Badaling Remnant Great Wall

Located in Donggou Village, Badaling Town of Yanqing County, the Badaling Remnant Great Wall is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Beijing. This section of the Great Wall is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the famous Badaling, and is the western gate of the military defense system on the Badaling Great Wall.

Seen from a distance, the Badaling Remnant Great Wall resembles a dragon winding its way along the mountain peaks. The lofty ridges and towering mountains, the deep trenches and high ramparts, all contribute to the strength of this strategically important section of the Great Wall. Surviving the vicissitudes of nearly 2,000 years, the walls dominate the scene with an indelible mark made by history. The remnant wall, with its ubiquitous broken body, conveys a peculiar glamour.

The Badaling Remnant Great Wall was involved in several historical events. In 1644, Li Zicheng, extremely resentful of the corrupt regime of the day, led his troops from here in a rebellion to successfully overthrow the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Remnant Great Wall had also witnessed the building of the great military fortification. Two significant archaeological sites were found here. One is a stone farm; the other is a group of brick kilns that provided materials for the project.

This section of the Great Wall is in its original form, and reproduces the character of the Ming Great Wall. The whole section here is 2,000 meters long, but only about 100 meters is open to tourists. Two routes are accessible to tourists who may enjoy the splendid panorama of the Great Wall.

About 200 meters north of the remnant Great Wall, there is a natural cave containing a Buddha which was carved several hundred years ago. The well-reserved Buddha is 2.85 meters (9.3 feet) high, and such fine stone art is rare in Beijing.