How to Get to Badaling Great Wall

 Location: Yanqing District of suburban Beijing
 Distance from Downtown: 70 kilometers (43 miles)
 Single Journey Time: 1 - 3 hours

When traveling to the Badaling Great Wall, the high-speed train offers the fastest way, yet securing tickets can be difficult due to its popularity. The interval 877 bus departing from Beitucheng and the tour bus departing from Qianmen are both direct routes to the Great Wall of Badaling, which are good options. The S2 train and the 919 bus are also available but not recommended as they do not go directly to Badaling and require a transfer to a shuttle bus. Alternatively, you can choose to rent a car with a driver or join a tour group to avoid the hassle of planning transportation.
  Route: Beitucheng ⇔ Badaling
Schedule from Beitucheng:  06:30 - 12:30
Schedule from Badaling:  11:00 - 16:30
Interval: 10 - 20 minutes
Single Journey Time: 1.5 - 2h
Ticket Fare: CNY12; CNY6 with Beijing Transportation Smart Card
Drop-off site: near the entrance and the ticket office
 

Bus No. 877 to Badaling

Bus 877 Stop

Where can I take the interval bus 877? - Beitucheng Bus Station
1. Take subway line 8 or line 10 to Beitucheng Subway Station, exit from B2, and walk about 30 meters (30 yards).
2. Take bus 92, 515, 5, 81, or 84, and get off at Beitucheng Bus Station.
  Route: Qianmen ⇔ Badaling  
 Boarding Point:
From Qianmen: Southwest of Qianmen Arrow Tower, to the south of Tiananmen Square
From Badaling Great Wall: Badaling Guntiangou Parking Lot near the entrance
Drop-off site: near the entrance and the ticket office
 Single Journey Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
 Ticket Fare: CNY80 for a round trip; transportation card is not applicable.
 Operating Time: 06:30 - 11:00 from Qianmen; 13:00 - 16:00 from Badaling Great Wall; depart when all seats are occupied
 How to buy the tickets: Book the tickets one day in advance on the official website of the Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch, or purchase from the on-site staffs.

  Tip: On the return trip, you can get off at the National Stadium and Water Cube.

How can I get to Qianmen Bus Station?
1. Take subway line 2 or Line 8 to Qianmen subway station, exit from C and go south for about 300 meters (330 yards).
2. Bus Station is located to the southwest of Qianmen Arrow Tower in the south of Tiananmen Square. Bus line 2, 5, 22, 67, 48, 59, 66, 82, 137, 599, 622 and sightseeing line 1 run to Qianmen Bus Station.
   Bus 919 does not run on the expressway and has many stops on the way. Its boarding point is also at Beitucheng, same as bus 877. Therefore, we don't suggest you take bus 919 to Badaling. But if you leave the Great Wall after 17:00 when bus 877 may have left, you can take bus 919 to get back to the city. The return journey takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours and costs CNY 14.

For the return trip, passengers need to take the free shuttle bus to Changcheng Tiandi Station, then walk westward to the Badaling bus station of 919.
 

Bus 919

Bus 919 Stop

 Departure Time: 6:30 - 17:00
Route: Changcheng Tiandi Station (Chaxi Parking Lot) → South Great Wall Ground Cable Car Station → North Great Wall Aerial Cable Car Station/Entrance of the Great Wall (Guntiangou Parking Lot)
Single Journey Time: 8 minutes
Price: Free

Notes:
1. The shuttle bus is convenient for tourists arriving by private car, taxi, S2 train, or Bus No. 919. The drop-off points for taxis and Bus No. 919 are very near the shuttle bus boarding point. Tourists arriving by S2 train need to walk about 600 meters (660 yards) from Badaling Railway Station to the South Great Wall Ground Cable Car Station to board the shuttle bus.
2. During peak holiday travel seasons, the waiting time for the shuttle bus can be extremely long, perhaps exceeding two hours. It is advisable to walk to the entrance of the Great Wall from Changcheng Tiandi Station or Badaling Railway Station, which takes about 45 minutes and 20 minutes, respectively.
 

Badaling Shuttle Bus

Guntiangou Parking Lot

 1. It may not be difficult to take a taxi from downtown Beijing to Badaling. But the taxis are not metered and usually cost around CNY600 - 800 for a round trip. If taking a taxi, you'd better confirm the price with the driver in advance.
2. You can book a private car with a driver if there are 3 or 4 people. The car holding up 4 passengers requires CNY700 - 1,000 for a round trip.   Here are the advantages and disadvantages of these transportation modes, enabling you to select the most appropriate one based on your individual preferences and needs. 
  Advantages: 
1. It offers the quickest access to the Badaling Great Wall, with a travel time of merely over 20 minutes from Qinghe Railway Station and over 40 minutes from Beijing North Railway Station.
2. Upon exiting the station, one arrives directly at the foot of the Great Wall. The surrounding amenities are rather convenient, as a cable car can be spotted to the right, and there is also luggage storage available along the way.
3. Each passenger is provided with a comfortable seat and the carriage maintains a quiet environment, ensuring a pleasant riding experience.
 
 Disadvantages:
1. The number of trains is relatively limited, and tickets have to be purchased 15 days in advance, yet they are still hard to obtain.
2. Passengers are required to wait for the train in advance.
  Advantages: 
1. The ticket fare is economical, costing CNY12 for cash payment and CNY6 when using a bus card.
2. Buses are in sufficient supply, eliminating the necessity of advance ticket purchase and allowing for spontaneous travel.

 Disadvantages:
1. The travel time is not guaranteed. Normally, it takes about 1.5 hours, but it could extend up to 2.5 hours during traffic congestion, especially on Mondays and holidays.
2. During the tourist season, there is a large influx of people, potentially resulting in long queues.
  Advantages:
1. The bus frequency is high. Tickets can be purchased either in advance online or on-site. Once the seats are occupied, the bus departs promptly, with minimal queuing required.
2. The tourist bus is staffed with a tour guide who will provide a simple introduction to the Badaling Great Wall and respond to questions on the way.
3. Each passenger is ensured a comfortable seat, and luggage storage services are also provided for added convenience.

 Disadvantages:
1. The ticket price is relatively high, with a round-trip costing CNY80.
2. The travel time is not entirely reliable, typically around 1.5 hours, which can be subject to fluctuations due to traffic conditions and other factors.

Tourist Bus to Badaling

  Advantages:
1. The fares are budget-friendly, with a one-way ticket priced at CNY 6. Moreover, mobile payment is accepted, making it as convenient as taking the subway.
2. The scenery along the route is beautiful. In spring, it is renowned as the train traversing the sea of flowers, allowing passengers to relish the charming landscape from within the train. 
3. There is no concern about traffic congestion. 
 
 Disadvantages:
1. The train services are scarce, and the departure schedules are not fixed, varying between weekdays and weekends, as well as during holidays. There are only 2 - 3 trains per day.
2. It adopts a bus-like boarding system without reserved seating. The number of seats is limited, and those who board first secure seats. Often, numerous passengers have to endure standing throughout the entire trip to Badaling, which can be extremely fatiguing.
3. Nankou Railway Station is located a considerable distance from the city center, and the journey to the station often takes more than an hour.
4. The train only reaches Badaling Station, which is still a certain distance from the Badaling Great Wall. Passengers need to transfer to a shuttle bus to the Wall.

Badaling Railway Station

Waiting Hall of Badaling Railway Station

 Ming Tombs is a collection of mausoleums of Chinese emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD). It is 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) from Badaling and is suitable for visiting together with the Badaling Great Wall. After visiting Badaling, you can take bus 879 to reach the Ming Tombs, which takes about 1.5 hours.
 1.Take the direct bus from Capital International Airport to the Badaling Great Wall. It departs at 6:00 and 8:00 daily, takes approximately 2.5 hours, and costs CNY 80 one-way.
2. Take Airport Express to Sanyuanqiao and change to subway line 10 to Beitucheng, exit from B and then walk for about 30 meters (30 yards)  to Beitucheng Bus Station to take  interval bus 877.
3. Take Airport Express to Xizhimen and walk to Beijing North Railway Station. Then take a high-speed train to Badaling.
4. Take Airport Express and transfer to line 13 at Dongzhimen, get off at Qinghe Station, and then take a high-speed train to Badaling at Qinghe Railway Station.
 1. Take the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao Station, then take subway line 19 to Mudanyuan, and transfer to line 10 to Beitucheng, exit from B to Beitucehng Bus Station to take interval bus 877.
2. Take the Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao Station and change to subway line 19 to Jishuitan. Transfer to line 2 to Xizhimen, exit from A2, and walk for about 600 meters (660 yards) to Beijing North Railway Station, then take a high-speed train to Badaling.
 1. Take subway line 7 to Zhushikou Station, and transfer to line 8 to Beitucheng, exit from B to Beitucehng Bus Station to take interval bus 877.
2. Take subway line 9 to National Library, and transfer to line 4 to Xizhimen. Then transfer to Line 13 to Qinghe and take a high-speed train to Badaling.
3. Take subway line 9 to National Library Station and change to subway line 4 to Xizhimen Station. Then walk to Beijing North Railway Station and take a high speed train.
 1. Take subway line 4 to Haidianhuangzhuang Station, then take line 10 to Beitucheng Station, and exit from B to take interval bus 877.
2. Take subway line 4 to Xizhimen Station and transfer to line 13 to Qinghe. Then take a high-speed train.
3. Take subway line 4 to Xizhimen Station. Then walk to Beijing North Railway Station and take a high speed train.
4. At 09:00, take the tourist bus to the Badaling Great Wall from Beijing South Railway Station. The one-way fare is CNY50 and the round-trip fare is CNY80, and the journey takes approximately 2 hours.
 1. Take subway line 2 to Guloudajie and transfer to line 8 to Beitucheng Station, then exit from B and take interval bus 877.
2. Take subway line 2 to Xizhimen Station and transfer to line 13 to Qinghe. Then take a high-speed train.
3. Take subway line 2 to Xizhimen Station. Then walk to Beijing North Railway Station and take a high speed train.

 See also

How to Get to the Great Wall of China from Beijing

How to Get to the Great Wall of China from Beijing Airport

How to Get to the Great Wall from Shanghai  

How to Get to the Great Wall from Hong Kong