BusDa:Ancient Great Wall &Badaling Great Wall Full-day Bus Tour

The Great Wall shows two very different faces. This BusDa outing pairs the famous, restored Badaling Great Wall with the quieter Badaling Ancient Great Wall, giving you a broader look at Beijing’s most famous landmark than a one-stop visit. I like the included admission tickets and the reserved VIP parking, which can save time at a busy sight.

I also like the onboard help from guides such as Amy, Betty, Aria, and Ding, who have been praised for clear communication and practical help. The main drawback is simple: the ancient section may be canceled, and one past booking ended with only one wall visited and no refund, so confirm the day’s plan before departure.

Key details that shape the day

• Two sections in one outing: You visit restored Badaling and the weathered Badaling Ancient Great Wall when conditions allow.
• VIP access at Badaling: The tour includes a VIP passage and a photo stop at the Hero Slab.
• Tickets are included: Admission to both wall sections is covered, while the cable car costs extra unless you select that option.
• A quieter second stop: The ancient section has fewer people and visible damage from age and weather.
• A 47-person maximum: This is a full coach tour, not a small private walk.
• Cash matters: Credit cards are not convenient at the Great Wall area, so bring cash if you do not use Alipay or WeChat.

Why seeing two Badaling walls matters

Badaling is often treated as one single sight, but this tour lets you compare two very different versions of the same defensive system. The main Badaling section is restored, organized, and popular with Chinese visitors. It gives you the classic Great Wall experience: dramatic views, broad stone paths, watchtowers, and the famous Hero Slab photo stop.

The ancient section tells a less polished story. Known historically as the Ruined Great Wall, it is the southwestern extension of Badaling and has not received large-scale restoration. You can expect visible weathering and structural damage instead of tidy walls made ready for the crowds.

I like this contrast. The restored wall helps you understand the scale and power of the site. The incomplete wall shows what time, storms, and neglect do to a structure once built for defense. You get the postcard view and the more original remains in one long day.

The catch is that the two-section promise depends on the ancient wall being open and included on your departure. One unhappy booking ended with only one wall and no refund, while another guest reported that Aria explained a cancellation clearly and refunded an overpayment. That tells you to ask the guide at the meeting point whether both sections are operating that day.

Meeting at Beitucheng and riding west

The day begins at Beitucheng Subway Station in Chaoyang at 10:00 a.m. You make your own way there, then look for staff wearing green vests with the BusDa logo. Show your mobile reservation, and the staff will direct you to the coach.

This arrangement is fairly easy, but it puts responsibility on you at the start. You need to arrive at the correct station and identify the green-vested staff rather than simply waiting for a guide to find you. The end point is Beijing Olympic Park, so do not plan on returning to your hotel by the tour vehicle.

The air-conditioned bus takes about 1.5 hours to reach Badaling. That is a useful stretch of time, because the guide explains how the wall visit works and helps you arrange available ticket options. Guides have also helped people sort out ticket overpayments and explained changes when one part of the plan was canceled.

The group can reach as many as 47 people. That is a sizeable coach group, so expect instructions to be given to everyone rather than personal attention at every turn. The upside is a low price and organized transport. The downside is that meeting the bus on time and following the guide’s directions matters.

Two hours at the restored Badaling Great Wall

At Badaling, you choose either the north-line or south-line route. The tour allows about two hours for sightseeing, which is enough for a meaningful walk but not enough to cover every possible section at a slow pace.

The north and south routes offer different walking choices, and the guide explains how to proceed before you enter. If you prefer to save energy, a cable car is available as an optional purchase. The cable car is not included unless you select that option, so ask about the price and arrangement on the coach before reaching the wall.

The restored Badaling section is the more popular and polished part of the day. Its fame is well deserved, but popularity brings crowds. One review advises comfortable shoes and patience, and that is sound advice. The wall is not a flat promenade. Even a short visit involves steps, slopes, and regular pauses, especially if you want time for photos.

BusDa’s VIP passage is meant to reduce some of the waiting and crowd pressure. The tour describes this access as a complimentary benefit, with a stated market value of 208 yuan per person. You also receive access to the Hero Slab, a well-known photo point associated with the Badaling visit.

The VIP arrangement does not turn Badaling into a private monument. You will still be visiting a heavily attended part of the Great Wall. It simply gives the group a more direct route through the attraction, which is useful when two wall sections must fit into one day.

Use the two hours with a plan. If you want photographs and broad views, do not spend all your time trying to walk the longest possible route. If walking is your priority, keep the Hero Slab stop brief and follow the guide’s meeting instructions closely.

The ancient section: weathered stone and fewer people

After Badaling, you return to the parking area and board the bus for the Badaling Ancient Great Wall. The transfer is part of the reason this tour works well for people who want both sections without arranging separate transport.

The ancient wall receives about two and a half hours of sightseeing time. This is the more unusual stop. It retains its original form, with weathering and imperfect sections that have not been rebuilt on the scale of the main Badaling site.

You may find the atmosphere calmer here because the area generally has fewer people. The scenery is still a major part of the appeal, but the experience is less about polished access and more about seeing the wall as an aging structure. It is a better match for you if you care about texture, ruins, and comparison rather than only getting the familiar Great Wall photograph.

The phrase ancient Great Wall can sound grand, but do not expect a fully restored walkway. The defining feature is its incomplete condition. Wear sturdy shoes, watch your footing, and allow the wall’s rougher character to shape your expectations.

The ancient section is also the tour’s biggest point of uncertainty. The supplied experience details describe it as included, yet one booking had this section canceled. Conditions, operations, or group arrangements can change. Ask directly at the start: Is the ancient wall operating today, and how long will we have there? A clear answer makes it easier to decide whether the day still offers fair value.

What the $20 price really gives you

At about $20 per person, this is an unusually inexpensive way to reach the Great Wall from central Beijing. The price covers round-trip downtown transport, an air-conditioned coach, an English-speaking guide onboard, and admission to both the restored and ancient sections when both are operating.

The stated ticket value for the ancient wall is 54 yuan per person, and BusDa also presents the Badaling VIP passage as a 208-yuan benefit. Those figures make the package attractive if the full itinerary runs as planned. You are paying less for a private experience and more for efficient access, shared transport, and bundled entry.

Lunch is not included. Personal expenses are also yours, and the Great Wall area is not convenient for credit card use. Bring cash if you lack Alipay and WeChat. The tour information does not provide a meal stop, so plan for the day accordingly without assuming food will be arranged.

The value drops sharply if the ancient section is canceled and no refund is offered. That concern is not theoretical. One booking received only the main Badaling visit, while another guide handled an overpayment refund well. I would book this for the transport and restored wall even if the second section were a bonus, but I would not book it if seeing both walls were the sole reason for your purchase.

Guides can make or break a coach tour

The strongest part of this experience is the guide communication. Amy has been praised for organizing the day and for helping make the views and timing work. Betty has been singled out for friendly communication and for guiding people through a crowded Badaling visit with ease.

Ding has been praised for keeping the group updated and maintaining a steady line of communication. That matters on a coach tour, where the real danger is not getting lost on the wall, but missing the bus after a stop. Aria also handled a ticket overpayment and explained why the ancient section had been canceled on one departure.

These are practical strengths, not just pleasant extras. You need someone to explain the north and south routes, tell you when to return, describe cable car choices, and handle changes. The guides do not erase the limitations of a large group, but good updates make the day far less stressful.

The guide service is onboard rather than a private guide walking beside you every minute. At each wall, you should expect directions, timing, and assistance rather than a long personal history lecture. That format suits you if you want help with logistics and then prefer to explore at your own pace.

Timing, effort, and the end at Olympic Park

The full experience lasts about eight hours, including the drives between Beijing, Badaling, and the ancient section. The sightseeing allotments are roughly two hours at restored Badaling and two and a half hours at the ancient wall, with the remaining time used for travel and transfers.

That makes this a long day, but the schedule is sensible for two separate sections. You get enough time to walk and take photos without turning the outing into an overnight commitment. The tradeoff is a firm timetable. A slow lunch, extended shopping, or wandering far beyond the meeting points could create problems.

Comfortable shoes are essential. One review specifically advises them, along with patience, and both suggestions fit the route. The wall sections involve walking and uneven or sloped surfaces. The supplied details say most people can participate, but they do not promise a flat route or a special accessibility service.

You finish at Beijing Olympic Park. This can be convenient if you plan to spend the evening there, but it is not the same as hotel drop-off. Include the final journey from the park in your evening plans.

Who should choose this tour?

I would recommend this trip to you if you have one full day for the Great Wall and want more than the standard restored section. The ancient wall adds a useful contrast, and the low price makes the shared coach format easy to justify.

It is also a good fit if you want English-speaking support but do not need a private guide. The green-vest check-in, mobile ticket, onboard guidance, and organized transfers reduce the amount of planning you must do yourself.

I would be more cautious if you need a guaranteed two-wall visit, dislike crowds, or want a slow, quiet day. Badaling can be busy, the group may include up to 47 people, and the ancient section has been canceled on at least one departure. For a private pace and firm control over the route, a different arrangement may suit you better.

The cancellation policy is straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the 10:00 a.m. start for a full refund. Within 24 hours, no refund is available, and late changes are not accepted.

Should you book the BusDa two-wall day?

Book it if you value low-cost transport, included admission, helpful guides, and the chance to see both the polished Badaling wall and a rougher ancient extension. Amy, Betty, Aria, and Ding have each been praised for the kind of practical help that keeps a busy sightseeing day moving.

Before paying, contact the operator or ask at check-in whether both wall sections are running that day. If the answer is yes, the $20 price is excellent value. If the ancient stop is canceled, decide whether the restored Badaling visit alone still suits your plans, and ask how any change in the itinerary will be handled.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Beitucheng Subway Station in Chaoyang, Beijing. You should arrive at the meeting point and look for staff wearing green BusDa vests.

What time does the tour begin?

The stated start time is 10:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Beijing Olympic Park. Hotel drop-off is not listed.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours, including travel between Beijing, Badaling, and the ancient wall.

Are Great Wall admission tickets included?

Yes. Admission to the Badaling Great Wall and Badaling Ancient Great Wall is included when both sections are operating.

Is the cable car included?

The cable car is optional. You can purchase it based on your preference, and it is included only if you select the cable car option.

Can I pay by credit card at the Great Wall?

Credit cards are not convenient in the Great Wall scenic area. If you do not have Alipay or WeChat, bring cash.