How to Choose the Right Option: Ropeway, Cable Car, or Toboggan at Badaling Great Wall

📍 Beijing · 👁 4 reads · ❤️ 243 likes

When visiting Badaling Great Wall, most people grapple with one question: how do you choose between the slide, the ropeway, and the ground cable car? Which one suits you best?

The North Line Ropeway begins at the far end of the Guntiangou parking lot and takes you up to North Tower Eight, known as 'Hero's Slope.' As New China's first monocable detachable gondola lift, the North Line Ropeway whisks you directly to 'Hero's Slope' in just eight minutes, letting you stand on the highest peak of Badaling Great Wall while enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. Look east and you'll see the Ming Dynasty beacon towers just a stone's throw away; gaze north and take in the cloud-piercing peaks of Beijing's outskirts.

The waiting hall is spacious and comfortable, holding over 1,000 people. The upper station tunnel stretches 199 meters and can accommodate 500 visitors at once. Taking the North Line Ropeway up the wall gets you to the highest point of Badaling Great Wall – Hero's Slope – quickly, making it ideal for those heading to the northern section. However, it's not recommended if you have a fear of heights, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions.

The Badaling Ground Cable Car starts opposite the Zhan Tianyou Memorial Hall and ascends to the best viewing spot on the wall – South Tower Four, the highest point of the southern section. The cars feature panoramic skylights for excellent sightseeing, with a top speed of eight meters per second. It's also the only ground cable car route in North China, offering visitors a completely new sightseeing experience. Personally, I consider this the safest way to ascend, well-suited to middle-aged and elderly visitors or families with children. The only drawback is that it only goes to the southern side of the wall.

The Great Wall Slide (also called the toboggan track) is a small flat cart that runs on rails, powered by gravity. There's a control lever in front to brake, and you can control the speed yourself. You sit on it in an open design.

Peak season (April–October): 7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Off-season (November–March): 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Ropeway rates: Round trip 140 RMB/person, one way 100 RMB/person, free for children under 1.2 meters

Cable car rates: Round trip 140 RMB/person, one way 100 RMB/person, free for children under 1.2 meters

Slide rates: Round trip 60 RMB/person, one way 30 RMB/person (age restrictions apply; elderly visitors and young children cannot ride)

Tickets for the southern cable car and the northern ropeway are mutually interchangeable, giving visitors more sightseeing flexibility.

Many visitors often confuse the ropeway with the ground cable car.

A cable car is a general term for equipment that uses steel cables to pull and transport people or goods. The route for a cable car should avoid overly steep slopes (it's stable and suitable for middle-aged and elderly visitors).

A ropeway is a detachable gondola, fully enclosed and perfectly safe (though still not ideal if you're afraid of heights).

The slide is popular with younger visitors – if you love a thrill, give it a try (but currently it's temporarily suspended at Badaling Great Wall).

Now, for those who want to reach the Great Wall in the most comfortable way possible, there's a shuttle bus that lets you take it easy!

Spring is here again – the beginning of spring, when everything comes back to life, the perfect season for hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Even though Beijing is still a bit chilly, nothing could dampen my child's desire to climb the Great Wall. I searched online and stumbled upon a direct shuttle called 'Busda.' I gave it a try, placed an order, and got ready to go.

Their adult fare is 120 RMB, which includes the entrance ticket and transport, and children pay 40 RMB.

Since I had an elderly person and a child with me, and I live quite far from the meeting point, I opted for the second departure at 10:00 am (there's also an 8:00 am departure – you can choose freely).

Meeting point: Exit C, Beitucheng Subway Station.

This is a direct shuttle bus that truly looks out for ordinary people. It's incredibly convenient, the guide is very caring, and the bus is spotless. Once on board, everyone instantly feels at ease and gets along.

It's genuinely a pure sightseeing tour with no shopping stops. You get four hours on the Great Wall with no rush – it's professional, relaxing, and comfortable. On the way back, there's even an extra stop at the Olympic Center area (for those setting out, I wholeheartedly recommend this – it's easy, fast, and worry-free).

We arrived around noon, so with my elderly companion and child, we decided to grab a meal. There was quite a variety, and the prices were reasonable.

I'll skip the details of climbing the wall. Since I brought an elderly person and a child, I thought it would be tough, but luckily the guide helped out a lot. I'm truly grateful to the Busda direct shuttle. If you want to go but don't want the hassle, definitely give this shuttle a try.

Table of Contents

1. What is a ropeway?

2. What is a cable car?

3. What is a slide?

4. How to tell them apart by appearance

5. Which one suits you best?

6. Setting off for Badaling Great Wall

7. Let's eat!

8. Enjoy the beautiful photos

9. Travelogue summary