CHINA 09-BEIJING-Day 02a-Badaling Great Wall 1 (29/04/09)

The Great Wall is the structure that is most closely associated with China. The Great Wall is estimated to stretch over 8,000km across northern China. Most of wall is now in disrepair. There are a few stretches near Beijing which have been refurbished for tourist. The Badaling stretch is the first section of the Great Wall that was opened to visitors in 1957. It is also the nearest to Beijing and hence overcrowded with locals.

The Badaling Great Wall is dotted with towers at regular intervals, the highest of which is the Beibalou (Eighth North Tower) at 1,015m above sea-level.

The main visitor carpark, already crowded with vehicles.

The northern part of the Badaline Great Wall from the entrance.

The First North Tower.

The southern part of the Badaling Great Wall.

The southern part with the main entrance below.

Looking up to the Fourth North Tower. The steepest and most majestic part of the Badaling Great Wall.

Looking across to Badaling South from the Fourth North Tower.