Historic Site · Beijing, China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications in China. Built c. 701 BC.
Photo: Severin.stalder via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Beijing, China |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | c. 701 BC |
| Architect | Qin Shi Huang |
| Length | Length: 21,196 km |
| Coordinates | 40.4314° N, 116.5644° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Great Wall of China is known for
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications in China.
About Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications in China. They were built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against various nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe. The first walls date to the 7th century BC; these were joined together in the Qin dynasty.
History
The Chinese were already familiar with the techniques of wall-building by the time of the Spring and Autumn period between the 8th and 5th centuries BC. During this time and the subsequent Warring States period, the states of Zheng, Chu, Qin, Wei, Zhao, Qi, Lu, Han, Yan, Zhongshan and Zhou all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly of stone or by stamping earth and gravel between board frames.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Great Wall of China website — the official site has the current visiting information.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October — comfortable temperatures and clear skies.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Beijing |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) |
| Distance from the airport | 24.4 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) · Beijing, China · 24.5 miles away
- Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) · Beijing, China · 64.8 miles away
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) · Tianjin, China · 99.4 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
Where to stay nearby
Places to stay near Great Wall of China, with a link to each place's own site.
- Commune by the Great Wall · Badaling, Beijing
Resort in the hills by the Wall
- Starway Hotel Badaling · Badaling, Beijing
Hotel near the Badaling entrance
Where to eat nearby
Places to eat near Great Wall of China, with a link to each place's own site.
- Xiao Bei Restaurant · Badaling, Beijing
Restaurant by the Badaling entrance
- Great Wall Restaurant · Badaling, Beijing
Restaurant near the cable car
More landmarks in China
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications in China.
Where is Great Wall of China located?
Great Wall of China is in Beijing, China. Its coordinates are 40.4314° N, 116.5644° E.
How do I get to Great Wall of China?
The nearest town is Beijing, and the nearest airport is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), about 24.4 miles away (straight line).
When is the best time to visit Great Wall of China?
April to June and September to October — comfortable temperatures and clear skies.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12501 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.thegreatwall.com.cn/en — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
- https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/ — Official tourism / managing-body page — best time to visit.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.