Discover how to plan a Great Wall tour from Hong Kong: first take an airplane or train to Beijing, then go to the Great Wall. A tour from Hong Kong to the Great Wall needs two or three days. An overnight train is needed if you want a day trip. Find detailed travel information in our article.
How to Get to Beijing from Hong Kong
There are two ways to travel to Beijing from Hong Kong and back: taking a flight or a train journey.
By airplane: It takes about 3 hours 25 minutes to fly from Hong Kong to Beijing. There are over 40 direct flights a day from Hong Kong International Airport to Beijing Capital International Airport.
Taking an airplane from Hong Kong to Beijing is recommended because it is time-saving. If you are flexible with time and don't mind sitting down for a long time, you can travel by train.
By high-speed train: Only one high-speed train travels direct from Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station at 08:05 every day. The trip takes about 9 hours.
Alternatively, you can transfer at Shenzhen or Guangzhou and take a high-speed from train there to Beijing with the TWOV. Usually, high-speed trains bound for Beijing will arrive at Beijing West Railway Station.
By overnight train: The direct overnight train departs Hong Kong Hung Hom Station at 15:15 at two day intervals and arrives at Beijing West Station 24 hours later. See more on Beijing – Hong Kong Trains (Bullet Train and Overnight Train).
There are more overnight train options if you change in Shenzhen or Guangzhou with the TWOV.
- 1-Day Beijing Layover Tour
- 1-Day Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Hiking Tour
- 5-Day Huangyaguan to Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking Tour
Get to the Great Wall from Beijing
Learn about how to get to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Great Wall at Badaling and other sections of the Great Wall in this section.
How to Get to The Great Wall at Mutianyu
The Great Wall at MutianyuFrom Beijing Capital International Airport
The Great Wall at Mutianyu is located 54 kilometers (34 miles) north of Beijing Capital International Airport.
The most convenient and fastest way to get there is to book a private tour so that our guide can pick you up at the airport and a private car will escort you directly there. Your tickets are prepared in advance so you won't waste time waiting in line to buy tickets.
Another option is to take a taxi. The drive from Beijing airport to the Great Wall at Mutianyu is about 1 hour 15 minutes and costs about 260 yuan ($38). Make sure to use the meter when taking a taxi.
Alternatively, you can use public transport, which is economical but will be a bit of hassle. As there is no direct bus or subway train to the Great Wall at Mutianyu, you have to transfer to get there. You should take bus 916 and transfer to H23 to get there. The whole trip will take about 3 hours. It will be difficult if you can't speak Chinese.
From Beijing West Railway Station
The station is located 87 kilometers southwest of the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
A hassle-free transfer service included in a Great Wall tour will make the most of your time. If you take a taxi, it takes about 1 hour 40 minutes to get to Mutianyu and costs about 290 yuan ($42). If you use public transport, take metro line 2, transfer to bus 916, and transfer again to H23.
How to Get to The Great Wall at Badaling
The Great Wall at BadalingFrom Beijing Capital International Airport
The Great Wall at Badaling is located 80 kilometers northwest of Beijing Capital International Airport.
There are three ways to get to Badaling:
- Book a private tour - this is ideal if you have limited time and want to have a hassle-free Great Wall tour.
- Take a taxi - the journey takes about 1 hour 12 minutes and costs about 250 yuan ($36).
- Use public transport - take the subway's Airport Express line, transfer to Line 13, and take train S2, which takes about 3 hours in total.
From Beijing West Railway Station
The Great Wall at Badaling is located 74 kilometers north of Beijing West Railway Station. If traveling by taxi, it takes 1 hour 30 minutes to get from Beijing West Railway Station to the Great Wall at Badaling and costs about 230 yuan ($33). If using public transport, it will take at least 2 hours to get there. Take subway Line 9, transfer to bus 27, and transfer again to bus 877.
Get to Other Sections of the Great Wall
The Great Wall at Simatai1) Get to The Great Wall at Simatai
The Great Wall at Simatai is the only section opened for a night tour. If you want to appreciate the stunning night view of the Great Wall, this is where you should go.
It is a long way from Beijing. If you take a taxi, you will be charged about 500 yuan ($73) whether traveling from the railway station or the airport. A hassle-free private tour including a transfer is a better choice.
2) Get toThe Great Wall at Jinshanling
The Great Wall at Jinshanling is an unrepaired section of the Great Wall with no crowds and is one of the best routes for hiking the Great Wall.
It is 126 kilometers away from Beijing and you can get there by taking a taxi or booking a private tour, such as our One Day Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour . The round-trip taxi fare is over 1,000 yuan ($147), which is not cost-efficient compared with a private tour.
3) Get to The Great Wall at Jiankou
The Great Wall at JiankouThe Great Wall at Jiankou is the most dangerous section of the Great Wall and the best one for strenuous hiking. The best hiking route is from the Jiankou section to the Mutianyu section.
If you go from the airport, you can take a taxi journey for 1 hour 20 minutes. If you use public transport, it's the same journey as going to Mutianyu.
If you go from the railway station, it takes 1 hour 50 minutes by taxi and is the same journey as the one to Mutianyu if you use public transport.
Learn more on How to Get to the Great Wall from Beijing.
- 1-Day Beijing Highlights Private Tour
- 1-Day Jinshanling Great Wall Hiking Tour
- 2-Day Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall Hiking and Camping Tour
Hong Kong to Great Wall Day Trip
It will be undoable if you want to have a Great Wall day trip from Hong Kong by direct flight or train. While the Shenzhen-Beijing overnight high speed train makes a day trip possible.
Firstly, go to Shenzhen North Railway Station from Hong Kong. You can take a high-speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station which will takes about 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can take East Rail Line to Lok Ma Chau Station and after crossing the Futian Port, take metro Longhua Line to the Shenzhen North Railway Station.
Secondly, take the overnight sleeper train to Beijing at Shenzhen North Railway Station. The overnight high-speed trains depart at 19:40, 19:45, 19:50, and 19:55 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and reach Beijing West Railway Station at 06:56, 07:01, 07:13, and 07:18 the next early morning.
Thirdly, head to the Great Wall from Beijing West Rialway Station. Visiting the Great Wall at Mutianyu is recommended as you can have a better experience within a visit lasting for 2 or 3 hours. It is a tourism-friendly section for both kids and adults at which easy hiking, beautiful scenery, cable cars, and mini rollercoasters are available.
Then come back to Beijing West Railway Station, and take an overnight high-speed train back to Shenzhen. The trains depart at 20:10, 20:20, and 20:25 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and reach Shenzhen North Railway Station at 7:06, 7:16 and 7:42 the next early morning.
Finally, take a high-speed train from Shenzhen North Railway Station to Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station.
Note: You should apply for a visa in advance if you travel in this way.
Let Us Optimize Your Great Wall Tour from Hong Kong
Travel with us!Just tell us your interests and needs - we are happy to tailor-make your tour from Hong Kong to the Great Wall. See our recommended tours for reference:
- 1 Day Beijing Great Wall Tour: Make the most of your time visiting the Great Wall.
- 4-Day Secrets of Beijing Tour: Catch the stunning night views of the Great Wall at Simatai and explore the highlights of Beijing, such as the Forbidden City.
Alternatively, see more of our best Great Wall Tours for inspiration.