Badaling Great Wall Day Tour

At the appointed time this morning, your guide and driver will wait for you at your hotel lobby. Once you meet, get into your private car and officially kick off your 1 day trip from Beijing to Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs. Be prepared to witness one of the greatest engineering feats in human history and the greatest royal necropolis of ancient China!

After about a 1.5-hour drive, we’ll arrive at the Badaling Great Wall, one of the best-preserved sections of the enormous military defense system in ancient China. It is so famous that it has received more than 300 celebrities from around the world, including even the former US President Nixon and Mrs. Thatcher. Spend the whole morning on the Great Wall appreciating how it snakes through the wilds and towards the horizon on the ridges of rolling mountains. At the Badaling Pass, you can either choose to start your hike along the more popular northern route with 12 watchtowers or opt for the gentler southern route with 7 watchtowers, depending entirely on your interests and physical strength. If you are up for a sweeping view of the majestic Great Wall, don’t miss the North 8th Tower perched on the highest point. Take a look around there far into the distance and be spellbound! During your visit, you might notice some electronic fence with warning signs, billed as a ‘Great Wall checkup’ program, which is used to maintain the aging power lines while lighting up at night to guide the night patrol drones to monitor and prevent those extreme outdoor adventure enthusiasts who may secretly climb over the Great Wall for wild thrills.

Lunch is not included today. You can pack some energy-boosting snacks like Snickers bars and bread by yourself. Badaling has launched a drone delivery service to allow visitors to order food takeout, and if you’d like to experience it, ask your guide for help to order some simple food and water at your own expense. Note that you need to collect your package at the South 5th or 9th Watchtower. Also, you can find some fast food chains like KFC, Subway, and Starbucks at the foot of the Great Wall.
 
In the afternoon, let’s make our way to the Ming Tombs, a collection of mausoleums of thirteen emperors from 1368 to 1644 AD, which is considered the largest and most intact royal mausoleum complex in China. Upon arrival, enter the gate and approach the necropolis via the Sacred Way, paved for the majestic souls to hang out in the afterlife and later generations to offer sacrifice. Accompanied by your guide, along the way, admire China’s largest existing finely carved stone memorial archway, the stele pavilion featuring a 50-ton turtle holding a stone tablet praising the emperors’ great achievements, as well as 36 lifelike statues of officials and animals arranged symmetrically on both sides, while glimpsing into the historical profundity behind them.

Following that, we’ll head to visit the underground Dingling Tomb, the first excavated and shown to the public. People often refers the archaeological work of the tomb as a tragedy, as archeologists didn’t seem to take enough appropriate measures to protect unearthed relics like invaluable fabrics and timber from decaying, not to mention the skeletons of the emperor and his two empresses, which were burned during social upheaval. Because of this, the Chinese government even stipulated that no imperial tomb shall be excavated. Here, apart from exploring the smart layout and the hidden highlights in the underground palace, let’s step into the exhibition halls to examine treasures such as the extravagant crowns of the royal couples and peek into the life of the emperor and his time.

Afterward, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel in downtown. Now comes the end of your 1 day private Beijing Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs tour. Hope you enjoyed the day with us! If you’re interested in the splendid ancient Chinese imperial culture that pervades the World Heritage Sites like the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Summer Palace, contact us to customize a personalized Beijing trip for you.► Recommended Nighttime Activities (at your own expense):
For a taste of both Beijing’s old charm and modern vitality simultaneously, you can head to the immensely popular Qianmen Street to delight yourself in the heart of the city tonight. There, raise your camera to capture the century-old Zhengyang Tower outlined by the golden light, discover authentic Beijing delicacies such as sugar-coated haws, roast duck, or Noodles with Soybean Paste in the old brands, and browse through traditional studios of silk, cloth shoes, and herbs in the stone-paved alleys. Besides, it also offers you the chance to take a distinctive tram to enjoy the night views along the Beijing Intangible Heritage Central Axis or to watch traditional art performances such as Peking Opera and shadow puppetry in antique tea houses.