How to Travel From Shanghai to Great Wall of China

Badaling

To travel from Shanghai to the Great Wall of China, you should take a flight or train to Beijing first. The distance is about 1,200 kilometers (750 miles)  by air, and  1,350 to 1,500 kilometers (850 - 950 miles) by train. After, take a city bus or train to get to the Wall. An early flight and an overnight sleeper train will make a day trip possible; if traveling by bullet train, two days will be needed. Now follow our detailed guide to get there easily.
 

The Great Wall of China extends 13,170 miles (21,196 kilometers) in northern China, and includes many sections in different provinces. Among all these, Badaling and Mutianyu in Beijing are your priority. So, you need to go from Shanghai to Beijing first. There are three modes of transport for you to choose from.

 By Flight: Take a flight to Beijing Capital Airport from Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) or Hongqiao Airport (SHA). There are about 80 flights per day starting early morning with a frequency of about 30 minutes. The trip takes 2 to 2.5 hours and ticket price for economy class varies between CNY600 and CNY 1,300 based on departure time and airlines.

Second Class Seats of Bullet Train

 By High Speed Train: Take a bullet train to Beijing South Railway Station from Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. There are about 40 departures each day, and the train ride takes 4.5 to 6 hours. The second class seat costs CNY 553, and the first class seat costs CNY 933. This is the top choice of most travelers due to its flight-like interior environment, high speed and comparatively low cost.

Hongqiao Railway Station is a 10-minute walk from Hongqiao Airport, and a one-hour ride from Pudong Airport by shuttle bus line 1, or a 1.5 hour ride from Pudong Airport by subway line 2.

 By Overnight Sleeper Train: There are two types of them: two or three bullet trains taking about 12 hours and one normal train taking 15.5 hours. They arrive at Beijing South Railway Station and Beijing Railway Station respectively from Shanghai Railway Station. The hard sleeper of normal trains costs CNY325.5, and the soft sleeper of bullet trains costs CNY 696. Both the ticket prices here are for lower berth.

By the way, you can reach Shanghai Railway Station from Hongqiao Airport by bus line 941; or take subway line 10 to South Shaanxi Road, and change to subway line 1 to get there. You can reach the railway station from Pudong Airport by shuttle bus line 5; or take subway line 2 to People's Square Station, and transfer to subway line 1 to it.
 

This is a frequently asked question and a concern of many inbound tourists, transfer passengers, and businessmen to Shanghai. Running overnight from evening to next early morning, the overnight trains make one day Great Wall tour from Shanghai possible. Though the ride takes longer time compared with bullet ones, it saves daytime for sightseeing and one-night accommodation fee. After visiting in the day, you can take another overnight train back to Shanghai. In addition, early departure flights plus late night return flights are also good choices for such a day tour.
 

Deshengmen Bus Stop

Upon arrival in Beijing, head for Deshengmen, Beijing North Railway Station, Qinghe Railway Station or Huangtudian Railway Station where bus or train is available for Badaling; or Dongzhimen where bus is available for  Mutianyu.

 From Capital Airport 
 To Deshengmen: Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen, and change to subway line 2 to Jishuitan Station, Exit B2. Walk east for about 600 yards to Deshengmen Station.

 To Beijing North Railway Station: Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen, change to subway line 2 to Xizhimen and walk to Beijing North Railway Station. 

 To Qinghe Railway Station: Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen then change to subway line 13 to Qinghe.

 To Huangtudian Railway Station: Take Airport Express to Dongzhimen, and change to subway line 13 to Huoying Station, Exit G4. Then, walk to Huangtudian Railway Station.

 To Dongzhimen Station: Take Airport Express Line to Dongzhimen Station.

 From Beijing South Railway Station
 To Deshengmen Station: Take subway line 4 to Xuanwumen, and change to subway line 2 to Jishuitan Station, Exit B2. Walk to Deshengmen Station.

 To Beijing North Railway Station: Take Subway Line 4 to Xizhimen Station. Then walk to Beijing North Railway Station.

 To Qinghe Railway Station: Take Subway Line 4 to Xizhimen Station, then cahnge to line 13 to Qinghe.

 To Huangtudian Railway Station: ride subway line 4 to Xizhimen Station, and change to subway line 13 to Huoying Station, Exit G4. Walk east to Huangtudian Railway Station.

 To Dongzhimen Station: Take subway line 4 to Xuanwumen, and change to subway line 2 to Dongzhimen Station.

 From Beijing Railway Station 
 To Deshengmen Station: Take subway line 2 to Jishuitan Station, Exit B2, and walk to Deshengmen Station.

 To Beijing North Railway Station: Take Subway Line 2 to Xizhimen Station. Then walk to Beijing North Railway Station.

 To Qinghe Railway Station: Take Subway Line 2 to Xizhimen Station, then change to line 13 to Qinghe. 

 To Huangtudian Railway Station: ride subway line 2 to Guloudajie Station, and switch to subway line 8 to Huoying Station, Exit G4. Then, walk to Huangtudian Railway Station.

 To Dongzhimen Station: Take subway line 2 to Dongzhimen Station. 

 

Mutianyu

Upon arrival at these places, take bus 877 from Deshengmen, high speed train from Beijing North Railway Station or Qinghe Railway Station, or S2 train from Huangtudian Railway Station to Badaling; take bus 916 Express or direct tourist bus from Dongzhimen.

  Tips:
 1. Bus 877, high speed train from Beijing North Railway Station, and S2 train will take you directly to Badaling.

 2. Bus 877 is only available before 12:30. If you want to go in the afternoon, you may take bus line 919; but be ready for the frequent stops on the way.

 3. The tickets of S2 train cannot be booked online in advance. So, there may be many people waiting in line to get a ticket. Luckily, you can swipe Beijing Transportation Smart Card to get onboard, which would save a lot of time.

 4. Dongzhimen tourist bus runs directly to Mutianyu, but usually one departure every day; if you miss it, you can take bus 916 express to get off at Huairou North Avenue, and transfer to bus line h23, h24, h35, or h36 to Mutianyu. Or, charter a van to Mutianyu from Huairou North Avenue for CNY 50-60.

 5. At Dongzhimen, there is also bus 936 to Jiankou and 980 Express to Simatai; but you need to make a transfer to local mini buses at Yujiayuan and Miyun Bus Station respectively.
 

 Where is the Great Wall of China located?

 Which one is better, Badaling or Mutianyu?

 How to get to the Great Wall from Hong Kong?

 How to get to the Great Wall from Beijing?

How to Get to Badaling Great Wall: by Bus

How to Get to Beijing Great Wall of China by Train - S2 to Badaling

 Beijing - Badaling High Speed Train

How to Get to Mutianyu Great Wall