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

Great Wall day trips rarely give you two very different walls. This $20 BusDa tour pairs busy, restored Badaling with the weathered Yanqing Badaling Incomplete Great Wall, giving you a sharper sense of how the monument looks both polished and raw. I like the included entry tickets and the reserved VIP passage at Badaling. The main caution is that the ancient section can be cancelled, so confirm the schedule before you set your expectations.

I also like the practical bus setup: downtown pickup, an English-speaking guide onboard, and an exclusive parking area for BusDa vehicles. Guides including Amy, Aria, Betty, and Ding have been praised for clear updates and kind help. Still, the main Badaling section can be crowded, and the day leaves little room for a relaxed lunch or unplanned wandering.

Key points at a glance

• Two very different wall sections: See restored Badaling, then a less-renovated stretch with visible weathering and broken structure.
• VIP access at Badaling: The tour includes a special passage intended to help you avoid some of the regular queues and reach the Hero Slab.
• Tickets included: Entry to both wall sections is covered, including the Ancient Badaling Great Wall ticket.
• Long but efficient day: Expect about eight hours, with roughly 1.5 hours of driving each way between Beijing and the wall area.
• Strong guide support: Amy, Aria, Betty, and Ding have been singled out for communication, organization, and care.
• Bring cash: Credit cards are not convenient in the scenic area, so Alipay, WeChat, or cash matters.

Why this BusDa tour is different

Most first visits to the Great Wall focus on one famous section. That is perfectly sensible, but it can leave you seeing only the restored, highly managed side of the monument.

This outing gives you two contrasts in one day. Badaling is the celebrated postcard version, with repaired stonework, heavy visitor demand, and a choice of north or south routes. The Ancient Badaling section, also called the Ruined Great Wall, is the southwestern extension of Badaling and has not received large-scale renovation.

That contrast is the central reason to book. At Badaling, you see the wall as a major national attraction. At the ancient section, you see more of its age, weathering, and structural flaws. The two stops help you understand that the Great Wall is not one uniform structure. It changes from section to section.

The tradeoff is pace. You are not getting a quiet private hike with hours to linger. You are moving with a group, following a fixed timetable, and spending a useful part of the day on the road.

Meeting the bus at Beitucheng Station

The day begins at Beitucheng Subway Station in Chaoyang District at 10:00 a.m. You make your own way to the meeting point, then look for staff wearing a green vest with the BusDa logo.

This detail matters in a busy city. You do not simply wait beside a generic bus and hope it is yours. Show your reservation to the staff, and they guide you to the correct vehicle. The tour uses an air-conditioned bus, with a maximum group size of 47 people.

That is a fairly large group, so do not expect the quiet rhythm of a private car. The benefit is cost. At about $20 per person, round-trip transport and both wall entry tickets make this a low-cost way to reach a distant Beijing sight.

The bus ride to Badaling takes about 1.5 hours. During that time, the English-speaking guide explains how the visit works and helps arrange optional tickets. This is also when you can ask about the north route, south route, or cable car choices.

The bus returns to Beijing after the ancient wall stop, ending at Beijing Olympic Park. Your arrival time is not stated as a fixed clock time, since road conditions and the day’s timing can affect it. Plan your evening with some flexibility.

Badaling Great Wall: famous, restored, and busy

Badaling is the section most often chosen for a first Great Wall visit. It is spectacular, well maintained, and easy to recognize from photographs. It is also the part of the day most likely to feel crowded.

You get about two hours here. The guide helps you choose between a north-line tour and a south-line tour, then directs you through the site. The VIP passage included with the experience is intended to reduce some of the ordinary crowd pressure. The tour also promotes access to the Hero Slab, a popular photo point.

The VIP passage is a useful inclusion. Its stated market price is 208 yuan per person, while BusDa provides it as part of the tour. You should still think of it as crowd assistance, not a guarantee of an empty wall. Badaling remains the popular section, and the setting can be busy.

The entry ticket to Badaling is included as well. That helps keep the low advertised price from becoming misleading. You are not paying $20 for transport alone, then adding the principal admission cost at the gate.

The cable car is optional. If you want to reduce the physical effort, you can ask about purchasing it based on your needs. The tour information also indicates that additional climb options may be purchased on the coach, even if you originally selected walking only.

For many people, two hours is enough to walk, take photographs, and get a feel for the site. It is not enough for every branch, every viewpoint, and a slow picnic. Wear comfortable shoes, as one of the clearest practical lessons from the day is that the Great Wall requires patience and steady footing.

The Hero Slab and the choice of north or south

The north and south lines give you different ways to use your limited time. The tour does not promise that you will cover every part of both routes, so listen carefully to the guide before setting off.

If photographs and the classic Badaling experience are your priority, the Hero Slab is a key target. The VIP passage is especially useful here because it helps the group reach a well-known photo area with less friction than the standard flow may involve.

If you prefer a simpler visit, choose the route that fits your energy and time. The cable car can be considered if climbing is difficult or if you want to spend more of your two hours looking at the wall rather than working your way upward.

Do not judge this stop only by its crowds. Badaling is popular for a reason. The restored stonework makes the route readable, the views are broad, and the scale of the construction is easy to grasp. You get the grand, formal version of the Great Wall here.

The guide’s role can make a real difference. Betty has been praised for helping people move around the crowded site with ease and for keeping communication clear. Ding has also been noted for frequent updates and for explaining the available ways to climb.

The Ancient Badaling section: age you can see

After Badaling, the bus takes you to the Yanqing Badaling Incomplete Great Wall. The transfer is part of the day’s design, allowing you to compare the two sections without arranging separate transport.

This section was historically referred to as the Ruined Great Wall. It is the southwestern extension of the main Badaling area and has not undergone large-scale restoration. You can expect visible traces of weathering and structural imperfections rather than the repaired surfaces found at the first stop.

You receive about 2.5 hours here. That gives you more time than at Badaling, and the setting is described as less crowded with beautiful scenery. The value is not simply that fewer people may be around. The wall feels closer to its original, worn condition, so you can see how stone, brick, and time have altered the structure.

This is the stop I would prioritize if you have already seen a restored Great Wall section. It offers a different visual and physical experience. You are not just collecting another viewpoint. You are comparing preservation, repair, and decay in the same day.

The word incomplete is important. Do not expect a polished walking route that looks like the famous Badaling photographs. The weathered character is the point, but it may also mean that the footing and route feel less uniform. Comfortable shoes are essential, and you should be ready for a more rugged visit.

The tour includes admission to this section. That is valuable because the ancient wall is not being treated as an optional add-on after the main attraction. It is one of the two central parts of the day.

The biggest risk: the second wall may not operate

The main weakness is the possibility that the Ancient Badaling stop will be cancelled. One booking ended with only a single wall visit, despite the planned two-section format, and the guest reported that no refund was offered.

The response to that complaint acknowledged the problem and apologized. That does not remove the practical concern. If seeing both types of wall is the reason you are booking, ask the local staff on the day whether the ancient section is operating before you commit your full expectations to the schedule.

This issue is more important than ordinary crowd complaints. Crowds at Badaling are predictable. A cancelled second stop changes the basic shape of the tour.

The available information does not state a standard automatic refund for a cancellation of the ancient section. For that reason, I would keep your confirmation details and ask clear questions at the meeting point. Aria has been praised for explaining a cancellation and refunding an overpayment in one case, but you should not assume every change will be handled in exactly the same way.

Guides who keep the day moving

The guide service is onboard and in English. The guide explains the wall routes, helps with ticket arrangements, directs you between the bus and the sights, and keeps the group updated.

Amy has been praised for organizing the day and helping create a smooth experience. She was also thanked for caring about the group. Betty received especially warm feedback for her communication, friendliness, and ability to help people around the crowded Badaling area.

Ding has been described as efficient and clear, with regular updates and a steady line of communication. Aria has been praised for handling an overpayment and explaining why the ancient section was cancelled in one case.

These details suggest that guide quality is one of the tour’s strongest assets. It also means the exact feel of your day may depend on which guide is assigned. The company uses several guides, so a specific person cannot be guaranteed from the information provided.

Do not confuse an onboard guide with a private escort who stays beside you for every step. At Badaling, you have free sightseeing time and route choices. The guide helps you understand the system and gets you back to the bus, but you are still responsible for managing your own time.

Is $20 good value?

For Beijing, $20 is an attractive price for a full day at two Great Wall sections. You receive round-trip downtown transfer, an air-conditioned bus, English-language help, the Badaling entry ticket, the Ancient Badaling entry ticket, and the VIP passage arrangement at the main section.

The price is particularly strong if both wall sections operate. Paying separately for transport and entry can take more planning, while this option groups the main costs together.

Lunch and personal expenses are not included. The tour details do not provide a planned meal stop, so you should not assume a sit-down lunch is part of the schedule. Bring a snack if you need one, and remember that the day is built around sightseeing time and transfers.

The cable car is also not included unless you select that option. Ask about the cost before you decide. The scenic area is not convenient for credit card use, so bring cash unless you have Alipay or WeChat available.

The value falls if you mainly want a leisurely visit to Badaling. A private arrangement might give you more control, but it would not match this price. This is a practical budget tour, not a luxury outing.

Who should choose this tour?

I would suggest it for a first-time Beijing visitor who wants the famous wall plus a less restored section without arranging complicated transport. It also suits you if you value a low price, fixed planning, and guide support at a large sight.

It is a good match for people who want visual contrast. You can photograph restored Badaling, then spend longer at the quieter ancient section. That makes the day more rewarding than a single-stop visit for many people.

It may not suit you if you dislike groups of up to 47 people, need a guaranteed two-section visit, or want to set your own pace. It is also a poor fit if you expect credit cards to work easily at the wall or if you need a long, relaxed meal break.

Wear comfortable shoes. Bring cash or a working mobile payment method. Keep your phone charged, because you will likely use your confirmation, communicate with staff, and take photographs throughout the day.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 10:00 a.m. start. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, so check the local cutoff time before making last-minute plans.

Should you book BusDa?

Book this tour if you want maximum Great Wall variety for a low price and can accept a fixed schedule. The included tickets, air-conditioned transport, VIP passage, and helpful guide service make the $20 cost hard to fault when both sections are open.

Before booking, ask yourself one direct question: would a single Badaling visit still feel worthwhile if the ancient section were cancelled? If your answer is yes, this is a sensible budget choice. If the two-wall comparison is essential, confirm current operating conditions first and keep your expectations practical.

FAQ

How much does the BusDa Great Wall tour cost?

The listed price is $20 per person.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about eight hours, including travel time.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is Beitucheng Subway Station in Chaoyang, Beijing. The stated start time is 10:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Beijing Olympic Park.

What is included in the price?

The price includes round-trip downtown transfer by air-conditioned bus, English-speaking guide service onboard, and entry to Badaling Great Wall and Ancient Badaling Great Wall.

Is the cable car included?

The cable car is optional. It can be purchased based on your request, and additional route or climbing options may be available on the coach.

How much time do you get at Badaling?

The itinerary provides about two hours at Badaling Great Wall. You can choose a north-line or south-line visit.

How much time do you get at the ancient wall section?

The itinerary provides about 2.5 hours at Yanqing Badaling Incomplete Great Wall.

Can I use a credit card at the Great Wall?

Credit cards are not convenient in the Great Wall scenic area. Bring cash if you do not have Alipay or WeChat.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum group size of 47 people.