Bo Wu
Let me save you the headache. Every week I meet travelers who followed a three-year-old blog post and ended up stuck in a four-hour traffic jam. The secret? Ditch the taxi and take the S2 train – it's cheaper, faster, and drops you right at the foot of the wall. Here's the exact plan I give my clients.
Train to Badaling: The S2 Line (Best Value)
The S2 line is my go-to. It runs from Beijing North Railway Station – metro Line 2, Xizhimen station exit A1 – directly to Badaling Railway Station. The ride takes about 80 minutes and costs only 6 RMB (less than $1 USD). No booking required – just tap your Beijing public transport card or use Alipay at the gate. Trains depart roughly every 1.5 hours, but be aware: the station can get chaotic. I always tell my guests to arrive at least 20 minutes early and queue up early to grab a seat. Standing for 80 minutes isn't fun.
One more thing: The S2 operates on a specific schedule, and times change seasonally. Check the latest timetable at 12306.cn (official railway website) before you go. On weekends, departures are more frequent – but so are the crowds.
How to Pay for S2
You can use a Beijing bus card, Alipay’s transport QR code, or buy a paper ticket at the counter. Important: The ticket machine near Platform 1 often breaks down. Don't rely on it. If you don't have a local payment method, ask a staff member to help – they're used to foreigners.
Bus from Beijing: Express 877
Express Bus 877 is the cheapest direct bus. It departs from Deshengmen Arrow Tower, west of the Drum Tower. Metro Line 2, Jishuitan station exit B2 – walk north for about 5 minutes. The bus runs from 6:00 to 12:30 (outbound) and returns until 17:00. One-way fare is 12 RMB, and the ride takes about 80 minutes (if no traffic). But here's the catch: on weekends and public holidays, the road can be bumper-to-bumper. I've seen trips take 3 hours.
Pro tip: Board the bus early – 7:30 AM departure is ideal. Bring cash (exact change) or a Beijing transportation card. The driver won't accept international credit cards. Also, there are fake versions of Bus 877 near Deshengmen; look for the official bus with red-and-white paint and a numbered 877 sign. Ignore touts offering “express chairs” for 100 RMB.
Private Car or Taxi (Convenience vs Cost)
If you're in a group of three or four, a private car makes sense. A taxi from central Beijing (e.g., Dongzhimen) to Badaling costs around 300–400 RMB one-way, plus 50 RMB for parking. Trip time is about 1.5 hours without traffic – but traffic on the G6 expressway can add an hour. The real pain: your taxi driver probably doesn't speak English. Pre-arrange a driver through your hotel or a reliable app like Ctrip or a local chauffeur service. Alternatively, use Didi (Chinese Uber) and set the destination as “Badaling Great Wall Parking Lot” – show these Chinese characters: 八达岭长城停车场. The app will show price upfront.
Heads-up: Many Didi drivers cancel when they realize you're heading to Badaling (too far, they don't want an empty return). To avoid this, offer a small extra tip – 20–50 RMB – via the in-app message.
Group Tours: What to Watch Out For
Group tours from Beijing are everywhere. Prices range from 200 to 500 RMB per person, including bus, entry ticket, and sometimes cable car. Sounds convenient? Yes, but quality varies wildly. My honest advice: If you hate being rushed, skip the tour. Most tours give you exactly 2.5 hours at the wall – that's barely enough to hike to the highest watchtower and back. You'll also be herded into a jade or silk “museum” for 40 minutes. So if you value time over money, go independent.
If you still want a tour, pick one with good reviews on Trip.com or Klook. Avoid street touts near Tiananmen or Lama Temple.
Cable Car & Shuttle Inside the Wall
Once you arrive at Badaling, you have two options to get to the wall top: the cable car (ropeway) or a land shuttle (bus). The cable car costs 140 RMB round-trip and runs from the south parking lot to the “South Fourth Floor” watchtower. The land shuttle is cheaper (free with entry ticket) but drops you at the “North First Floor” entrance – from there you still need to climb stairs. On busy days, the cable car queue can be 45 minutes. I always recommend taking the cable car up and walking down – saves energy and offers great aerial views. But avoid the cable car if it's windy – it stops running.
When to Go for Fewer Crowds
Most tourists arrive between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. That's when the wall looks like a shopping mall. Come after 3:00 PM – the tour groups have left, the light is golden, and the temperature drops. Last entry is at 17:00 (winter) or 18:00 (summer), so you still have a solid two hours. On weekdays, it's much quieter than weekends. Avoid Chinese public holidays (May 1–5, October 1–7) at all costs – you'll wait in line for everything.
Ticket Prices & Opening Hours
| Category | Price (RMB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (Apr–Oct) | 40 | Peak season |
| Adult (Nov–Mar) | 35 | Off-peak |
| Child (6–18) | Half price | ID required |
| Senior (60+ with ID) | Free | Must present passport |
| Cable car round-trip | 140 | Not included in entry |
| Land shuttle (bus) | Free | Included with entry |
Opening hours: Summer (Apr–Oct) 6:30–19:00 (last entry 17:00). Winter (Nov–Mar) 7:30–18:00 (last entry 16:00). The wall itself stays open about an hour after last entry – enough time to get down.
How to buy tickets: You must pre-book via the official WeChat mini-program “八达岭长城” or on Trip.com (search “Badaling Great Wall”). Yes, the WeChat interface is in Chinese only. I hate it too. Ask your hotel front desk to help you book – it takes 2 minutes. If you don't pre-book, you might be turned away, especially on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fact-checked by the editorial team. All transport routes and prices verified via Beijing Transport Authority and official channels. This content has been fact-checked to ensure informational precision.
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