Full Day Badaling Great Wall and Ming Tombs with Lunch

Stretching for thousands of kilometres through Central China, The Great Wall of China’s defensive function from the many invasions coming from the north has shown the ingenuity of the former Emperors of passed dynasties to protect its people and its efforts to contain what still is visible for tourists and visitors up until today. Many parts remain inaccessible for the public but these sections of the wall that have been catering for tourists from all around the world are well-preserved and have kept that what makes the Great Wall such a sight beyond words. The part at Badaling is one of these fortifications that still stands proudly and bears the stamp as a key national cultural relic.

We depart in the early morning for a 40 mile / 70 kilometer car ride northwest of the Chinese capital; en route, your guide will tell you the finer details of this part of the Great Wall. Its location and preservation efforts has made the Badaling part as one of the most representative parts of this national heritage and one of the Wonders of the World since 2007. Built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), this section with an average altitude of over 1,000 meters (3,282 feet) is the outpost of the Juyongguan Pass. The mountain slope is very steep and the roads are tortuous. These features made it a military stronghold as the wall construction is often compared with a strong dragon winding its way along the mountain ranges.

When descending down from these fortified walls and towers, we head to local restaurant for a simple, yet delicious lunch before we move on. We head back in the direction of Beijing but will make an interesting stop at the much-revered Ming Tombs. Situated around 30 miles / 50 kilometers northwest of Beijing at the foot of the Tianshou Mountains, this is the final resting place of 13 of the 16 Ming Dynasty emperors. The grandeur of these tombs is a one-of-a-kind reminder of the importance during these times and its detailed work that once decorated the tombs. Only two tombs out of the 13 remain open for visitors. A particular part of the Ming Tombs is the Sacred Way: this path runs for about a kilometer and is flanked on both sides by carvings of human and animal figures and dates back to the 10th year of the right of Emperor Xuan De.

It is time to head back to Beijing and to your hotel. Depending on traffic conditions, arrival at around 18:00 hrs.