How to Visit the Great Wall of China from Beijing

When you think of China, the first idea that comes to mind is likely the Great Wall of China. In this article, we will help you decide which of the two sections of the Great Wall you should visit on your trip to Beijing. While there are seven sections accessible from the Chinese capital, we recommend visiting Badaling (八达岭) or Mutianyu (慕田峪), both of which are located about an hour away from the city center of Beijing.

Visiting Badaling

The Badaling section is the most well-connected to the centre of Beijing, which is both a blessing and a curse. On a normal day, there may be larger crowds here than at other sections of the Great Wall. Another significant advantage of going to Badaling is that it is the most accessible section for people with reduced mobility. We recommend avoiding holidays, particularly the first two weeks of October and May, as well as weekends when visiting the Great Wall. Tickets to Badaling cost up to CN¥45 (~€5).

How To Get to Badaling:

• Bus 877: Take Bus 877 from Deshengmen, located a 10-minute walk from Jishuitan subway station. The bus will drop you off approximately 10 minutes away from the Badaling Great Wall and the journey takes roughly 90 minutes. The ticket costs CN¥12 (~€1), but the last express bus departs at 12:30 PM. After that time, you will need to take the 919 bus, which is not an express service.
• High-Speed Train: Depart from Beijing Qinghe station or Beijing North station (Xizhimen Metro) and arrive in just half an hour for only CN¥29 (~€3). You’ll arrive only 200 meters from the entrance, albeit 100 meter deep into the mountain. For around CN¥100 (~€12), you can opt for the Chinese high-speed business class seat. You can book train tickets in advance on Trip.com.
• Train S2: Take the Train S2 from Huangtudian Railway Station, near Huoying Station along subway lines 8 and 13, to Badaling train station. Note that you will need to walk 15-20 minutes to reach the entrance. The ticket costs just CN¥7 (~€1) but it will take you up to 90 minutes.
• Didi: If you are travelling with 2 to 4 people, this may be the most comfortable option for an early arrival, even though the taxi driver may not be thrilled. Currently, a ride from Tian’anmen Square to the entrance of the Badaling section will cost around CN¥250 (~€30), plus CN¥27 (~€3) for toll roads, and it takes you between 70 to 90 minutes, depending on the traffic.

Visiting Mutianyu

This was the section I visited on my first trip back in 2013, as it was a similar time-wise option compared to going to Badaling, especially since there was no high-speed train available and my hotel was closer to the bus to Mutianyu. This section is restored and not as remote as the other options.

The entrance fee for the Mutianyu section is also CN¥45 (~€5). To reach the wall, you can take a bus for CN¥15 (~€2), or opt for the cable car or chairlift (CN¥100 (~€12) one way or CN¥120 (~€14) round trip. Additionally, you can descend via the toboggan for CN¥100 (~€12).

How To Get to Mutianyu

Unfortunately, reaching Mutianyu is only possible by bus or private transportation. Here are your options:

• Dongzhimen Tourist Bus Line from Wai Bus Station at Dongzhimen subway station departs at 08:30 for CN¥12 (~€1) and drops you off at the entrance of Mutianyu and it will take you around 90 minutes.
• The Bus 916 Express will take you to Huairou North Avenue for CN¥30 (~€4) for one hour, where you will need to take a minivan (H23, H24, H35, or H36) for CN¥5 (~€1)

• Another option is the Qianmen Tourist Bus Line, departing from the south of Tiananmen Square at 09:00. This option costs CN¥30 (~€4) and takes around two hours.
• Our colleague Ditmar chose the Zanbus shuttle that departs from the parking area of the Regent Hotel in Wangfujing. You can book a return trip ticket for CN¥80 (~€10). He took the 10 AM bus in March 2025 and experienced fewer crowds than if he had arrived earlier. You can book it in advance on Trip.com.
• If you prefer private transportation, taking a Didi from Tian’anmen Square will cost you around CN¥240 (~€29), plus CN¥15 (~€2) for tolls, and it will take you around 90 minutes, depending on the traffic.

Options With Organised Tours

To put it kindly, China isn’t the easiest country to travel in, and a day trip on your own can be stressful even for an experienced traveller. We’ve discovered an option that provides everything you need.

The three options are similar, but they each include extras. All of them involve being picked up from your hotel and taken to a bus that will transport you to Mutianyu, followed by another bus to get you to the Great Wall. Each option includes an English-speaking tour guide and entrance to the Great Wall.

• [With Meal + Hotel Transfer] Mutianyu Great Wall 1-Day Tour: This option costs CN¥190 (~€23) and includes lunch for an additional CN¥102 (~€12) compared to the option with no meal.
• [No Meal & Hotel Transfer] Mutianyu Great Wall 1-Day Tour: This option costs CN¥88 (~€11) and offers the best value since it will cost you almost the same than doing it on your own.
• Mutianyu Great Wall 1-Day Tour + Lift-chair up + Toboggan Down: This option costs CN¥330 (~€40) and includes the Lift Chair up and the toboggan down, which would cost CN¥200 (~€24) if paid for separately.
• Mutianyu Night Tour: This options departs at 17:00 also for CN¥330 (~€40) and you can skip the heat and enjoy the sunset on the Great Wall.

All options end with the return journey to Beijing at Wangfujing pedestrian street, the largest and most central commercial area of the Chinese capital.

Visiting the Great Wall of China on a Beijing Layover

If you have a long layover, arriving in the morning and catching your next flight in the evening, you can take the opportunity to visit the Great Wall of China. It’s essential to consider which airport you arrive at; if you land at Beijing Daxing, you’ll be south of the city, adding an extra hour and a half of transportation. However, if you fly with Air China or Hainan to Beijing Capital Airport (PEK), it’s a better option for a day trip since you leave from the northeast of the city.

My recommendation if you have a long layover arriving in the morning and leaving in the evening from PEK would be to store your luggage at the airport and take a Didi to Mutianyu (CN¥200 (~€24) plus CN¥23 (~€3) tolls) or Badaling (CN¥250 (~€30) plus CN¥43 (~€5) tolls)) in less than 90 minutes. On your return, if you have time, you can stop for a few hours to explore Beijing and then return to the airport by metro or Didi. You will need at least two hours each way to be on the safe side, plus four hours in Mutianyu, and you should be back at the airport at least two hours before your next flight.

Conclusion

Travelling to Beijing and visiting the Great Wall of China go hand in hand. Depending on your comfort level, you can opt for public transport or book a tour. Although this day trip isn’t very complicated, it might be better to choose private transportation: If travelling with three or four people, I would choose Didi; for one or two people, I’d go with a tour.