How to Get to the Great Wall of China from Beijing

How far is the Great Wall of China from Beijing? The Great Wall of China is located in the suburbs of Beijing, and the distance from downtown to popular sections is 60 - 130 kilometers (35 - 80 miles). The best way to get to the Great Wall from Beijing is by bus or to hire a car. The nearest is the Juyongguan Great Wall, 60 kilometers away from the downtown; the two best-known sections, Badaling and Mutianyu, are 70 kilometers (43 miles) and 80 kilometers (50 miles) away respectively. All of the above can be visited in one day. To visit the further Jinshanling and Simatai Great Wall, it takes 2 - 3 hours for a one-way trip, so it is recommended to stay overnight. 

How to Get to the Great Wall of China from Beijing

 

1. The Great Wall of China is far away from downtown Beijing and the taxis are not metered. It usually costs at least CNY600 for a single journey.
2. Watch out for illegal cars: It may not be difficult to travel from Beijing to Great Wall of China by hiring an official taxi, but it is difficult to hire one for return trip, so there are many illegal taxis. Be vigilant, so as not to be blackmailed or dumped halfway.
3. You can reserve a private car with driver if there are 3 or 4 in the group. For reference, for the car holding up to 5 passengers including the driver, the round-trip fare to Badaling and Mutianyu is CNY700 - 1,000 and to further Jinshanling and Simatai is CNY1,200 - 1,400. 
 

Distance from Downtown: 70 kilometers (43 miles)
Single Journey Time: 1 - 1.5 hours

Bus No. 877: Non-stop Bus

877 Bus Stop at Deshengmen

Boarding Point: Deshengmen, 10 minutes’ walking from Jishuitan subway station along subway line 2.
Destination: Badaling Changcheng, Closer to the pulley car lower station, 10 minutes’ walking from the entrance of Badaling Great Wall.
Ticket Fare: CNY12

The last departure from Deshengmen is at 12:30. After that, one can only take bus line 919 to Badaling, which has many stops on the way and is always crowded.
  
 High Speed Train:
Boarding Points: Beijing North Railway Station, close to the Xizhimen Station along the subway line 2, 4, and 13; or Qinghe Railway Station along subway line 13
Destination: Badaling Great Wall Railway Station next to the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area. 
Duration: around 30 minutes from Beijing North and 20 minutes from Qinghe
Ticket Fare: a second class seat costs CNY 29 from Beijing North and CNY22 from Qinghe.

See more Beijing - Badaling High Speed Train


Train No. S2:
Boarding Point: Huangtudian Railway Station, close to Huoying Station along the subway line 8 and 13.
Destination: Badaling Railway Station, 15 - 20 minutes’ walking from the entrance of the scenic area.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Ticket Fare: CNY7

See more How to Get to Great Wall of China by Train - S2 to Badaling

 Recommended Guided Tours:
 Beijing Badaling Great Wall Hiking from $99

 

Great Wall at Mutianyu

Distance from Downtown: 80 kilometers (50 miles)
Single Journey Time: 1.5 -2.5 hours


Dongzhimen Tourist Bus Line: Non-stop Bus
Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Wai Bus Station
Destination: Parking Lot P1 of Mutianyu
Departure time: 08:30
Ticket Fare: CNY12

Bus Line 916 Express: 13 stops
Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Hub, near Dongzhimen Subway Station
Destination: Huairou North Avenue (Huairou Beidajie)
Ticket Fare: CNY30

After getting off from Huairou North Avenue, passengers can take bus line h23, h24, h25 or h36 to Mutianyu, costing around CNY5 or take a minivan with the fare of CNY50 – 60 per car or CNY 20 - 30 per person.

Qianmen Tourist Bus Line: Non-stop Bus
Boarding Point: No.4 Ticket Window, Qianmen Tourism Distribution Center
Destination: Parking Lot P1 of Mutianyu
Departure time: 09:00 from Qianmen; 09:30 from Shaoyaoju;
Ticket Fare: CNY30

 Recommended Guided Tours:
 Beijing Mini Group Day Tour to Mutianyu... from $89

 Distance from Downtown: 130 kilometers (80 miles)
Single Journey Time: 2.5 - 3 hours

Bus no. 858
Boarding Point: Laiguangying Subway Station
Destination: Luanping Coach Station
Ticket Fare: CNY33

On arrival, hire a cab to Jinshanling Great Wall, taking about half an hour and CNY40-60. 

 Recommended Tour:  One Day Private Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour from $119

 Distance from Downtown: 120 kilometers (75 miles)
Single Journey Time: 2 - 2.5 hours

Gubei Water Town Express Line: Non-stop Bus
Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Wai, on the north side of the Dongzhimen Hub Station
Destination: Gubei Water Town Park
Ticket Fare: CNY48

Gubei Water Town is at the foot of Simatai Great Wall. Get off here and take a free shuttle bus to reach the entrance of the Great Wall.

 Recommended Tour:  Simatai Great Wall Hiking Tour with Gubei Water Town from $149

 Distance from Downtown: 60 kilometers (35 miles)
Single Journey Time: 1.5 - 2 hours

Bus line 883 or 919
Boarding Point: Deshengmen West or Deshengmen, near the exit B2 of Deshengmen Subway Station
Destination: Nankou Lukou South or Nankou Lukou North
Ticket Fare: CNY10

From Nankou Lukou, passengers can take bus line Chang20 to Juyongguan Great Wall.

 Recommended Tour:  Juyongguan Great Wall Tour from $99

 Distance from Downtown: 85 kilometers (53 miles)
Single Journey Time: 2.5 - 3 hours

Bus line 916 Express: 13 stops
Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Hub
Destination: Huairou North Avenue (Huairou Beidajie)
Ticket Fare: CNY20

One can take bus line h36 to Tianxianyu from Huairou North Avenue and then walk to the entrance of Jiankou Great Wall.

 Recommended Tour:  Jiankou to Mutianyu Hiking from $119

 Distance from Downtown: 120 kilometers (75 miles)

 Train S501 or S503
Boarding Point: Beijing North Railway Station or Qinghe Railway Station
Destination: Gubeikou Railway Station
Single Journey Time: 2.5 hours
Ticket Fare: CNY12

Bus line 980 Express: 18 stops
Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Hub
Destination: Changcheng Huandao
Single Journey Time: 3.5 - 4 hours
Ticket Fare: CNY30

From Changcheng Huandao, passengers can take bus line Mi25 to Hexiyi and then walk around 300 meters (330 yards) to the Great Wall.

 Recommended Tour:  Gubeikou Hiking Tour from $119

 

Distance from Downtown: 65 kilometers (40 miles)
Single Journey Time: 2.5 - 3 hours

Bus line 916 Express: 13 stops
Boarding Point: Dongzhimen Hub
Destination: Nanhuayuan Sanqu
Ticket Fare: CNY20

Walk 300 meters to the west from Nanhuayuan Sanqu to Nanhuayuan Siqu and board the bus line H21 to Xishuiyu, and then walk north for around 600 meters (660 yards) to the Great Wall.

 Recommended Tour:  Hiking Tour to Huanghuacheng Great Wall from $99


Further Reading

How to get to the Great Wall from Beijing Airport?

How to get to the Great Wall from Shanghai?

How to get to the Great Wall from Hong Kong?

Where is the Great Wall of China located?