The portion of the wall running through the site was built in 1504 during the Ming Dynasty, along with a military outpost reflecting the location's strategic importance.
The highest point of Badaling is Beibalou (北八樓), approximately 1,015 meters (3,330 ft) above sea level.
[2] Now visited annually by millions, the immediate area has seen significant development, including hotels, restaurants, and a cable car.
It was here that President Richard Nixon and his wife, accompanied by Vice Premier Li Xiannian, visited on February 24, 1972, during his historic journey to China.
[4] Many other world leaders have made a trip to the site including Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev.