 100 kg (220 lb). It is also not recommended for those with cardiopathy, hypertension, cerebrovascular, or respiratory diseases. Before booking, please consider your health condition and consult a doctor if necessary.
3. Your personal belongings that are not allowed to be taken on board during the flight will be kept by your guide on the ground. 
4. Free cancellation can be made at least 5 days ahead of schedule; otherwise, the helicopter company will not process a refund.
5. The helicopter tour may be canceled due to bad weather or air traffic control. In that case, we will inform you in time, and you may rearrange for another day or cancel this trip and get your refund.► Have More Budget and Want to Extend Your Midair Tour?
If you’re more interested in the Great Wall itself, you can jump on our proposed 15-minute aerial tour. But if this is your first helicopter trip and you want to experience longer the thrills and awe, we also have a 30-minute tour to choose from, allowing you to fly across not only the Badaling Great Wall but also the Badaling Wildlife World, the original Wall ruins, an old reservoir, and the biggest prairie in Beijing.

After the flight, enjoy a guided hiking tour on the Great Wall. It is divided into the southern section with 7 watchtowers and the northern section with 12 watchtowers, and we’ll select a classic route for you to tick off as many highlights as possible without taking too much energy. Accompanied by your guide, delve into the intriguing facts about each defensive structure you encounter, including the walls, ramparts, and beacon towers, and learn how they functioned in ancient times. When reaching an open-air tower, you’ll be surprised to know that it is the core of the military communication system of the Great Wall, used to burn beacon smoke during the day and light torches at night to convey enemy information. Also, remember to take a photo with one of those ‘True Hero’ monuments spaced at intervals, which reads a popular Chinese saying, “You are not a hero until you’ve been to the Great Wall”, to show you’ve really conquered the Wall! 

Lunch is on your own. You can prepare some snacks in advance to refuel yourself. Or try the neoteric UAV delivery on the Great Wall, which can deliver some simple food and water to you within about 15 minutes. Your guide will be willing to help you place an order on your mobile phone if you like. At the foot of the Great Wall, you can also find some fast-food restaurants, such as KFC, Subway, and Starbucks, to have a light meal.

After that, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel downtown. On our way back, we’ll have a photo stop at the National Stadium and National Aquatics Center, also known as Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. These are the visually striking stages for grand sports events with appearances alluded to in their names. We’ll arrive at your hotel at around 17:30. Stay well!

In the morning, at the time agreed upon with you the day before, your private guide and driver will show up punctually at your self-booked hotel’s lobby, and then accompany you on a 1.5-hour ride to Badaling Remnant Great Wall, a southwestern extension of the Badaling Great Wall. This section has not undergone large-scale restoration, with dilapidated, collapsed walls and watchtowers, as well as overgrown weeds, showing the historical vicissitudes and enduring ancient appeal of the Great Wall of China. Along the Way, your guide will provide you with more background information.

Upon arrival, enjoy a warm welcome from the scenic area staff and then dive into a fantastic Great Wall Volunteer Repair Program for about 1 to 1.5 hours. It is said that in the 20th century, nearby villagers not only collected Chinese herbs and scorpions on and around the Great Wall, but also dug up bricks from watchtowers and brought them back to build their own houses. These natural and human activities indeed caused considerable damage to the Great Wall, so to prolong the life of this non-renewable cultural heritage of China and eliminate potential safety hazards for tourists, the restoration work needs to be carried out.  
► Note: To ensure your comfort during the tour, it’s recommended that you wear casual clothes and sports shoes. Besides, pack a sunhat, sunglasses, and sunscreen on sunny days since you can hardly find any shade on the Wall.After the staff briefs you on the detailed tasks, the dos and don’ts, and meanwhile distributes tools, such as buckets, brushes, gloves, and shovels, take part in hands-on activities, including moving bricks, building a wall, and paving the ground, under the guidance of the restoration experts and your guide. As you wheeze up the mountain with bricks on your shoulder, you may sigh at how hard it was for ancient laborers to transport materials to the steep ridge without real roads by their own strength, going back and forth again and again. Afterward, experience using cement mortar mixed with lime to bond the large bricks tightly into a wall. By the way, as the restoration principle is to retain the ‘original flavor’ of the Great Wall to the greatest extent, the bricks used are either old or new ones custom-made according to ancient methods. Also, glutinous rice paste was said to be used in the past to enhance the adhesive strength between bricks. Perhaps the Great Wall has survived the war damage to this day, and this natural ‘glue’ has also played a significant role! Also, clear the weeds and turn the soil to prepare for paving the trails. When squatting down to fix long bricks with mortar, in the trance of the sun’s halo, you may feel as if you have traveled back to ancient times.Lunch is not included. It is strongly recommended that you eat a substantial breakfast at your hotel this morning and pack some easily carried snacks like bread or burgers and a few bottles of drinks to replenish energy, as you’ll find no restaurants in this lesser-known scenic area.

In the afternoon, you can enjoy a leisurely hike on the Great Wall. Trek from the relatively flat segment between the 1st watchtower to the 3rd, with iron handrails on both sides facilitating your climb. The part between the 3rd and 4th becomes particularly steep, with some steps that can only hold half a foot, requiring you to use both hands and feet to take on the challenge. Also, visit well-preserved historical sites at the foot of the Wall, such as the Ancient Brick Kiln Complex and Quarry Ruins, where bricks and granite were baked and shaped in ancient times. If you come in April, sightsee the Apricot Blossom Valley as well, which is covered with a hundred acres of apricot trees, presenting you with a breathtaking view of a sea of pink and white flowers.

After that, your guide and driver will escort you back to your downtown hotel. Hope you had a great day with us!

● Please Note: The tour is only available from May to October. For a tranquil visit, we suggest you choose a weekday today, as weekends and holidays are usually less impressive at the attraction and can be busier, which might also affect ticket booking.

At around 15:30, your private guide and driver will pick you up from your self-booked hotel in downtown Beijing and accompany you on a comfortable 1.5-hour car ride to the Badaling Great Wall. Along the way, your guide will introduce you to some historical background of the Great Wall.

Upon arrival, enjoy a cable car we’ve included for you up to the South 4th Watchtower, and if the weather permits, catch a fabulous sunset. Watch the sun ignite a symphony of reds and oranges on the majestic Great Wall, and let your guide’s immersive stories and the interplay of light and shadow transport you to the remote past. Imagine how the same sun had witnessed the wars and conflicts once staged here and how it is relieved now. As it gets dark, embark on a night walking tour on the Great Wall’s open stretch from South 4th Watchtower to North 4th Watchtower with your guide. From now until 22:00, it will be strung with ribbons of light, making it look like a giant dragon studded with jewels, winding and leaping across the mountain ridges. Meanwhile, traditional cultural performances combining classical dance, folk music, and Peking Opera can be encountered occasionally, offering a spectacular visual feast. Along the way, you can also interact with NPC actors dressed as defending soldiers and diplomatic envoys, allowing you an immersive cultural experience. Moreover, your experienced guide will give you advice on where to capture great photos. 

► Tips on Your Great Wall Night Tour:
1. As your safety is our chief concern, please mind your step on the pathway that is only faintly illuminated and has stairways from time to time.
2. Take mosquito repellent - remember we are in the wilds! Wear lightweight, comfortable shoes and quick-dry clothes in case you sweat. 
3. If you want to take advantage of your noon time before the tour to taste authentic Beijing flavors in the city center, we suggest you try the most typical Roast Duck, which will be sliced, served with cucumber and scallion strips, and wrapped in rice paper with special sauce to eat. If you’re interested, visit any branch of the time-honored halal Purple Light Garden Restaurant or Siji Minfu Restaurant near your hotel.

At around 20:30, your guide and driver will escort you back to your downtown hotel. Hope you had a great memory with us!

We also offer other private tours to Beijing’s more iconic sights, such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Hutong alleys; and if you’re interested, contact our travel consultant for a customized trip.