How to Visit Badaling Great Wall of China by Train

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

1. Hello Dolly,

   As for Badaling Great Wall bus from downtown Beijing, you should take bus 877, please check the link below:

   http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/travel-review/badaling-great-wall-bus/

   yes, you can buy a smart card ( 5 RMB one way for the Badaling S Train), but you have to pay deposit of RMB 10 or 20 for a smart card.

   Have a good trip!

2. Hi There,
   Can you please confirm the above schedule is still correct? I will be travelling in October 2014.
   Also is it better to catch bus 877 or train to Badaling?
   Thank you.

3. Hello Jl,

   Basically the train train schedule is correct. Some people like to take the train, others like the 877 bus. Personally, I prefer the train.

4. Hi im at beijing right now and i have a question… what are the exact directions after you reach Badaling Station?

5. Hello Marcio,

   For the direction of Badaling Station, you may check out the map below:

   http://www.tour-beijing.com/great_wall/badaling_great_wall_map.php

6. Hi,

   where are located the Beijing Transportation smart card readers?? At the entrace to the S train Waiting Lounge ?
   You said “do not to entre the ticket office”. if I wish to buy the tickets where should I go then?

7. Hi Aristoles,

   1. Swipe your smart card at the entrance to the waiting room.
   2. If you want to buy a ticket, please go to a special window to buy the tickets for the Badaling S Trains. No worry, you will be clear about the location for the ticketing window when you get there. Have a good time!

8. hello,

   how far from badaling train station to cable car? is it possible by walking or have to use taxi from station?

   thanks

9. Hi Wenny,

   First you walk from the train station to the cable station for about 20-30 minutes. No need for taxi.

10. how to go on the great wall from the bottom of the great wall? are there stairs besides cable car? is there any way to the wall for going on foot? how much time will it take up the wall from base?

11. Hi Suresh,

    Many people choose to visit Mutianyu Great Wall or Badaling Great Wall ( the most popular sections of the Wall around Beijing).

    You may take a cable car or just walk up to the Wall.

    1) Walk up to Mutianyu Great Wall: half hour
    2) Badaling Great Wall starts from the bottom.

    Have a good time in Beijing!

12. You just replied that badaling great wall starts from bottom then what is the use of cable car. Please elaborate. Xiexie

13. Hi Suresh,

    Yes, a bit crowded during the rush hour. You can get into the coach with one trolley bag and one shoulder bag. Of course, you need to squeeze into the coach. Have a good time in Shanghai!

14. Hi suresh,

    Great Wall hike can be very tiring and challenging. Not everybody wants to slog up the Wall for various reasons. Normally you cannot expect seniors over 80 years old to hike up the Wall. But they may still want to see the Great Wall snaking on the high mountains.That’s why there is a big demand for cable car service.

    So when we talk about cable car, we often refer to the cable car at the Northern section of Badaling Great Wall. The northern slope of the Badaling Great Wall is about 3700m long starting from NorthTower No.1 up to the Northern Tower No.8, then down to Northern Tower No.12. The whole hiking takes 2-3 hours. Not everyone has the strong legs to hike all the 12 towers, so many passengers would take cable car up to the Wall (below Tower No.8 and Tower9 ) to save their energy. If you are in good shape, I suggest you hike all the 12 towers to digest the magnificent Badaling Great Wall on its northern slope instead of eating “Instant food” by taking the cable car.

15. What are transport possibilities from Beijing to

    Mutianyu in December ?

16. Hi Conor,

    1. Taxi
    2. Connecting buses from Dongzhimen Public Transport Hub ( http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/dongzhimen-public-transport-hub )
    3. Book a local non-shopping tour of Mutianyu ( http://www.tour-beijing.com/coach_tours/bns_1.php )

    Make hard choices and enjoy your trip!

17. I went on this train in November 2015. Fantastic day out to an extremely slippery snow and ice covered but fun Great Wall. Yes – use the IC card for this train (and also for coming back) and don’t even think about trying to buy a separate ticket. In fact the outside ticket office was shut and frankly looked as though it hadn’t opened for quite some time (and was adorned with ‘no more tickets’ signs in Chinese. Just swipe your IC card and head into the waiting hall.

    Another little tip: For coming back, get to the station and get in the “queue” early. When the train arrives, there’s an almighty (but highly amusing) stampede through the double doors to get out onto the platform and onto the train (which instantly fills up).

    And don’t forget to haggle if buying a souvenir at the shops near the wall’s entrance (those 180Yuan tshirts are happily sold for far far less than their displayed price).

    Enjoy!

18. Hi Robin Clark,

    Thanks for the update! Much appreciated!

19. Hi, leaving to the trainstation in an hour to go to Badaling, so not sure if I’ll get a reply 🙂 just wondering if it’s easy to fing the Badaling Great Wall entrance from the train station. Are there any signs? In the worst case I can use google maps, but would be better if I didn’t need to turn on the internet. I just visited the wall at Gubeikou on Saturday and it was stunning, but now ready to see the restored and touristy version!

20. Hi,

    My name is Chan Yoot Foon, and I intend to visit Badaling from Malaysia. I am book at the Badaling Resort and I have a few question to ask.

    I m flying from M’sia to Beijing.
    Do you have a train from Beijing airport to Badaling.
    If there is what is the fare
    How do I buy the Smart card for the train fare.
    Thank you.

21. Hi alyssa,

    Just follow the throng and almost all the passengers disemarking are going to Badaling Great Wall.

    Walking from Badaling Train Station to the Ticketing Office at Badaling
    After getting off the train at Badaling Station, walk eastward and then northeast about 800m for 15-minute and you will reach the ticketing office at the foot of Badaling Great Wall.

    There are no shuttle buses linking Badaling Railway Station and the ticketing office at Badaling Great Wall. You are not advisable to take the illegal bus or van offered by the local villagers

22. Hi Janet Chan Yoot CFoon,

    You can buy the Smart card at the ticketing booth of Express Train Station at the airport.

    Badaling Great Wall is public transport friendly. You can easily use airport express train + subway + S trains to get to Badaling Great Wall.

    The Badaling Great Wall-bound S Trains ( their appearance similar to China Railway High-speed trains ) 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 Xizhinmen Subway Station(西直门）, exit from Exit A.

    Walking up to the ground from Exit A, you will see the main building of Beijing North Railwat Station. Buy your tickets at counters #5-6 in the main ticket office. The train ticket costs only 6 yuan ( about 1 US$ ).

    Remember: Badaling is the last but one stop ( not the final stop ),so remember to get off at the right stop. But most of the passenegrs will get off the Badaling station,and you don’t have to worry too much about it.

    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(Badaling Train Station).

    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.

23. Hi ,
    Thanks for the useful information . Appreciated .
    I’m going to beijing next week . Is it safe to travel with kids to Badaling great wall by train ?

24. Hi Uncle Wong,

    Basically, it is safe to travel by train and the train goes slowly.

25. i will be reaching Beijing train station at 8.20 am . how to go great wall from there.

26. Hi,

    You may take the S train from Beijing North Railway Station to go to Badaling Great Wall. Have a good time in Beijing!

27. May I know that if there is any taxi available to reach Badaling Great Wall when I get off from the train? I know that it’s only 800m away but I am going with oldies so would like to take a taxi from the train station to the great wall. Thanks.

28. Hi Ris,

    Sorry, as far as I know, there are no buses and taxis connecting the railway station with the ticketing office. Basically you need to walk with the throng to the office.

29. I have 11 hours and plan to obtain 72 hour visa and take express/subway/and S train to Badaling. I understand I can purchase smart card at airport to use for all travel and return. How much money do I put on the card? I understand that I return the card at the airport and receive deposit return. Is this correct? Thank you!

30. Hi Steve,

    Personally, I suggest you put 100 yuan into your Yikatong Card ( 20 yuan as deposit; 25×2 yuan (airport express train ); S train 5×2 yuan and subway,etc. So 100 yuan is the minimum you should place into your card. Remember to get your 20 yuan (deposit) back when you return the card at the airport.

31. Beware trains run on different days of week as we just found out

32. I took print of this page and its too good. I could reach and return from Wall following these directions.

    I waited for about 30min in morning in hot sun. Then, as soon as I entered waiting room, saw a queue near the other door of waiting room. I just wen and stood, it was about 100min before trains scheduled departure. sat on floor inbetween as couldnt stand for long. then 20-25min before trains departure, gate opened, and boooo run run run, I managed to get a seat for me. Then I realized standing in queue for 1hr or standing in train in 1hr both are same. by standing we can see better view from window.
    while return there was less rush and yes again we gotta run to get seat. But it was an amazing day

33. Is train schedule still accurate. Currently I am staying at Shanghai. I am planning to take night train to Beijing from Shanghai on Friday. See Badaling Great wall and return to Shanghai by Saturday night. Is it possible to do it?

34. Hi Phanindra,

    It sounds doable though your schedule is fully packed. The train schedule is only for your reference, which maybe has some slight modifications. But generally it’sokay!

35. Hi!
    I would like to know if I can use the smart card Ykatong also for the return from Badaling to Beijing North Station, or I have to make a ticket at Badaling Station?
    Thanks!

36. Hi Massimo，

    Yes,you can use the smart card. The S trains are just like subway trains, on and off by swiping your card. Have a good time!

37. Any idea if you can bring a bike on this train, as well as board the train at Qinghe railway station?

38. Hi Tiitu,

    Basically you can take your bike. It is better to take off your bike’s front wheel. If you meet a kind staff members, everything will be okay. Good luck to you!

39. Basically you couldn’t get a ticket to Badaling from the railway as we personally experienced. we reached the railway station at 7:30 am to get the train ticket for 8:30am train. but was sold out including the 1057 am train. the next available train was 1242pm. in the end, I got a private taxi for 500RMB to bring us to Badaling wall, the Ming wax museum, ming’s tomb and the olypmic stadium. I feel it is worth it. as I have the comfort and alot of time saved being brought to so many places by taxi. This is a round trip and the whole taxi to ourselves. We are not rushed for time and the driver patiently waited for us while we toured all the locations. However. Toll charges and parking fees are excluded. These charges add up to about 100 rmb. Suggest you try bargaining with the drive to get these included.

40. Hi Sam,

    Yes, you are right. In tourist season, tickets are often sold out. But if you have a transportation car ( smart card ), you don’t need to buy a ticket, just swipe and go. So if people prefer to take S train, please purchase a transportation card!

41. Hi. I would like to ask can we take bus or subway to Badaling great wall from Beijing zhan railway station? We are a group of foreigner students from Zhangjiakou and want to know easiest way to reach the great wall in the morning and world park in the afternoon and back to zhangjiakou at night, so basically a day trip. Is this possible? And how to get to world park from Badaling and then back to the train station. Can I also know the approx expenditure per person? Thank you.

42. Hi Mahe,

    When you arrive at Beijing Zhan Railway Station, each of you is highly recommended to buy a transportation card to easily pay for your subway or public buses (just swipe and go), saving your money ( some discounts for transportation card users ) and the time for lining up for buy tickets. You can put 70 yuan in the card ( 50 yuan + 20 deposite ). 50 yuan is enough to cover your day trip in Beijing as you mentioned. When you are back to Beijing Zhan Raiway Subway Station, you can return the card and get the deposite money back.

    1. Beijing Zhan Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall
    You can take the subway line 2 from Beijing Zhan Railway Station and get off at the station of Xizhimen (西直门）and exit from Exit A and get to Beijig North Railway Station. Then take S trains form Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall. If you have a transpotation card, you don’t have to buy a train tickets, just swipe and go. If you don’t have a transportation card, too often you cannot get a ticket due to the tourist high season . Check out the link below for more information:

    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/how-to-visit-great-wall-by-train

    Alternatively, you can take BUs 877 from Deshengmen to Badaling Great Wall. See the link below:

    http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/travel-review/badaling-great-wall-bus

    2. Badaling to World Park
    You need to take the S train or Bus 877 back to Dongzhimen or Deshengmen. Then take subway line 2, then interchange for line 6, 9 and Fangshan Line. Then walk 1 km to the world park.

    3. World Park back to Beijing Zhan Railway Station
    Take Subway Fangshan Line from the world park， interchange for 9, 1, and 2 to get to Beijing Zhan Railway Station.

    To save time, if you travel in a group, you’d better arrange your own transport to save your time and travel more comfortably.

    The above is just for your reference!

43. Good afternoon Beijing tour
    I’m from VietNam. I want to go to badaling. I user train from shanghai to Beijing on the morning. So How to visit Badaling? Pls help me. Can I user train or bus

44. Hi Le Tu Tien,

    1. By S Train
    When you alight from Beijing South Railway Station, you then interchange for subway line 4 and get off at the station of Xizhimen ( 西直门）and exit from the Exit A and you will see Beijing North Railway Station. Next,follow the blog post and go with your train to Badaling Great Wall.

    2. By Bus
    When you alight from Beijing South Railway Station, you then interchange for subway line 4 and get off at the station of Jishuitan （积水潭）， then follow the travel tips from the blog post: http://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/beijing-travel/travel-review/badaling-great-wall-bus

45. Hi, I would like to ask 2 questions:

    1) Do they still provide free shuttle bus between badaling railway station and ticketing office ?

    2) If i wan to go to summer palace after I visit badaling great wall, how do I go there?

46. Hi Yean,

    1. Free shuttle bus
    As far as I know, free shuttle buse are still available.

    2. Summer Palace – Badaling
    After Summer Palace, you need to go to Beijing North Railway Station to the take the S train going to Badaling or go to Deshengmen Bus Terminal to take Bus 877 going to Badaling.

47. Hi,

    I’m planning to go to Badaling on 28th of Sept – what time I should be at the Beijing North station in order to make it to 6.12 train?

48. Hi Jarkko,

    It’s better for you to arrive 20 minutes or half hour before the departure time to secure your seat. If you have a Smart Card, you don’t have to buy a ticket,just swipe and go.

49. Hi Daniel,
    I am from India. Am here in Shanghai.
    Just made a plan to see Great Wall this weekend (24 th September) by train.
    When is the first train to Badaling.

    How to get Beijing Metro Card.

50. Hi Senthil，

    1. Train S201: 06:12 – 07:31

    2. Metro Card is available in major subway stations.

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