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Beijing to Jinshanling Great Wall: Distance, Travel Time, and Best Option
How Far Is Jinshanling Great Wall from Beijing? (130 KM/80 Miles)
Jinshanling is about 130–140 km (80–87 miles) northeast of central Beijing (measured from the Forbidden City). The drive takes roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via the Jingcheng Expressway. The wall itself sits on the border of Beijing's Miyun District and Hebei Province's Chengde region.
Can You Visit Jinshanling Great Wall as a Day Trip from Beijing?
Yes — Jinshanling is very doable as a day trip. With the direct tourist bus, you'll be back in Beijing by 6:10 PM, leaving 6 hours on the wall itself. For sunrise photography or the night-lighting tour, however, you should stay overnight at a guesthouse near the East Gate.
4 Ways to Get to Jinshanling from Beijing: Travel Time, Prices & More
| Option | Time | One-way Price | Best For | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Tourist Bus | 2 hrs | 80 RMB | First-time visitors | ⭐ Easy |
| Tongyou Line 33 | 2.5 hrs | 50-90 RMB | Weekend budget travelers | ⭐⭐ |
| Train + Taxi | 3 hrs | ~40 RMB | Budget travelers, hikers | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Private Taxi / Tour | 2.5 hrs | 350–500 RMB | Families, groups | ⭐ Easy |
Option 1: Direct Tourist Bus from Dongzhimen (Most Recommended)
This is the official Beijing-to-Jinshanling shuttle, run by the Beijing Tourist Distribution Center. It's the choice we recommend for 80% of travelers.
Beijing to Jinshanling Direct Tourist Bus Schedule & Travel Plan (2-Hour Ride)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Departure | Dongzhimen Transport Hub, 8:00 AM |
| Arrival at Jinshanling | ~10:00 AM |
| Return departure | 16:00 from Jinshanling parking lot |
| Back in Beijing | ~17:50 (Shaoyaoju) / ~18:10 (Dongzhimen) |
| Price | 80 RMB one-way / 120 RMB round-trip |
| Duration | ~120 minutes (highway, non-stop) |
| Booking | Beijing Tourism WeChat / Mini Program / Ctrip |
Where to Catch the Bus from Beijing Dongzhimen to Airport?
You will meet at the ground floor lobby of the Dongzhimen Transport Hub. The exact address is No. 39, Dongzhimen Outer Street, Dongzhimen, Dongcheng District, Beijing.
You can take a taxi from your hotel to get there. If you are worried about traffic, take Subway Line 2 or Line 13 to Dongzhimen Station instead. Here are the specific exit and direction details:
- Line 2: Take Exit B or Exit E, turn left, and walk into the Dongzhimen Transport Hub. Look for the Beijing Tourism Information Kiosk (北京旅游咨询亭).
- Line 13: Take Exit H. The Beijing Tourism Information Kiosk is directly facing the exit.
We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early. Buying tickets online is very convenient — use Ctrip (our top recommendation), or search for the WeChat Mini Program "北京旅游集散中心" to purchase tickets (Chinese interface only).
2 Days
1 PlaceOption 2: Tongyou Line 33 (通游专线33号) – Only Available on Weekends
If your trip happens to fall on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Chinese public holiday, you have an alternative option — the seasonal Tongyou Line 33 bus departing from Wangjing West Bus Terminal.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Departure | 08:00 |
| Return | 16:00 |
| Boarding | Wangjing West Transport Hub (望京西枢纽站) |
| Fare | 50 RMB one-way (pay online) / 90 RMB one-way (pay on board by cash) |
| Operating days | Weekends + public holidays only |
| Payment | Cash, Yikatong card (一卡通), or Yitongxing app QR |
Where to Board at Wangjing West Transport Hub?
Head to Platform 6 on the bus mezzanine level of Wangjing West Transport Hub. If you are coming by subway, take Line 13, Line 15, or Line 17 to Wangjing West Station, use Exit E, follow the signs to Wangjing West Transport Hub, go up one level to the bus mezzanine, and find Platform 6.
During holidays, the number of travelers heading from Beijing to Jinshanling increases significantly. We recommend buying your tickets online in advance. Download the Yikatong app (一卡通) to make this easier.
Option 3: Train from Beijing to Gubeikou + Taxi to Jinshanling
There are no direct trains from Beijing to Jinshanling Great Wall. However, if you have already missed the direct bus, we recommend taking the suburban railway from Beijing or Qinghe to Gubeikou Station. The total journey takes roughly 3–4 hours. The train to look for is service number 4471.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Train route | Beijing North → Gubeikou |
| Train price | 14.5 RMB |
| Train duration | 3-4 hours |
| Gubeikou → Jinshanling | 13 km, ~15-min taxi, 20–35 RMB |
| Total one-way cost | ~40 RMB |
Beijing North (北京北站) to Gubeikou (古北口站) Train Schedule
| Train | Departure (Beijing North) | Arrival (Gubeikou) | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S501 | 06:55 | 09:25 | 2.5h | 14.5 RMB |
| 4471 | 09:57 (from Changping North) | 13:19 | 3.5h | 14.5 RMB |
| S503 | 14:19 | 16:50 | 2.5h | 14.5 RMB |
Which train should you take?
- S501 is perfect for a full day trip — arrive by 9:30 AM, hike, return same day.
- S503 is ideal if you're staying overnight at Jinshanling for the night-lighting tour.
Gubeikou to Jinshanling: 13 km Taxi Transfer
When you exit Gubeikou Station, you'll see local drivers waiting. The ride to Jinshanling East Gate is 13 km and takes about 15 minutes. The standard fare is 20–35 RMB, but agree on the price before getting in.
The last return train from Gubeikou departs at 17:20. To catch it, you must leave Jinshanling by 16:30.
Option 4: Private Taxi or Private Tour (Best for Family Travelers)
A private car is worth it if you're traveling with young children or elderly parents, have luggage, or want to combine Jinshanling with another stop (like Gubei Water Town, just 10 km away). It takes 350–500 RMB one-way about 2.5 hours.
Use DiDi (China's Uber) for transparent pricing. Always confirm whether highway tolls (~80 RMB) are included.
If none of the public transport options work for you, you can always book a Didi (China's ride-hailing app) to Jinshanling. Alternatively, the "北京旅游集散中心" mentioned in Option 1 also offers day trip packages from Beijing to Jinshanling.
If what you really want is an English-speaking guide for the entire journey from Beijing to Jinshanling, with all logistics handled for you, you can contact Asia Odyssey Travel directly.
Jinshanling Great Wall Tickets, Cable Car, and Shuttle Bus
| Item | Round-trip | One-way |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance ticket | 65 RMB (free for 60+, half-price for students) | — |
| Cable car | 60 RMB | 35 RMB |
| Shuttle bus (parking → East Gate) | 20 RMB | 10 RMB |
Where to buy: At the East Gate ticket office, or pre-booked via Ctrip / Trip.com (recommended for foreign visitors — your passport is the entry voucher).
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Recommended Jinshanling Hiking Route
For first-time visitors with 3–4 hours on the wall, the easiest and most photogenic route is:
East Gate → Shuttle bus → Cable car up → Xiao Jinshan Tower → Da Jinshan Tower → Cable car down
This route lets you skip the steep entrance climb, reach the photogenic twin Jinshan towers, and enjoy panoramic views of the Yan Mountains — without exhausting yourself.
Read our full Jinshanling Great Wall travel guide.
Practical Tips for Visit Jinshanling Great Wall from Beijing
- Bring your passport. It's required to enter the scenic area and to claim pre-booked tickets.
- Set up mobile payment before you go. WeChat Pay and Alipay both accept international cards now. Carry 500 RMB cash as backup for taxis and drivers.
- Wear hiking shoes. The wall surface is uneven, with stone steps that can be slippery. Sneakers work; sandals do not.
- Driver upcharge defense: At Gubeikou, drivers sometimes demand 50–60 RMB extra on the return. Settle the price before getting in, photograph the agreement on a translator app.
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