Are planning your Great Wall Tour? You may wonder if you can take a train to Badaling Great Wall during your Beijing tour, the answer is yes! You may take S trains from Beijing North Railway Station directly to Badaling Great Wall Station, about 20-minute walk away from Badaling Great Wall.
At the time of my writing, Badaling Great Wall is the only Wall that you can directly reach by train: 12 daily “S trains” from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall and 12 daily trains from Badaling Great Wall back to Beijing North Railway Station.
It takes about one hour and 20 minutes to get to Badaling Great Wall from downtown Beijing. Tickets are available and easy to get at the temperory ticketing office in the middle of the main building of Beijing North Railway Station. The train ticket costs RMB 6. The entrance to the Badaling Great Wall is a 20- minute walk from Badaling Railway Station.
At the time of my writing, Badaling Great Wall is the only Wall that you can directly reach by train: 12 daily “S trains” from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall and 12 daily trains from Badaling Great Wall back to Beijing North Railway Station.
It takes about one hour and 20 minutes to get to Badaling Great Wall from downtown Beijing. Tickets are available and easy to get at the temperory ticketing office in the middle of the main building of Beijing North Railway Station. The train ticket costs RMB 6. The entrance to the Badaling Great Wall is a 20- minute walk from Badaling Railway Station.
Beijing North Railway Station Practical Information
Tel: (010)51866223
Add: Beidajie, Xizhimen, Haidian District, Beijing (北京市西城区西直门北大街)
S Trains: These are suburban trains running from Beijing downtown to Yanqing (延庆). Badaling Great Wall (八达岭）is the second to last stop of Beijing – Yanqing S train route starting from Beijing.
Ticketing Offices: There are two ticketing offices (售票厅）available both on the first floor and underground floor. But the ticketing office for S Trains are sold not from these two ticketing offices. At the time of my writing, all the S train tickets are sold from a small window above the ground in the middle of the exterior main building of Beijing North Railway Station.
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.
S Train Ticket Price: RMB 6 per ride; If using a Smart transportation card, RMB 5 per ticket
Way of Payment: Cash or Smart IC Card (Yiktong). We strongly advise you to use Smart Card to avoid queuing up for purchasing train tickets.
Note: When a train is figured out to be fully booked, then you have to buy next train’s tickets.
Waiting Room: There are two waiting lounges – underground and on the first floor. The waiting lounge for S trains is on the first floor.
Platforms: 11 platforms with a length of 550 meters and 1.25 meters high each.
Train Coaches: Using the same train and coaches as those of bullet trains.
Train Stops: 5 stops – Beijing (北京） – Qinghuayuan (清华园) – Nankou (南口) – Badaling (八达岭）- Yanqing (延庆）
How to get to Beijing North Railway Station and Buy Tickets
Take Subway Line 2，or Line 4 and Line 13, and get off at Xizhinmen Subway Station(西直门）, exit from Exit A
How to get to Beijing North Railway Station and Buy Tickets
Take Subway Line 2，or Line 4 and Line 13, and get off at Xizhinmen Subway Station(西直门）, exit from Exit A
Exit from Exit A ( Beijing North Railway Station)
Exit from Exit A ( Beijing North Railway Station)
Following the direction sign, you soon get to the Underground Entrance of Beijing North Railway Station. Don’t enter the underground entrance. Not for you! You have to take an escalator up to the ground. The waiting lounge for S trains is on the first floor.
Don’t enter the underground entrance.
Don’t enter the underground entrance
You have to take an escalator up to the ground.
You have to take the escalator up to the ground
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.
Again, forget it and don’t enter the ticketing office.
Waiting Room for S trains
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.
If you use a smart cart, you have to go through the readers before getting into the waiting lounge.
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. Winter in Beijing is a tourist low season and the trains will not be crowded.
The entrance to the Waiting Lounge is just next to the temperory ticket office.
The entrance to the Waiting Lounge is just next to the temperory ticket office
The Waiting Lounge
Get on the S train leaving for Badaling
Walking to the platform where a S train is waiting for passengers to go to Badaling Great Wall.
Walking to the platform where a S train is waiting for passengers to go to Badaling Great Wall.
Using the same China Railway High-speed(Hexiehao) train
Using the same China Railway High-speed(Hexiehao) train
Badaling Great Wall Train Schedule
Beijing Railway North Station → Badaling Great Wall Train Schedule
Train S201: 06:12 – 07:31
Train S203: 07:58 – 09:20
Train S205: 08:34 – 09: 47
Train S207: 09:02 – 10:15
Train S209: 10:57 – 12:13
Train S211: 12:42 – 14:01
Train S213: 13:14 – 14:25
Train S215: 13:35 – 14:50
Train S217: 15:24 – 16:43
Train S219: 17:11 – 18:30
Train S221: 17:41 – 18:51
Train S227: 21:28 – 22:44
Badaling Great Wall → Beijing North Ralway Station Train Timetable
Train S208: 08:23 – 09:47
Train S210: 10:51 – 12:12
Train S212: 11:19 – 12:40
Train S214: 11:50 – 13:12
Train S216: 13:02 – 14:23
Train S218: 15:19 – 16:43
Train S220: 15:52 – 17:25
Train S222: 16:21 – 17:39
Train S224: 17:33 – 18:54
Train S226: 19:34 – 21:11
Train S228: 20:06 – 21:43
Train S232: 21:33 – 23:03
On the way, you can enjoy the total view of the Guan Valley Scenic Area, pass by Juyongguan Great Wall, and especially immersing yourself in the hundred-year-old Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway, first designed by Mr. Zhan Tianyou (1861 – 1919), the famous Chinese designer of the railway.
After getting off the train at Badaling Station, walk eastward for 20-minute and you will reach the foot of Badaling Great Wall.
Travel Tips:
1. No advance ticket booking service for this train route. You have to buy tickets on the spot. No need for ID for ticket purchasing.
Travel Tips:
1. No advance ticket booking service for this train route. You have to buy tickets on the spot. No need for ID for ticket purchasing.
2. You can use Beijing Transportation smart card for travelling S train from Beijing North Railway station to Badaling great wall. So If you have a transportation 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.
3. Alternatively, you can also take Badaling Bus 877 at Deshengmen to Badaling Great Wall, then take train back to Beijing. To get to the Badaling Bus 877, you are advised to take the subway and get off at Jishuitan Stop (积水潭). Then you walk all the way to Deshengmen (德胜门）, which is a whole block east of the Jishuitan Subway Exit A (over 15-minute walk in the east direction). Kindly reminder: there may be allegedly “official tourist information volunteers” with red badges on, who will try to drive tourists to get on their minibuses with all sorts of excuses to lure you on. Just don’t go for it. Otherwise, you will be on a nightmare trip.
4. You can also pay a small amount of money US$20 to join a guided English speaking Beijing bus tour by a local travel agency to visit Badaling Great Wall.
But there are two shopping stops on the fixed departure bus tour.
Any questions, just drop line.
Tags: Badaling, Badaling Great Wall train, Badaling Great Wall train schedule, Badaling Trains, Beijing Great Wall train schedule, Great Wall train
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
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!
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.
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!
May I know can I use Beijing Transportation smart card for travelling S train from Beijing North Railway station to Badaling great wall?
Thanks
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!
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.
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.
MayI know is the perion between 26 Oct and 3 Nov considered high tourist season pl?
Thank you
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!
Hello Vanessa,
It’s only RMB 6 (roughly US$ 1 ). Glad the review is useful for you!
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
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!
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?
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
What is the IC Card?
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.
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
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!
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.
Hello Angeline,
The S Trains cannot bring you to the Ming Tombs. Yes, Badaling Great Wall is more crowded than Mutianyu.
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.
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!
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!!!
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
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
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.
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.
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!
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
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/
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.
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!
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.