A comprehensive guide to Badaling Great Wall transportation, allowing you to experience the "poetry and distant" of spring ~

Number of days: 1 day
Time: February
Average cost: 120 yuan
With whom: and friends

Spring is here, and the weather in Beijing is getting warmer, making it another great time to visit Beijing. While the saying goes, "If you haven't visited the Great Wall, you're not a true Beijinger." However, Badaling and Juyongguan Great Wall are located far away in the mountains of northern Beijing, about 70 kilometers from the city center. For independent travelers, choosing a transportation option can be a challenge.

We've summarized several common online transportation options to Badaling, analyzing their pros and cons. Hopefully, your trip to the Great Wall will be easier and more natural, avoiding pitfalls.

Method 1: Bus

Bus: Route 877 Deshengmen – Badaling

This is the most common way to get to the Great Wall. Many out-of-town tourists are told this way. Route 877 takes you to Deshengmen. When you exit the Deshengmen subway station, there's a sign directing you to Route 877. Follow the sign. Go straight ahead. You'll see an arrow tower behind you. Cross the road and walk to the other side of the arrow tower. Bus No. 877 stops right below the arrow tower.

Pros: Cheap fare, which is the only advantage.

Cons:

1. Departs from Deshengmen: 6:00-12:00

Departs from the Great Wall: 10:30-17:00

Everyone must pay attention to the bus schedule for Bus No. 877. When you get off the Great Wall, don't miss the last bus, otherwise it will cost a lot of money to take an illegal taxi back. 2. The travel time is not guaranteed: if there is no traffic jam, it is OK, but if there is a traffic jam, it may take 2-3 hours. 3. It is not very convenient, as it requires transfers and a lot of walking.

4. There are a lot of people, and most of the time it's like the picture below.

Second option: Train

Train: Take the S2 high-speed train from Huangtudian to Badaling.

Due to renovations to the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway for the Winter Olympics, Beijing North Railway Station has been suspended. The S2 line to Badaling has been temporarily relocated to Huangtudian Station in Huilongguan. This station is served by Metro Lines 13 and 8. Line 13 allows passengers to board at Xizhimen, Dongzhimen, and other downtown stations and alight at Huoying Station. Line 8 departs from Nanluoguxiang and also reaches Huoying Station. To quickly reach Huangtudian Station, exit from Huoying Station via Exit G4.

Advantages:

1. Cheap fare, 7 yuan

2. The S2 line train passes through a sea of peach blossoms in the valleys between the Great Wall mountains and is known as the "train to spring". When spring comes and the flowers bloom, it is a nice sight to enjoy the scenery from the train.

Disadvantages:

1. Inconvenient ticket purchase: Although the S2 line is a "Harmony" EMU, it does not provide online ticket purchase through train ticketing mobile clients or websites such as 12306. There are only two ways to purchase tickets: at the ticket counter or by swiping your Beijing Public Transport Card. Using the card is the most convenient. However, the card balance must be at least 16 yuan. Because the S2 line's terminus is Yanqing Station, Badaling Great Wall is just one of the stops, and reaching Yanqing costs 16 yuan. Therefore, if your card balance is insufficient, you won't be allowed entry, even if you're going to Badaling instead of the terminus. 2. Irregular departure times: The "Harmony Great Wall" trains on the S2 line have different departure times on weekdays and weekends, and even more so on weekdays and holidays. The interval between trains is long, generally around two hours. Therefore, before departure, be sure to check the authoritative information released by the Beijing Railway Department and avoid using outdated timetables. Otherwise, you'll likely make a wasted trip and your travel plans will be easily disrupted.

3. You'll need to fight for a seat: The S2 "Harmony Great Wall" train operates like a public bus, without reserved seating. Seats are extremely limited and are based on a first-come, first-served basis. Many passengers on the S2 line often have to stand the entire way to Badaling and back to Beijing. How miserable!

Third Option: Private Car

Drive by yourself; Take a taxi; Charter a car

Advantages: Hassle-free and convenient

Disadvantages:

1. Expensive. A one-way taxi fare is 200-300 yuan. Chartering a car to the Great Wall generally starts at 700 yuan.

2. Some say self-driving is fine, but be sure to get to the Badaling Scenic Area's dedicated, large parking lot.

Along the way, as you approach the scenic area, there will be people working at illegal parking lots to give you directions. After you park your car, they'll tell you it's the only parking spot. They'll take you to the scenic area entrance and recommend a cable car and shuttle bus package, which is 25 yuan more expensive than buying your own ticket. The official scenic area parking lot has a formal guard at the entrance and is a large, formal underground parking lot. Please pay attention to the signage.

Fourth option: Great Wall Through Bus (Recommended)

The "BUSDA" direct bus from downtown Beijing to the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area officially opened after the 22nd Spring Festival. This is the first direct bus route specifically for the Badaling Scenic Area created by Gold Medal Travel Agency, which has been specializing in Beijing tourism for over 20 years. Taking the bus can save visitors two hours round-trip, ensuring a safe, reliable, comfortable, and enjoyable visit to the Badaling Great Wall. Direct buses are the most popular and convenient mode of transportation today. The direct bus departs from Exit C of Beitucheng Subway Station on Lines 8/10, with two departures daily at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. The choice of bus is up to you. The departure time is convenient for you, and the departure location is easy to find.

Pros: This bus goes directly to the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area. The meeting point is close to the highway entrance, making it a 10-minute drive, avoiding downtown traffic and saving an hour. The return trip stops at the Bird's Nest and Water Cube. The onboard guide provides accurate, scientific, and factual explanations of the Great Wall's cultural heritage and climbing strategies, and can also help you purchase scenic area tickets, making it very convenient. This reduces the time you'll have to wait in line to collect tickets. The round-trip bus fare is 120 yuan, with children half price (including scenic area admission). Most importantly, it's a completely green, no-shopping, genuine brand bus. Visitors can make reservations within the China-TravelNote app starting at 11:00 PM the day before, using their ID and the mobile number used to make the reservation. The direct bus service provides a seamless, one-stop connection between downtown Beijing and the Badaling Great Wall Scenic Area, enabling visitors to enjoy an easy, in-depth, and safe journey through the area. The bus offers a variety of fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles, with comfortable and safe seats. During the pandemic, enhanced prevention and control measures were implemented, with all passengers undergoing temperature checks and disinfection, as well as thorough verification of their health and itinerary codes. Traveling on the BusDa direct bus ensures peace of mind and safety. Furthermore, BusDa has prepared bus-themed cultural and creative gifts for visitors, allowing them to explore the "poetry and distant places."