Great Wall of China

DAILY TRAVEL INSPIRATION: Badaling

Running from near the border with North Korea through to the Gobi desert in central Asia, the Great Wall of China is one of the biggest engineering projects of all time. The earliest sections of the wall were built around 2500 years ago, with new sections and routes being created by different ruling dynasties until the mid-1600s. The wall was not only designed to keep out hostile armies but as a checkpoint to impose taxes on goods moving along the silk road to Europe.

Some of the best-preserved sections of wall are close to Beijing, making it easy to see the wall as a day trip from the city. The section at Badaling can be seen in half a day from Beijing – get there early to avoid the worst of the crowds. More adventurous daytrippers should head to Jinshanling. From here you can hike around 6 miles to Simatai, covering some of the most picturesque parts of the wall. The walk is steep at times so wear good shoes.

Read more on Badaling below with flight options, current weather, maps, and activities to try while you are there.

Badaling is just one of many featured destinations part of our Daily Travel Inspiration series. Discover more at Daily Travel Inspiration or add it as part of your flash briefings on your Amazon Alexa device. Search 'Daily Travel Inspiration' on your alexa app or check out our Alexa page for more information.