Visiting the Great Wall of China from Beijing doesn’t have to be expensive. In this guide, we will explain step by step how to get to the Badaling Great Wall by public bus for under $2 per person.
With many departures available throughout the day, this affordable and easy option is perfect for travelers who want to visit the Great Wall on a budget.
Why Visit Badaling Great Wall by Public Bus
If you’re still not convinced and maybe concerned about the quality of the budget-friendly option because it is so cheap, then let us confirm that the bus offers a comfortable ride with air conditioning and guaranteed seating.
Furthermore, getting to the departure station in Beijing, (Deshengmen Bus Station) is very easy with the metro or by taxi. (Find out which metro and taxi app to download in this guide to MUST-HAVE travel apps for China)
And lastly, from Deshengmen Bus Station the bus will conveniently take you right to the entrance of the Badaling Great Wall. Why wouldn’t you visit Badaling Great Wall by public bus?!
How to Get Deshengmen Bus Station
The first step you must take to visit the Badaling Great Wall by public bus from Beijing is getting to Deshengmen Bus Station, which is also known as Deshengmen Arrow Tower Station.
Taxis are a lot cheaper in China compared to most Western countries, but if you want to visit the Great Wall on a budget we recommend taking the metro.
The metro system in Beijing, as well as throughout China is fantastic, offering numerous lines and frequent rides throughout the day. All at very affordable prices!
To get to Deshengmen Bus Station by metro take line 2 (dark blue) and get off at Jishuitan.
If you’re not near Line 2, you will need to switch to a connecting line to reach Jishuitan Station, thankfully most lines in the Beijing Metro system connect.
Line 2 of the Beijing metro system forms the inner circle of the city center and serves popular tourist spots such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, as well as, the famous shopping districts of Wangfujing and Xidan.
Once you arrive at Jishuitan Station you will have to walk 500 meters to Deshengmen Bus Station. Exit the tube station via Exit A North West and turn left once outside.
Walk down the road for 350 meters until you see the building in the picture below.
The building is the Deshengmen Arrow Tower and to the left side of it is Deshengmen Bus Station from where you will join a queue to visit the Badaling Great Wall by public bus.
The Deshengmen Bus Station also functions as a massive roundabout, Welcome to China!
- Find out more random things we learned when visiting China!
There are no traffic lights at the pedestrian crossing leading to the Deshengmen bus station. Don’t expect traffic to stop when you are waiting to cross. Simply step out and the traffic will then stop. Just remember to stay cautious while doing so!
Once you’ve safely crossed, all that’s left is to locate bus number 877. You won’t have any trouble with this, as there will be people queued up and staff members selling tickets to guide you towards the queue.
We got there at 08:00 and found a long queue already formed. But don’t worry, the line moves very fast since plenty of buses depart with many locals who are also planning to visit the Great Wall on a budget!
You can buy tickets while in the queue, a single fare costs 12 yuan per person and MUST be paid in cash. So don’t believe all the rumors that China is now cashless and you can only use WeChat and AliPay.
Deshengmen Bus Station to Badaling Operating Hours
Buses from Deshengmen Bus Station to Badaling Great Wall operate from 6:00 AM to 12:30 midday from April 1st to October 31st, and from 6:00 AM to 12:00 midday from November 1st to March 31st.
Buses returning from Badaling Great Wall to Deshengmen Bus Station run from 10:30 to 17:00 between April 1st and October 31st, and from 11:00 to 16:30 from November 1st to March 31st.
Throughout our 30-day China trip, we didn’t come across any scams. However, do not buy any tickets from anyone outside Deshengmen Bus Station or from people offering rides in privately owned mini-buses, claiming they’re “official” and promising quicker journeys.
The Journey to Badaling Great Wall by Public Bus
The journey from Deshengmen Bus station to Badaling Great Wal by public bus takes one and a half hours with no stops.
For the first hour, there is not much to see except for local people going about their daily business in the suburbs of Beijing. However, once you leave Beijing you will start seeing some spectacular rugged mountains and parts of the Great Wall of China.
Seating is not allocated when getting on the bus and we would recommend sitting on the right side for the best views once you come out of Beijing.
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Badaling Great Wall Ticket Office
After an hour and a half, the bus will stop at the ticket office where you can buy your tickets for the Great Wall. Take note that the entrance gate is located 600 meters ahead, so make sure to purchase your tickets here to avoid walking back.
If you’re visiting the Badaling Great Wall by public bus, then more than likely you are exploring China on a budget and you will be delighted to hear that admission to one of the Wonders of the World is only 40 CNY ($6) per person. Fantastic right?!
You can also buy additional tickets for Cable Cars 140 CNY ($20) and Pulleys 100 CNY ($15).
Once you’ve purchased your ticket, head right and walk away from the bus depot, passing by the food and souvenir stalls. After about 100 meters, you’ll see a brown sign indicating an entrance on your left.
From there, it’s another 500 meters of walking through more souvenir and food stalls indoors until you reach the entry gate.
The Badaling Great Wall Hiking Options
When hiking the Badaling Great Wall, you can choose between two hiking options: the South Wall or the North Wall.
We hiked the North Wall as it has the best views and there is no backtracking involved.
The North Wall starts from Tower 1 to Tower 12 and covers a distance of 5 kilometers. If you prefer, there’s an option to take a cable car down between Towers 8 and 9, which shortens the distance to 3.8 kilometers.
For an even shorter hike, the toboggan ride operates between Towers 5 and 6. You will then either have to walk back up or take the Cable car up to complete the loop.
It’s important not to underestimate this hike. Trust us it has some very steep inclines and declines!
The South Wall hike covers a distance of 5 kilometers from Tower 1 to Tower 8 (not the same watch towers!) but requires you to retrace your steps along the same route.
If you’re considering hiking both walls, it’s best to start with the South Wall hike first. This route starts and ends at the same location, it is also the starting point for the North Wall track and finishes at the ticket office.
The North Wall hike finishes at Tower 12. However, the exit that brings you towards the ticket office and bus station is located a couple of hundred meters before reaching Tower 12.
If hiking is not your thing then it is possible to take the cable car straight up which brings you to the top between Towers 8 and 9 and has great views all around.
Another option is to take the cable car up and from there you can walk downhill towards Tower 1 or Tower 12, but be aware of those steep declines.
One last note is that the Badaling Wall is only wheelchair accessible from Tower 1 to Tower 3.
Badaling Great Wall To Beijing Return
Once you’ve finished the North Wall hike, you’ll find yourself back at the food stalls. From there, it’s just a short stroll to the bus depot.
Again, look for the brown signs displaying bus number 887 to guide you back.
Find out Where to Stay in Beijing: The Best Areas and Hotels
When you reach the bus station, you’ll follow the same procedure as you did when traveling from Deshengmen Bus Station to Badaling Great Wall. There are plenty of buses waiting, so you won’t have to wait long for your ride back.
The return ticket costs 12 yuan per person just like before, and this time we suggest sitting on the LEFT side of the bus to enjoy the scenery on the way back to Beijing. Or you can be like a local and go to sleep!
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Visit Badaling Great Wall by Bus Summary
- Bring cash to purchase bus tickets.
- It is possible to visit the Great Wall of China by fast train from Beijing, but make sure to book tickets well in advance because they will be booked out.
- Despite the Great Wall of China stretching nearly 22,000 kilometers, it is not visible from the moon!
Find out how budget-friendly flights to China can be and start booking your flight today!
Hiking the Great Wall of China should be on everyone’s bucket list, and although it was quite busy we still loved our experience at the Badaling Great Wall, as will you!
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