Beijing to Badaling Great Wall Train: 19 Mins, 25 High Speed Trains Daily

Beijing to Badaling Train Schedule & Timetable (Live 12306 Data)

Below is our real-time schedule plugin, connected directly to China's official 12306 railway system, so you always get the latest departure times, prices, and stops:

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Beijing to Badaling Great Wall Duration: 19-41 Minutes

• From Qinghe Station (清河站): 19-23 minutes
• From Beijing North Railway Station (北京北站): 30-41 minutes

The high-speed rail line is so fast, it's shorter than the time it takes to wait in line for coffee in downtown Beijing. Trains from Qinghe Station are the fastest, wrapping up the trip in just 19-23 minutes, while trains from Beijing North Station take a little longer, 30-41 minutes.

The Best Trains to Catch - 7:29 and 7:47 from Beijing North

Badaling is China's busiest section of the Great Wall. By 10:00 AM, the pathways and cable car queues will be packed with large domestic tour groups.

We highly recommend catching the 07:29 AM or the 07:47 AM high-speed train departing from Beijing North Railway Station. Taking one of these morning trains ensures you arrive at the wall by 8:15 AM to 8:30 AM.

This gives you a precious 90-minute window to hike, take photos, and experience the majesty of the Great Wall with relatively few people around you.

First Train & Last Train of the Day

First Train: Departs at 06:16 AM from Qinghe Station and arrives at Badaling Great Wall Station at 06:38 AM (Train D9271).

Last Train: Departs at 20:52 (8:52 PM) from Qinghe Station and arrives at 21:14 (Train D6729).

Departure Stations: Qinghe Station vs Beijing North Railway Station

When you book your tickets, you will notice trains leaving from two different stations in Beijing. Choosing the right one depends on where your hotel is located.

Beijing North Railway Station to Badaling Great Wall (9 Trains Daily, City Center)

Beijing North Railway Station

Beijing North Station, located right next to Xizhimen in central downtown, is the most popular choice for most tourists. There are 9 trains a day departing from here, and it's super easy to get to if you're staying downtown.

• How to get there: Take Line 2, Line 4, or Line 13 of the Beijing subway to Xizhimen Station. Take Exit A (the Northwest exit), and you'll walk straight into the station's entrance hall, no extra walking needed.
• Who this is for: If you're staying near Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, or Qianmen, this is the closest station. It's right in the middle of the city.

Qinghe Station (清河站) - 16 Trains Daily, Faster Ride

Qinghe Station (清河站) is larger, newer, and runs nearly twice as many trains to Badaling. The ride itself is also 10-15 minutes shorter. It's also less crowded than Beijing North Station, so the security lines are shorter.

The catch: Qinghe is in northwest Beijing, served by Subway Lines 13 and Changping Line, which means a longer metro journey if you're staying centrally.

Qinghe makes sense if you're staying in Haidian, Wudaokou, or anywhere in northwest Beijing.

Beijing to Badaling Great Wall Train Tickets: Second Class, First Class & Business

China bullet train: second class

Second Class Seat - ¥18-28 (What You Get & Why It's Enough)

Second class is what 99% of travelers pick, and for good reason. For a 20-minute ride, it's more than enough. The seats are comfortable, they recline a little, there are power outlets under the seats so you can charge your phone, and there's plenty of overhead space for your backpack or suitcase.

First Class Seat - ¥29-45 (Worth It for 19 Minutes?)

First class seats are a little wider, with more legroom. The difference between second and first class is barely noticeable for such a short trip, unless you're traveling during peak season and want to avoid the crowds in the second class car.

Business Class - ¥55-85 (Only on 6 Specific Trains)

Business class is the premium option, with huge lie-flat seats, exclusive waiting lounges, and premium service. If you're traveling with elderly family, or you just want the most luxurious experience possible, it's nice.

How to Buy Beijing to Badaling Train Tickets

China Railway 12306 App

Trip (first-time visitors start here). The interface is fully in English, you can pay with any international credit card, and you only need your passport number.

12306 (the official China Railway app). The registration process is a little more complicated. You'll need to upload a photo of your passport for verification, which can take a day or two to process. Once you're registered, though, it's super easy to book tickets, and you can see all the available trains in real time.

What to Do When Tickets Are Sold Out

The early morning trains to Badaling sell out fast, especially on weekends and holidays. If you check and the tickets are already sold out, don't panic - there's a trick that locals use all the time.

Just book the ticket to Yanqing (延庆), the next stop after Badaling, instead. As long as the train stops at Badaling, you can get off there, no problem.

Boarding the Train: What to Expect at Qinghe & Beijing North: Step by Step Guide

China High-Speed Train

Boarding the train is straightforward, but there are a few things you need to know, especially if it's your first time on a Chinese high-speed train.

1. Arrive 20 minutes early, and bring your passport. All train tickets in China are registered to your ID, so you need to bring your passport to get through security and the ticket check. No passport, no boarding.
2. Security & ID Check: When you get to the station, you'll go through a security check, just like at the airport. Foreign passports usually can't use the automatic gates, so look for the manual gate (人工通道) with a staff member, and present your passport.
3. Find your boarding gate: Once inside, look at the big digital departure board for your train number (e.g., G7831). It will list a boarding gate number (检票口) - this is where you queue. Gates open about 15 minutes before departure and close 5 minutes before departure.
4. The ride: Once you're on the train, it's smooth. There's free Wi-Fi, clean toilets, and plenty of space for your luggage.

After You Arrive at Badaling Great Wall Railway Station

Badaling Great Wall Railway Station

When you get off the train, you'll take a huge long escalator up to the exit hall.

Once you exit the station, you've got two options, depending on how you want to hike the wall:

• If you want to take the cable car up: Head straight towards the gray building at the end of the walkway. It's an 8-minute walk, flat and easy, no hills.
• If you want to walk up to the main entrance: Turn left after you exit the station, and walk for 10 minutes, and you'll hit the security entrance for the wall.

At the Wall: Tickets, Routes & How to Visit Badaling

The Badaling Great Wall, the most visited section in Beijing

Entrance Ticket - ¥40 per Person

The entrance ticket to Badaling is only 40 RMB, that's less than $6. You can buy it at the gate, or book it in advance on the "Great Wall Inside" mini program, but you don't need to - even in peak season, the ticket lines are never that bad.

Cable Car - ¥100 One-Way / ¥140 Round-Trip

If you don't want to hike up the mountain, the cable car takes you straight up to the 8th watchtower, right at the top of the famous Good Man's Slope. A one-way ticket is 100 RMB, round trip is 140 RMB. It's worth it if you don't want to hike up the steep part of the wall.

The Most Recommended Badaling Great Wall Visiting Route

1. Cable car up to Hero Slope (Tower 7/8 area).
2. Walk uphill to North Tower 8 (北八楼) - the highest point open to tourists, with sweeping views in both directions.
3. Walk back down through Towers 7, 6, 5, 4 - this is the dramatic, steep, postcard-worthy section.
4. Exit at the main entrance near Tower 1, or take the cable car back down.

How Long to Spend on the Wall (2.5-3.5 Hours)

You don't need to spend all day there. 2.5 to 3.5 hours is perfect. That gives you enough time to hike, take photos, stop for snacks, and not feel rushed. Any longer, and you'll start to get tired, especially if it's hot.

Related Article:Badaling Great Wall Map: Station, Cable Car & Hiking Routes

Taking the Return Train from Badaling to Beijing

Heading back is just as easy. The return trains run until 9:13pm (from Badaling Great Wall to Beijing North), so you can take as long as you want at the wall.

The boarding gate closes 12 minutes before departure. Badaling Great Wall Railway Station is one of the deepest underground stations in the world - built 102 meters below the mountain. So leave the wall early enough to get back to the station.

Other Ways to Get from Beijing to Badaling Great Wall

Badaling Great Wall, Beijing

Bus 877 from Deshengmen: ¥6, paid by Alipay or WeChat Pay. The closest subway access is Beitucheng Station, Exit C (northeast exit). Around 1.5 hours when traffic is light, longer on weekends. Choose this if you want the cheapest option and don't mind unpredictable timing.

Didi/Taxi: A one-way taxi costs 140-200 RMB, and takes about 1.5 hours. But a lot of drivers don't want to do one-way trips, they'll ask you to book a full day charter for 380-450 RMB. It's way more expensive than the train, and way slower.

Travel to Badaling Great Wall with Asia Odyssey Travel

If you'd rather skip the 12306 registration, ticket queues, and the small uncertainties of traveling in a country where you can't read most signs, our team can handle the train tickets, station transfers, and a private guide on the Wall. We've been arranging Badaling visits for foreign travelers for over a decade.