How to Visit Badaling Great Wall of China by Train

212 thoughts on “How to Visit Badaling Great Wall of China by Train”

1. Dear advisor
   im staying in Nikko hotel new century,i was wondering how can i get to
   1.great wall
   2.forbiden city
   3.heaven temple
   4.summer garden
   and is there any connection between these spots?
   thanks for your kind help and attention

2. Hello Mandis, welcome to Beijing!

   1.great wall
   Walk from your hotel to Beijing North Railway Station 北京北站(20 – 30 minutes walk). Ask your hotel bellboy for the walking direction to the north station. There are many daily trains to the Badaling great wall and buy the tickets on the spot. Better to get up early for the wall trip.

   2.forbiden city
   Walk to the nearest subway station – Beijing Zoo Station of Subway Line 4 (4号线动物园站）. Beijing Zoo is on the way to Beijing North Railway Station. Ask your hotel bellboy for the direction to Beijing Zoo (动物园）. So get on at the Beijing Zoo Station of Subway Line 4 and get off at Xidan Station （西单）, then interchange for Subway Line 1 and get off at the stop of Tiananmen Squre West (天安门西）or Tiananmen East ( 天安门东）， you can visit both Tiananmen square and Forbidden City. Forbidden City is to the north of Tiananmen Square.

   3.heaven temple
   Take subway line 1 at Tiananmen Square east or west and get off at the stop of Dongdan (东单）, and interchange for Subway Line 5 and get off at East Temple of Heaven (天坛东）

   4.summer garden
   Walk from your hotel to the subway station – Beijing Zoo (北京动物园）, take subway line 4 and get off at the stop of Beigongmen (北宫门）. Once you get off at Beigongmen, there is the direction sign to Summer Palace.

   Ask for a Beijing subway map for your easy tour of Beijing.

   Have a nice trip to Beijing!

3. Just in response to your Travel Tip #1. I tried to purchase advance tickets (one day) directly from the train station today as per your recommendation. However, for those thinking the same, it was not possible. I was told to come back to purchase the tickets on the same day of travel.

4. Hello Vinh T,

   Sorry for the misleading Travel Tip #1! Thank you for updating the train ticket booking for the S Trains from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall. Thanks!

5. May I know can I use Beijing Transportation smart card for travelling S train from Beijing North Railway station to Badaling great wall?

   Thanks

6. Lee Yueu Mei,

   Yes, You can. Also, it is advisable to use Beijing Transportation smart card. If you have a card, you don’t have to wait in line for buying a ticket. Just put your card on a reader and go. The S Train is unnumbered, free seating. Have a good time!

7. Hi! I am going to Beijing in December.

   Are the trains likely to be crowded in early Dec? Is there any likelihood that if I have a Beijing Transportation smart card, I may not be able to get onto the train? Do you need to go through the readers before getting into the waiting lounge?

   I read on another blog that the trains fill up quite fast and once it is full, you will have to wait for the next train.

   Thanks.

8. Hello Rachel Lee,

   December in Beijing is a tourist low season and the trains will not be crowded. It is encouraged to use a Beijing Transportation smart card to save your time for lining up for buying your tickets. Using a smart card is one yuan cheaper than buying a paper ticket.

   Yes, you have to go through the readers before getting into the waiting lounge.

   Yes, in tourist high season, the trains fill up quite fast and once it is full, you will have to wait for the next train. The S trains are unnumbered, free seating, like a public bus. So get to the Beijing North Train Station earlier to catch the train and take the seat you prefer.

9. MayI know is the perion between 26 Oct and 3 Nov considered high tourist season pl?

   Thank you

10. Is it 6Y for a ticket? Or is it 600Y? I am trying to get the cost in US dollars – to see if it is more affordable to take the train or a tour bus.

    Your review is awesome!

11. Hello Vanessa,

    It’s only RMB 6 (roughly US$ 1 ). Glad the review is useful for you!

12. Hi. I will be staying at the Swissotel in Dongcheng. How do I get to the Beijing North Railway station
    and if I purchase the Yikatong (IC Card) will I be able to use that on the S train. Thanks

13. Hello Geetha,

    Yes, Yikatong (IC Card) is both vlid for subway and S trains, very convenient!

    Your hotel has a super location with the subway station “Dongsishitiao” (东四十条) of Subway Line 2 next to your hotel. You walk to the Exit C of “Dongsishitiao” (东四十条) of Line 2, take the subway and get off at Xizhinmen Subway Station(西直门）of Line 2, exit from Exit A ( Beijing North Railway Station). Have a nice trip!

14. Where can i get the IC Card and how much does it cost?

    What is the prices in Chinese for entrance for Great Wall, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and Forbidden City/ Tiananmen Square and Ming Tombs?

    How many days do i need to spend in Beijing so that i can go to all these places?

15. Basically, an IC Card is Par value RMB100.00 + RMB20.00 deposit. You can buy an IC Card at the ticket counters at Beijing subway stations, railway stations, most post offices, big supermarkets and so on.

    Usually you need to spend at least 2 full days to visit these six places. As for the entrance fees and how to visit them, please check the following links:

    Tips for Visiting Tiananmen Square
    Tips for visiting Summer Palace
    Tips for Visiting the Temple of Heaven
    Forbidden City Travel Tips
    Tips for Visiting the Great Wall of China around Beijing
    How to Visit Ming Tombs in Beijing

16. What is the IC Card?

17. Hello Roland,

    “IC Card” is officially called “一卡通” which literally means “All-in-one pass for public transportation”.

    If you stay in Beijing for quite a few days, or want to have more transport convenience when you traveling Beijing by bus, you are highly recommended to buy a Beijing bus IC card, a kind of transportation smart card. A bus IC Card can be also used to pay for Beijing taxi, Beijing subway and S trains to Badaling Great Wall.

    IC Card is similar to Hong Kong’s Octopus card, Singapore’s EZ-Link, or the Oyster Card used by TfL in London in United Kingdom.

18. Great tips – thank you!
    Just did this trip today and found my way easily with your directions. Can’t beat the cost, 6 yuan one-way.
    As an update you buy your tickets now not from a booth, but from the main ticket office, counters #5-6

19. Hello Kamen,

    Much delighted that the post has been a little helpful for your trip to Badaling Great Wall.

    Much thanks for your latest update on the location of the ticket booth. We’ll update it accordingly. Thanks!

20. Hi. I will be visiting Badaling Great Wall and then proceed my journey to Ming Tombs on end Apr. Can I reach Ming Tombs by using train from Badaling Great Wall? Besides, i would like to know if Badaling will be crowded in end April. If yes, i might change my schedule to Mutianyu Great Wall. Appreciate your advise.

21. Hello Angeline,

    The S Trains cannot bring you to the Ming Tombs. Yes, Badaling Great Wall is more crowded than Mutianyu.

22. Thanks for all these travel tips. I caught the train up to Badaling Great Wall yesterday and it was all easy and pain free. I loved the experience of taking the train filled mainly with local tourists but still managed to get a seat by being 30mins early before departure. Such a cheap way to get to the Great Wall!! I also caught the bus 919 back rather than waiting for the next train which was likewise a nice, albeit slowish ride back through the outskirts of Beijing into the centre. Definitely reccomend this method to get to the Great Wall.

23. Hello Corey，

    Glad that you have enjoyed your trip to Badaling Great Wall by using public transport. Yes, it is an interesting experience traveling with the locals, which allows you to know more about the real Beijing and China. Your feedback is useful for new oversea travelers and encourage them to travel Beijing by public transport, a kind of success and satisfaction, and in-depth travel aroun Beijing. Thanks!

24. Hy all,
    I will be visiting Beijing next month and I wonder how to get to the major attractions points: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Gardens, Tianmen Square and Heaven temple from my hotel, China National Convention Center. It is possible to buy a transportation card for 7 days and how much it costs? It’s possible to visit all this attractions in 2 days? If you have any recommendations please fell free to share. Thank you!!!

25. Hello Vlad,

    You can buy a transportation card (smart card ) for bus, s train and subway. We don’t have a particular card for 7 days. You may return your card and have your money back.

    Usually, one day for great wall and 2 days for city tours.

    The following pages may be useful for you and have a good trip to Beijing!

    Tips for Visiting Tiananmen Square
    Tips for visiting Summer Palace
    Tips for Visiting the Temple of Heaven
    Forbidden City Travel Tips – The Palace Museum Travel Tips
    Tips for Visiting the Great Wall of China around Beijing
    How to Visit Ming Tombs in Beijing
    How to visit Beihai Park Beijing
    How to visit Shichahai
    How to visit Bird’s Nest and Water Cube
    How to Enjoy Beijing Nightlife
    Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing

26. I will be staying in Beijing Kuntai Hotel, No. 2 QiYang Road. I plan to visit Great Wall on 9th of May, 2013. Please advise how can I get to the Beijing North Railway Station from the hotel. Also, from where I can obtain the Beijing Transportation Smart Card? What is the advised time to start from Beijing and what time should I return? Do I need to wear warm clothes?

    Thanks

27. Which part of the wall will you recommend to visit Mutianyu or Badaling? I will be arriving in Bejing on 8th May at 08:20 pm and would be staying in the hotel mentioned in my previous message. I will be leaving from Beijing on 10th May at 11:55 pm. So I will be having two full days during which I have to go Tianjin First Central Hospital to visit a friend also. Please suggest how should I plan these two days so that I can visit my friend in Tianjin and at the same time I can visit the maximum possible places around Biejing before reporting at the airport at 08:00pm on 10th May.
    Thanks a lot for your assistance.

28. Hello Arshad Sabri,

    Suggest you take a taxi from your hotel to Beijing North Railway Station, about 20km, approx. RMB50.

    You can buy your train ticket on the spot. You may buy a smart transportation card inside a subway station by the Beijing North Railway Station ( Xizhimen Subway Station). But in your case, it is not advisable to use a smart card since you only stay in Beijing for two full days.

    By the way, it is a bit complicated to use a public bus or subway from your hotel to Beijing North Railway Station, better to take a taxi.

    Basically you start early in the morning, let’s say 7:00am from your hotel. Just wear a light jacket, temperature around 25 degree.

29. Hello Arshad Sabri,

    Both Mutianyu and Badaling has it own different unqiue features. If you prefer to use public transportion to get to the Great wall, you’d better go to Badaling Great Wall. If you are going to hire a taxi or private car, you are advised to go to Mutianyun, a less touristy section of the Wall.

    One day for Great Wall and one day for Tianjin. Have a good time in Beijing!

30. Hello, your tips are clear and hopefully useful when I visit Beijing next week.
    I’m going to stay in Grand Millenium Hotel in Fortune Plaza, DongSanHuan Middle Road. Could you please advise on how to get to Beijing North Railway Station?

    Since I’m in Beijing for training, I only have two full days for sight seeing and the rest four days will be for training and only have free time in the evening. Could you please advise which places I should visit in those two full days?

    many thanks

31. Hello Andecha,

    1. How to get from your hotel Grand Millenium to Beijing North Railway Station

    Walk from your hotel to the nearest subway station — Guomao Station of Subway Line 1. You enter the Guomao Station (国贸) from the Exit E2, the take the subway line 1 to the west direction and get off at the Fuxingmen (复兴门) Station ( the 7th stop ), then interchanage for Subway Line 2 and get off at Xizhinmen Subway Station(西直门）, exit from Exit A ( Beijing North Railway Station) .

    2. Tour on the second day
    Today, you may visit the highlights in the city proper of Beijing including Tiananmen Square, Forbidden city, Temple of Heaven or Summer Palace if time permits.

    Tiananmen Square Travel Tips
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/tips-for-visiting-tiananmen-square/

    Forbidden City Travel Tips
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/forbidden-city-travel-tips-the-palace-museum-travel-tips/

    Temple of Heaven Travel Tips
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/tips-for-visiting-the-temple-of-heaven/

    Summer Palace Travel tip
    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/tips-for-visiting-summer-palace/

32. I am in Beijing on a short trip and staying in Longwan. I am planning to visit Great Wall on Saturday. But, I have my flight to HK at 4.30 pm. Please suggest the best itinerary to visit Great Wall and be back in time to catch the flight. Thanks.

33. Hello Mak,

    In your case, it is better to hire a private car for your short trip to the great wall. Public transport is not suggested. You may get up early either go to Juyongguan Great Wall ( nearest to the city ） or Mutianyu Great Wall ( less touristy). Have a nice trip!

34. Hello, finally made it to Great wall today (Mutianyu). It was amazing and would like to share the experience briefly for the benefit of others. We. two of us, booked a taxi from Longwan area and it costed about 500 Yuan. (not sure if the fare is ok, but we paid). It took about 50 mts to reach Mutianyu. We picked ticket for cable ride and entry fee, costed us 125 Yuan per person. The trip in cable car was simply awesome, giving a panoramic view of the Great Wall and the forest. It reached in less than 10 mts. Then walked up the wall and reached the 888 feet. The last stretch was very steep and tough. A test of endurance. Bought a cap as a sovenir and the vendor charged us 20 Yuan. But at the foothill, it was selling for much less, but did not bother much. It took us total of 4.30 hrs to come back to the hotel. Worth the trip and will cherish it for long.

35. Hello,

    I am planning to visit Great wall by China Railway High-speed(Hexiehao) train on Sunday from the Beijing airport. From where can i buy train ticket and how much does it cost?

36. Hello Sarah,

    The Badaling Great Wall-bound S Trains ( their appearance similar to China Railway High-speed ) start from Beijing North Railway Station. So you need to go to the Beijing North Railway Station from Beijing Capital Airport.

    First take the airport express train from Beijing airport to its final stop of Dongzhimen (东直门), then interchange for subway line 2 and get off at the station of get off at Xizhinmen Subway Station(西直门）, exit from Exit A.

    Up to the ground, you are just in front of the Ticket Booking Office. Buy your tickets at counters #5-6 in the main ticket office. . The train ticket costs only ￥6.

    S Train Tickets: All the S train tickets are free seating. Like public buses, no advance train tickets booking. Just line up and buy the train tickets on the spot. One way ticket only, if you want to buy a return ticket, you have to buy it from other side.

    Note: In tourist high season, the trains fill up quite fast and once it is full, you will have to wait for the next train. The S trains are unnumbered, free seating, like a public bus. So get to the Beijing North Train Station earlier to catch the train and take the seat you prefer.

37. Hi, I staying ar holiday inn express dongzhimen, How may i get to badaling great wall by train? or by bus if faster? and how much the entrance fee? from badaling great wall..may i also drop by go to forbidden city?

38. Hello wm richard,

    Walk from your hotel to the subway station of Dongsi Shitiao (东四十条) for about 1.2km, then take subway line 2 and get off at the station of Xizhimen (西直门) and exit from Exit A ( Beijing North Railway Station). Buy your train tickets for Badaling.

39. Hello,

    I wonder how I get from Badaling Train Station to the Great Wall. Is there any more detailed desciption than “go eastwards”?

    Thx

40. Hello joane,

    Get off at the Badaling Railway Station, then follow the throng and walk about 1.2km before you reach the Badaling Great Wall.

41. I will stay at 161 Hostel in Dongsi. How can I go to Badaling Great Wall with subway?

42. Hello Khairul,

    It is very easy for you to take subway to Beijing North Railway Station for S Trains to Badaling Great Wall. You first take subway line 5 to the north direction at the nearest station to your hotel, then interchange at the station of Yonghegong (Lama temple ) for Subway Line 2 to the west direction and get off at the Xizhimen Station and exit from Exit A and you will see the Beijing North Railway Station. Please ask your hotel staff about how to take subway to Beijing North Railway Station. Have a good time!

43. Hi,
    I will stay at 161 Hostel in Dongcheng. How do I go from Beijing Capital Airport to the hostel? The estimated time arival is around 1am. Thanks!

44. Hello Han,

    At such an early hour, no shuttle bus and no express train. Basically you have to take a taxi from the airport to your hotel – 28km with a taxi fare of approx. 100.

    At the normal daytime, you may take the airport express train, interchange for subway line 2 and line 5, then walk to your hotel.

45. I plan to visit Mutianyu section of the Great Wall by train on 24th September. I would be staying near Zoo. Can you suggest me travel options by train, train schedule, practicality etc.?

    Thanks in advance.

46. Hello Sanjay,

    At the moment, Mutianyu Great wall is not accessible by train. You may visit Mutuanyu Greatv Wall by bus ( bus No.867 or Bus 916 http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/tag/mutianyu-great-wall-bus/).

    if you want to visit the Wall by train, you may choose Badaling Great Wall which is linked by the S Trains starting from Beijing North Railway Station （ just next to Beijing Zoo). For more information on the trains, please visit the page itself http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-great-wall-by-train-visit-badaling-great-wall-by-train/

    Have a good time！

47. The entrance to the Badaling Great Wall is a 20- minute walk from Badaling Railway Station. Will it be too far? Any shuttle bas from the railway station to the great wall entrance?

    I will be travelling in Beijing from 26 Sept to 30 Sept. Is this period consider peak period and will the great wall be crowded?

48. Hello Nicole,

    The distance from Badaling Railway Station to the ticketing office of the Wall is about 800m, about 15 minutes walk. No official shuttle buses linking the station to the tickting office. You are not advisable to take the illegal taxi or van provided by the local villagers. The travel in Beijing from 26 Sept to 30 Sept is better than that from October 01 to 07 in terms of advoiding tourist hordes. But September as a whole is still considered a tourist high season in Beijing. You will still expect lots of tourists at Badaling Great Wall.

49. Hello,

    We (my elderly parents, myself and sister) will be travelling to Beijing next week. We will arrive on Tuesday and hopefully would like to see the Great Wall on Thursday or Friday. I was thinking of going to Badaling by train. Also thinking of using the Yikatong. Does using the Yikatong only allow you to travel in the second class section of the train or can you sit in both second or first?

    Thanks

    Lea

50. Hello Lea,

    As far as I know, there are no first class seats on the Badaling Great Wall trains, all the same free seating seats both for Yikatong takers or walking-in passengers. First come,first served. You are advisable to go early for grab a seat otherwise you have to stand on the train in tourist peak season. Have a good time!

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