Last updated on February 23rd, 2025 at 12:29 pm
Visiting the Great Wall of China from Beijing doesn’t have to be expensive. In this travel 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 this budget-friendly option because it is so cheap, then let us confirm that the bus offers a very comfortable ride with air conditioning and guaranteed seating.
*IMPORTANT UPDATE: At the time of writing the only way to get to the Badaling Great Wall from Beijing by bus was from Deshengmen Bus Station.
- Since August 2024, there is a new shuttle service running from Beitucheng Bus Station to the Badaling Great Wall with busses running non-stop from 06.30 AM until 12.00 PM.
- The shuttle service from Deshengmen Bus Station to Badaling Great Wall now follows a new schedule with only five departures in the morning. The new timetable for Deshengmen Bus Station is 6:30 AM, 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and the last bus at 12:30 PM.
In this China travel article, we will explain both options for getting to the Badaling Great Wall from both the Deshengmen Bus Station, as well as the new shuttle service at the Beitucheng Bus Station.
From Beijing to Badaling Great Wall By Public Bus
Getting to the Deshengmen Bus Station and the Beitucheng Bus Station in Beijing is very easy by subway or taxi. Find out which subway and taxi app to download in this guide to MUST-HAVE travel apps for China.
From both bus stations in Beijing, the shuttle 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 option to visit the Badaling Great Wall by public bus from Beijing is from 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 subway.
The subway system in Beijing, and throughout China is fantastic, offering numerous routes and frequent journeys all day, at very affordable prices!
To get to Deshengmen Bus Station by subway take Line 2 (dark blue) and get off at Jishuitan Subway Station.
If your accommodation in Beijing is not near Line 2, you will need to switch to a connecting line to reach Jishuitan Station, thankfully most lines in the Beijing subway system connect.
*Beijing Travel Tip – Line 2 of the Beijing subway 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 Subway 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.
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
The Updated way since August 2024 – Buses from Deshengmen Bus Station to Badaling Great Wall now operate with only five departures per day, whereas previously there was an unlimited service available throughout the day.
The first bus departs from Deshengmen Bus Station to Badaling Great Wall at 6:30 AM, followed by buses at 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:00 AM, and the last bus leaves at 12:30 PM.
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. If this changed please let us know in a comment below for fellow travelers.
*China Travel Tip – Throughout our 30-day trip to China, we didn’t come across any scams. However, do not buy tickets from anyone outside Deshengmen Bus Station or people offering rides in privately owned mini-buses, claiming they’re “official” and promising quicker journeys.
How To Get Beitucheng Bus Station
As mentioned earlier, the new bus service from Beitucheng Bus Station to the Badaling Great Wall operates throughout the morning from 6:30 AM to 12:00 PM, with buses running continuously during this time. This is the same bus route number as Deshengmen Bus Station – Bus 877.
We recommend using this new service, as the bus departs once it is full, saving you time compared to waiting for one of the five scheduled buses departing from the Deshengmen Bus Station.
While you can take a taxi, we again suggest using Beijing’s subway system, which is an outstanding and budget-friendly way of getting around Beijing.
What’s even more convenient is that Beitucheng Bus Station is located at the same site as the subway station, unlike Deshengmen Bus Terminal which requires a short walk from Jishuitan Station as we mentioned above. – It is still easy though!
So, how do you get to Beitucheng Bus Station? Take Line 8 (Dark Green) or Line 10 (Baby Blue). which both connect to Beitucheng Subway Station. Once you arrive at Beitucheng Subway Station, exit through Exit B or Exit C, and you’ll find the Beitucheng Bus Station right in front of you, simple, right?
Depending on where your accommodation is in Beijing, you might need to change subway lines to reach Beitucheng Subway Station.
Beitucheng Bus Station to Badaling Operating Hours
The first bus departs from Beitucheng Bus Station at 6.30 AM, and the service stops at 12.00 PM. During that period, buses depart continuously as soon as they are full, trust us you won’t be waiting long!
When we traveled from Deshengmen Bus Station to the Badaling Great Wall, we arrived at 8:00 AM and found a long queue had already formed. However, the line moved quickly, as many buses were departing. (Filled with locals also looking to visit the Great Wall on a budget!)
The Journey to Badaling Great Wall by Public Bus
The journey from Deshengmen Bus Station and Beitucheng Bus Station to Badaling Great Wall 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 Badaling Great Wall ticket office where you can buy your tickets. Note that the entrance gate to the Badaling Great Wall is located 600 meters ahead of the ticket office, 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 for the Great Wall of China.
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 begins and ends at the same location, it is also the starting point for the North Wall track and finishes at the ticket office.
*China Travel Tip – The North Wall hike finishes at Tower 12. However, the exit that brings you back to the ticket office and bus station is located a couple of hundred meters before reaching Tower 12. You should still hike to Tower 12 and then backtrack the short distance.
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.
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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 bring you back to Beijing.
Find out Where to Stay in Beijing: The Best Areas and Hotels
When you reach the Badaling Bus Station, you’ll follow the same procedure you did when traveling from Beitucheng Bus Station or Deshengmen Bus Station. There will be plenty of buses waiting, so you won’t have to wait long for your ride back to Beijing.
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. Or you can be like a local and go to sleep!
According to the updated route, the last bus from Badaling to Beitucheng Bus Station leaves at 16:00, while the route from Badaling to Deshengmen indicates a departure at 16:30. If you’re planning to visit the Badaling Great Wall by public bus, please share the latest return journey information in the comments below, thank you!
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Visit Badaling Great Wall by Bus Summary
- Since August 2024 a new route has started from Beitucheng Bus Station from 6.30 AM until 12.00 PM with buses running continuously.
- The route from Deshengmen still runs, but only five scheduled departures per day.
- Download the China Subway app for easy travel through Beijing.
- 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 much budget-friendly flights to China can be and start booking your flight today!
Hiking the Great Wall of China should be on everyone’s ultimate bucket list, and although it was quite busy we still loved our experience at the Badaling Great Wall, as will you!
If you have any questions then leave us a comment below, and don’t forget to check out our socials.
Slán go fóil
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Thanks for the detailed explanation. I used it to get to the greater wall. I saw that there is limited bus service from this station now. Please see http://chinatrain12306.com/travel/beitucheng-badaling-great-wall-bus.htm for the latest status
Hey Steven, hope you had a good time and it wasn’t to cold!! Thank you for that very useful information. We have now updated that article with the latest, Slainte buddy