How to Visit Badaling Great Wall of China by Train

Dear Travelers,

We’d like to have the following travel guide to be always updated for the benefit of new visitors in Beijing coming to Badaling Great Wall by train. If anybody having used the piece finds necessary updates, please leave a message or feedback. Thanks!

Badaling Great Wall about 70 km northwest of downtown Beijing

Badaling Great Wall Train Schedule

( Subject to Change without Notice )

If you find a latest timetable, please leave us a message for updating for the convenience of the new visitors.

6 Daily High Speed trains ( One extra train added on weekend)
starting from Qinghe Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall Station and vice versa

High speed trains from Qinghe Railway Station to Badaling:
G2501 ( 07:00 – 07:19 ) Only available on Fri, Sat & Sun
G7873 ( 08:38 – 08:57 )
G2485 ( 12:48 – 13:07 )
G2429 ( 14:11 – 14:30 )
G8815 ( 14:43 – 15:02 )
G2431 ( 16:25 – 16:44 )
G2439 (18:18 – 18:37 )

High speed trains back from Badaling to Qinghe Railway Station
G2402 ( 09:21 – 09:41 )
G2416 ( 13:24 – 13:43 )
G7876 ( 14:04 – 14:23 )
G2430 ( 17:56 – 18:15 ) Only available on Fri, Sat & Sun
G2434 ( 19:08 – 19:27 )
G8818 ( 19:58 – 20:18 )

Ticket prices for the high speed trains between Qinghe Railway Station and Badaling
Business Class: RMB 70 ; First Class: RMB 37 ; Second Class: RMB 23

How to get to Qinghe Railway Station from other places in Beijing?
Just take Subway Line 13 , then get off at the station of Shangdi (上地站),then you will see the signs guiding you to Qinghe Station.

One high speed train starting from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall Station and two trains back

One High speed train from Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling:
G8813 ( 11:35 – 12:09 )

Two High speed trains back from to Badaling to Beijing North Railway Station:
G8812 ( 10:34 – 11:09 )
G2424 ( 16:22 – 16:58 )

Ticket prices for the high speed trains between Beijing North Railway Station and Badaling
Business Class: RMB 89 ; First Class: RMB 48 ; Second Class: RMB 29

How to get to Beijing North Railway Station from other places in Beijing?
Just take Subway Line 2, Subway Line 4 and Subway Line 13, then get off at the station of Xizhimen Station (西直门站),then you will see the signs guiding you to Beijing North Railway Station (北京北站).

On the train ride, 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.

Badaling Train Station to the Ticketing Office

How to get from Badaling Train Station to the Ticketing Office at Badaling Great Wall?

After getting off the train at Badaling Station, just follow the throng and get out of the train station. Free shuttle buses just across the road are waiting for you, taking you to the ticketing offices at Badaling Great Wall.

Badaling Railway Station

Getting off at Badaling Train Station

Free shuttle buses are waiting outside the train station

 The free shuttle buses have two stops:

Stop 01: 
Get off at the first stop and walk up the Badaling Great Wall at its No.01 Tower. If you want to avoid the crowds and like to hike up the Wall, you may stop at the Stop 01.

Note: For slow walkers or wheel-chair users, we suggest you get off at the first stop and start your visit from the Tower 1, easy to climb, also with accessible ramp for wheel-chair users.

Stop 02: 
Get off at the second stop near the Cable Car Station to buy cable ticket ( entrance fee as well ) and get up to the Tower No.07. Then walk down to No.01 Tower or No.12 Tower. Basically no need for a return cable car.

Note: Basically there will be a huge crowd of tourists using the cable station to ascend the area between Tower No.08 and No.09 of the Wall. Slides are available.

Travel Tips:

One of the most gorgeous and magnificent parts of the Great Wall around Beijing, Badaling Great Wall (八达岭长城) is the well preserved Ming Dynasty Great Wall with original appearance.

Now it is divided into two sections – north and south, which start at the Badaling Pass and Gate. Most tourists prefer to climb the north section where the highest watch tower (Tower No.08) is located.

Also the cable way is available on the north section. Many people choose to climb up the north section of the Great Wall, then take the cable car down or vice versa.

The cable car goes up to somewhere below between Tower No.08 and No.09. So when you take cable car up, you will see large crowds of people. So we recommend you hike from Tower 01 and back instead of taking cable car.

Badaling Great Wall

To hike up the north section of the Badaling Great Wall, you have two starting points – either from the Badaling Pass or the Badaling Bear Park.

Why two starting points? Actually the north Badaling Great Wall ( totally 12 towers on the wall ) has two parallel sections meeting at the most northern tip – the 8th Watch Tower ( a curve ) of the Badaling Great Wall.

Badaling Great Wall

We often call the two north parallel sections “front mountain” and “back mountain” respectively. The “front mountain” ( from Tower No.01 to Tower No.08 ) is to the north of the “back mountain” ( from Tower No.08 to Tower No.12 ).

If you want to climb up the north “front mountain” Badaling Great Wall, you start from the Badaling Pass ( where the first tower starts) ; if you climb up the north “back mountain” Badaling Great Wall, you start from the Badaling Bear Park ( (where the last tower – No. 12 tower is ).

Most passengers prefer to hike the northern slope of Badaling Great Wall simple because the north part is more scenic.

But still some people like to hike the southern slope to avoid the crowds for better photo opportunities. If you hike the southern slope, you have to backtrack.

Ticket Price: RMB40 (Nov. 1 to Mar. 31); RMB 45 (Apr. 1 to Oct. 31)
Cable Car: RMB80 (single trip); RMB100 (round trip)
Toboggan: RMB30 (single trip);
Opening Hours:06:30-19:00 (in summer); 07:00-18:00 (in winter)
Hiking Time: Two Hours
Bus Route: Take Bus No.877 or No. 919 at Deshengmen, RMB12 for ticket.
Train: Take train from Beijing Qinghe Station or Beijing North Railway Station and get off at the station of Badaling.

More Travel Tips

1. For slow walkers or wheel-chair users
For slow walkers or wheel-chair users, we suggest you get off the free shuttle bus from Badaling Railway Sytation at the first stop and start your visit from the Tower 1, easy to climb, also with accessible ramp for wheel-chair users.

Click: How to Visit Great Wall of China Wheelchair Accessible

Badaling is more wheelchair-friendly than Mutianyu Great Wall. On the Badaling Great Wall, there is a special flat lane is built for wheelchair users starting from Tower 1 to Tower 3 of the Wall. The accessible path is flat and not deep. So you can walk slowly along the accessible path to the Tower 3 and walk further for a better view if you can.

2. Alternatively, you can also take Badaling Bus 877  
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).

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

4. 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.

Add-on

How to Visit Great Wall of China
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall by Train
How to Get to Badaling Great Wall by Bus
How to Get to Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town
How to Visit Mutianyu Great Wall
How to Visit Great Wall of China in Winter
How to Visit Great Wall of China Wheelchair Accessible

Hassle-free Badaling Great Wall Guided Tours

Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for guided tours to Badaling Great wall.

Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour

Car Rental in Beijing
Simatai Great Wall & Gubei Water Town Day Tour   
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Great Wall Tour
China City Tours
China Tour

Chinese version of the travel guide

从北京市区如何坐火车去八达岭长城?

Further Readings


How to Plan a Trip to Beijing
Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

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

  4. 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?

  5. 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!

  6. hello,

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

    thanks

  7. Hi Wenny,

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

  8. 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?

  9. 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!

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

  11. 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!

  12. 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.

  13. 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!

  14. 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!

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. 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 ?

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

  20. 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.

  21. 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.

  22. 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!

  23. 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.

  24. 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

  25. 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?

  26. 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!

  27. 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!

  28. 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!

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

  30. 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!

  31. 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.

  32. 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!

  33. 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.

  34. 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!

  35. 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

  36. 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

  37. 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?

  38. 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.

  39. 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?

  40. 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.

  41. 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.

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