The Badaling Great Wall is located 60 kilometers northwest of Beijing, in Yancheng County. It is the most famous and magnificent section of the Great Wall. The wall consists of a fortress and its surrounding walls, situated at a critical pass leading to Beijing. Its terrain is steep and strategic, and it has long been a key point in military history, known as the "Key to the North."
This is not only an important pass to guard the capital, but also a place where history and military strategy meet. The walls of the Badaling Great Wall are built with stone and brick, following the mountain's natural shape. In difficult terrain, there are watchtowers, ramparts, and enemy towers, making the whole wall both strong and well-defended. Standing on the wall, you can look down at the mountains and see far into the capital. Ancient people described it as "from below Badaling, looking at Juyong, it's like a tower in hand or a well in sight," showing how steep and beautiful the area is.
The Badaling Great Wall has a long history. From the time of the First Emperor of Qin, who returned from the east and looked back, to the Yuan Emperor who left the black pine forest at night, and the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty who swept the northern borders, and the Kangxi Emperor who fought against Gerdan, many emperors have left their footprints here. This place not only witnessed the construction and changes of the Great Wall, but also recorded the rise and fall of Chinese history and the twists and turns of the times.
Since 1953, the Badaling Great Wall has been systematically restored and maintained. Today, the open section of the wall is 3,741 meters long, with 21 watchtowers and ramparts, making it an ideal place for tourists to experience the history and architecture of the Great Wall.
Today, the Badaling Great Wall is an internationally famous tourist attraction and an important venue for state ceremonies. It has welcomed millions of domestic and foreign visitors, with over 200 million people visiting in total. Leaders such as Nixon, Reagan, Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II, Thatcher, Bush, Putin, and Obama have all visited here, leaving behind their footprints and deep feelings about the Great Wall.
