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Getting to the Great Wall from Beijing — Transport Guide
Badaling: 20-30 min by HSR from Beijing North Station (¥14-19). Mutianyu: 1.5-2 hours by tour bus from Dongzhimen (¥80 round-trip) or DiDi (¥500-800).
great-wall2026-10-27
At a glance
- Region
- Beijing
- Category
- topic
- Difficulty
- easy
- Best for
- First-time visitors, Budget travelers, Independent travelers
- Tickets
- N/A
- Length
- N/A
- Duration
- 5-10 min read
- Category
- topic
Overview
Getting to the Great Wall from Beijing is straightforward once you know the routes. Badaling (八达岭 Bādálǐng): HSR from Beijing North Station (北京北站 Běijīng Běi Zhàn) or Qinghe Station (清河站 Qīnghé Zhàn), 20-30 minutes, ¥14-19 one-way. Trains run every 15-30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM. This is the fastest and cheapest option. Mutianyu (慕田峪 Mùtiányù): tour bus from Dongzhimen Transport Hub (东直门枢纽站 Dōngzhímén Shūniǔ Zhàn), departures at 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM, ¥80 round-trip, returns at 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM. DiDi from central Beijing to Mutianyu costs ¥250-400 one-way (1.5-2 hours). Jinshanling (金山岭 Jīnshānlǐng): bus from Dongzhimen or Wangjing West to Luanping (滦平 Luánpíng), 2.5 hours, ¥40, then local bus to entrance (40 min, ¥15). The "¥50 Great Wall tours" sold by touts near Tiananmen and Qianmen are notorious scams — they take you to a shopping stop for 2 hours, then a lesser-known section, and you are stuck on their schedule.
Highlights
- Badaling by HSR: 20-30 min from Beijing North/Qinghe, ¥14-19, trains every 15-30 min
- Mutianyu by tour bus: Dongzhimen departures 7:00/8:30 AM, ¥80 round-trip, returns 3:00/4:30 PM
- Mutianyu by DiDi: ¥250-400 one-way, 1.5-2 hours, use the app for transparent pricing
- Jinshanling by bus: Dongzhimen to Luanping (2.5h, ¥40) then local bus (40 min, ¥15)
- Avoid ¥50 "Great Wall tours" from street touts — mandatory shopping stops, wrong sections
Tips
- Book Badaling HSR tickets on 12306 app or Trip.com — they sell out on weekends
- The Mutianyu tour bus from Dongzhimen is the best value: ¥80 round-trip with no shopping stops
- DiDi to Mutianyu: set the destination as 慕田峪长城 (Mùtiányù Chángchéng) and confirm the price before departing
- Avoid unofficial "tour buses" at Dongzhimen — the real bus has a blue sign reading "慕田峪长城旅游专线"
- For return trips: Badaling HSR runs until 9 PM; Mutianyu tour bus last return is 4:30 PM — do not miss it
- If you miss the last tour bus from Mutianyu, a DiDi back to Beijing will cost ¥400-500
FAQs
How do I get to the Great Wall from Beijing?
Badaling: HSR from Beijing North or Qinghe Station, 20-30 min, ¥14-19. Mutianyu: tour bus from Dongzhimen (¥80 round-trip) or DiDi (¥250-400 one-way). Jinshanling: bus to Luanping (2.5h, ¥40) then local bus (40 min, ¥15). Avoid cheap tour touts near Tiananmen.
How much does a DiDi to the Great Wall cost?
From central Beijing to Mutianyu: ¥250-400 one-way depending on demand. To Badaling: ¥200-300. Always use the DiDi app (not street taxis) for transparent pricing. Round-trip with the driver waiting adds ¥100-150 per hour of waiting time.
Are Great Wall tour buses reliable?
The official Dongzhimen bus to Mutianyu is reliable — departures at 7:00 and 8:30 AM sharp, returns at 3:00 and 4:30 PM. Unofficial "tour buses" from touts are NOT reliable — they often include forced shopping stops and may take you to a different section than advertised.
Can I take the subway to the Great Wall?
No. The Beijing subway does not reach any Great Wall section. The closest subway station to a Wall access point is Dongzhimen (Lines 2, 13, Airport Express), where you transfer to the Mutianyu tour bus. The Badaling HSR connects from subway-connected Beijing North or Qinghe stations.