A Traveler’s Handbook for Beijing Airport to Great Wall Adventure
Explore the rising popularity of layover tours to the Great Wall, thanks to China’s 72-hour free visa policy. Additionally, the 144-hour visa-free transit in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei allows travelers to spend up to six days without a visa en route to another destination.
Which section of the wall can you choose for your layover tour?
Use the airport express to Dongzhimen station.
If you want to take the public bus to the Great Wall from the airport, the best place to go is from Dongzhimen bus station and change the subway or bus to the Great Wall.
Service Hours:
T3: 06:22 – 22:52;
T2: 06:36 – 23:10;
Dongzhimen: 06:00–22:30
Single Journey Time:
T3 → Dongzhimen: 30 minutes; Dongzhimen →T3: 16 minutes
T2 → Dongzhimen: 21 minutes; Dongzhimen →T2: 35 minutes
Frequency: 10 minutes
Ticket Price: CNY25/person
1. Mutianyu Great Wall
Beijing airport (about 60 km or 37 miles) to Mutianyu Great Wall, about 1 hour by road.
Mutianyu open time:
7:00-18:30 in Summer
7:30-17:30 in Winter
Why choose the Mutianyu Great Wall?
It is the most renovated section and is close to Beijing International Airport. …>>Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Guide
If you have more than 7 hours of layover time, you can try to plan to visit.
►How to get there?
1. Take the airport express to Dongzhimen station （东直门）……30 minutes
2. Go out to the Dongzhimen bus station and take the 916 express bus to Huairoubeidajie……1 hour
3. Take H23/H24/H50 to Mutianyuhuandao (慕田峪环岛)……30 minutes
4. Walk 200 meters to Mutianyu
Related post…>>
1. Take Bus to Mutianyu Great Wall
2. Book a private transfer to visit Mutianyu from Beijing airport
2. Badaling Great Wall
Beijing airport (about 75 km or 46 miles) to Badaling Great Wall, 1.5 hours by road;
Open time: 7:30am–6pm
Why choose Badaling?
If you have more than 8 hours of layover time, you can try to plan to visit.
Badaling is the most popular section of the wall. It is always busy, but easier to do it by public transfer.
►How to get there?
1. Take the airport express to Dongzhimen station （东直门）……30 minutes
2. Take the subway line 2 to Deshengmen station……20 minutes
3. Go out from exit C and walk 500 meters to the east to Deshengmen bus station……10 minutes
4. Take bus 877 to Badaling Great Wall……50 minutes
The related post…>>Badaling Great Wall Travel Guide
3. Jinshanling Great Wall
Jinshanling
Beijing airport (about 140 km or 87 miles ) to Jinshanling Great Wall, 2.5 hours by road;
Jinshanling open time:
6:30-18:30 in Summer
8:30-16:30 in Winter
Why choose Jinshanling?
If you don’t like crowded and have more than 12 hours of layover time, this is your great choice.
►How to get there?
1. Take the airport express to Dongzhimen station （东直门）……30 minutes
2. Take subway line 13 to Wangjin west…..30 minutes
3. Take the Beijing to Luanping bus to Jinshanling……2 hours
Related post…>>
1. How to take the bus to Jinshanling Great Wall?
2. Private transfer from Beijing airport to Jinshanling Great Wall
4. Simatai Great Wall
Beijing airport (about 130 km or 80 miles) to Simatai Great Wall, 2.5 hours by road.
Why choose the Simatai Great Wall?
Simatai Great Wall belongs to Gubei water town. This town is well developed with a lot of friendly hotels. This wall section is steep, but you can take the cable car up and down. Incredibly, lighting up the wall in the evening is a lovely way to enjoy the Great Wall.
If you have a 1-night layover and want to make it easy, you can stay in the hotel in the town and enjoy the evening view of the town.
(The official site: www.wtown.com)
►How to get there?
1. Take the airport express to Dongzhimen station （东直门）……30 minutes
2. Take the direct bus to Simatai from Dongzhimen bus station….2 hours
Non-stop bus schedule
Monday to Friday: 8: 00, 9: 00, 12: 00, 15: 30
Saturday & Sunday: 8: 00, 9: 00, 12: 00, 14: 00, 15: 30
The departure site at Dongzhimen is No. 942, 855 bus station, north side of Dongzhimen public transport hub.
Ticket: Pay on the bus (tickets are available half an hour before departure till they are sold out).
If you miss the bus, what should I do?
Take bus No. 980 at Dongzhimen stop, get off at Yugulou stop, and shift to bus No. 51, then get off at Gubei Wate Town.
Visit the unrestored section of the Great Wall
Why?
1. Want a very peaceful experience
2. Flight arrival very early or very late. The rebuilt sections are not open.
3. Want to enjoy the sunset or sunrise view during your layover
5. Huanghuacheng Great Wall
Beijing airport (about 60 km or 37 miles) Huanghuacheng Great Wall, 2 hours by road;
Why choose the Huanghuacheng Great Wall?
Huanghaucheng is easy to reach, only 15 minutes walk from the bottom to the Wall. It is around the Huanghuacheng reservoir. You can also hike a longer distance on the wall if you have enough time.
►How to get there?
This section of the wall is challenging to do by public bus. You need to walk about 8 minutes for the transfer. The bus is without an English sign. So it is better not to take the adventure to do it during your short layover. I suggest you hire a driver to take you there. It is cost roughly 700RMB.
Huanghuacheng Great Wall Layover tour from Beijing Airpot
6. Jiankou Great Wall
Beijing airport (about 80 km or 50 miles) to Jiankou Great Wall, 2 hours by road;
Why choose the Jiankou Great Wall?
Jiankou Great Wall is located on the top of the mountain, which takes 1 hour to walk up. It is wild and beautiful! Jiankou to Mutianyu hiking is considered the most classic Great Wall hiking!
►How to get there?
1. Take the airport express to Dongzhimen station （东直门）……30 minutes
2. 916 express to huairou
3. H25 to Xizhazi village
Related post…>>
2. How to hike Jiankou to the Mutianyu Great Wall on your own?
