• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Beijing to Badaling (Great Wall)

Status
Not open for further replies.

johnnychips

Established Member
Joined
19 Nov 2011
Messages
3,676
Location
Sheffield
I know some members are visiting China soon. The above route to the Great Wall seems to be running half the normal number of trains. I don't think this is a one-off as a special sign has been made (rather than a blackboard as you'd expect in the UK). Anyway, trains depart Beijing North at 0612, 0834 and 1057. I arrived today at about 0820 expecting to catch the 0902, then found a queue at a window with a notice saying the 0834 was full and they should queue for the next train at 1057. Will get up early tomorrow and report back (I went elsewhere).
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

theageofthetra

On Moderation
Joined
27 May 2012
Messages
3,504
Went this Monday. Got the S2 06.12 from Beijing North and back on the 11.50 which is plenty of time- the 10.50 was missing with the usual lack of explanation! . The 06.12 is almost completely empty on a Mon and the front 2 (Badaling end) coaches are declassified ex 1st class with 2 x 2 seats but with seat back tables removed. If you sit right up the front the diesel loco gives some amazing thrash through the tunnels on the very steep mountain passes. Don't forget it has a reverse zig zag just before Badaling which must be unique on a suburban service. The whole line is v.slow but has great views of other wall sections from the left side on the way up to Badaling.

Do not bother with the free bus from Badaling station they wait until completely rammed and drop you off at completely the wrong place where the rip off cable car is. Just walk the 10-15 mins up to the main ticket office located through the gatehouse walking past all the tourist shops, subway KFC etc. Once you get your ticket go through, turn left and go up the South wall. I had the place almost to myself and keep going as far as you can. I completely ignored the North Wall it is so crowded with tour groups and the 'money shot' is taken from tower 3 on the South side anyway.

You can use your Beijing transportation "oyster type" card so no aggro queuing buying a ticket. Don't also forget it will be much colder at Badaling than in Beijing especially if arriving early. The 6.12 is essential to avoid the worst of the tour groups and if you don't want to wait until the 11.50 you could catch the first 11.00 bus back.

If you have any sort of mobility issues do not begin to underestimate how steep and slippery most of the wall is- particularly if there is morning dew or if there has been rain. If you do the south side there is a poorly signposted exit route near the toilets by tower 3 which avoids the steepest parts coming back but brings you out past the ticketed area if you were intent on the North side. The South side cable car hasn't worked in years despite what you read on the internet.

You will find yourself being asked for photos all the time by folk from some remote parts of China who have never seen a non Asian person before its all part of the experience! The forecast was looking great for Beijing when I left for Shanghai this morning so you should be in for a good weekend.

Don't miss the old Ming era walls near Beijing station- they hardly get any visitors and has to be one of the greatest train viewing places on earth with endless movements out of high speed, shunting locos, sleepers ECS etc. There will invariably be a few Chinese gricers with their cameras up there too.
 
Last edited:

johnnychips

Established Member
Joined
19 Nov 2011
Messages
3,676
Location
Sheffield
Thanks! I knew someone else was going!

Today I arrived at 0750 to catch the 0834 and there was a sign saying the 0758 was full and the next was the 0902. On the way back the 1518 was cancelled. But the legroom was amazing.

Agree with everything you said about the wall, though the South wall was quiet, as was the North wall once the highest point was passed. I carried on to the end and went down by the bear pits.

I didn't get asked for a photo, though people seemed amazed that I was only wearing a t-shirt. The Chinese like to wrap up well.
 
Last edited:

route101

Established Member
Joined
16 May 2010
Messages
10,595
I remember trying to get in to Beijing north station but you needed a ticket to enter yet i couldnt find where to buy them and kept getting knocked back ! Ended up getting bus to badaling !
 

theageofthetra

On Moderation
Joined
27 May 2012
Messages
3,504
The inevitable flask of green tea and some top end camera equipment seemed to be their kit!
 

jamesr

Member
Joined
29 Dec 2010
Messages
135
You chaps have done a lot better with this than I. Having travelled around China quite a fair bit by train with reasonable levels of success, I tried to catch a train from Beijing to Badaling twice before giving up and getting a taxi to Mutianyu. Even as someone who speaks a little Mandarin, the entire process (including the essential Chinese experience of spending 45 minutes being unsure if you're stood in the right queue!) was so baffling I decided to give it up as a lost cause. It's a pity, because I wanted to do the zig-zags and I really enjoy travelling by train in China.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top