Hong Kong to Great Wall: How to Get to the Great Wall

Written by ivana Updated May. 20, 2024

The distance from Hong Kong, China to Beijing is approximately around 2000 kilometers. Planning a trip from Hong Kong to the Great Wall typically requires 2-3 days. You can fly or take a high-speed train from Hong Kong to Beijing, and then take a bus, travel a special line, intercity train, or taxi, or book a pick-up service to the Great Wall. Here are detailed transportation plans and travel suggestions.

Additionally, travel to China's Mainland usually requires a Chinese visa, unless you are a tourist from a visa-exempt country.

Step 1: From Hong Kong to Beijing

Hong Kong is a globally renowned aviation hub, offering numerous flight options to Beijing, which is the quickest way. Suppose you have more time or wish to experience high-speed rail travel, you can choose to take the train directly to Beijing, visiting cities along the way, such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Changsha, Wuhan Zhengzhou, and Shijiazhuang.

By Plane

Flights to Beijing depart from Hong Kong, with a flight time of approximately 3-4 hours. When choosing a flight, note that Beijing has two airports to choose from: Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport.

The Capital Airport is closer to the city. If the prices of flights to both airports are not significantly different, it is recommended to choose a flight to the Capital Airport.

By High-Speed Train

If you prefer land travel or wish to admire the scenery along the way, you can choose to take the high-speed train to Beijing.

There is a daily high-speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Railway Station to Beijing West Railway Station (11:00 am-7:30 pm), with a travel time of approximately 8.5 hours. The fare for a second-class seat is about460, and a business-class seat is about $540. Although the journey is long, this trip will fully showcase the vast geographical landscape and urban development of China.

Step 2: From Beijing to the Great Wall

The Great Wall is located in the suburbs north of Beijing, a 1-2 hour drive from both the city center and the airport, your choice of transportation can vary depending on your mode of travel from Hong Kong to Beijing, be it by plane or train.

Beijing Airport to Great Wall

If you arrive by plane, you can go directly to the Great Wall from the Beijing airport, or take the airport bus to downtown Beijing, and then travel to the Great Wall from the city. The best way to Great Wall from Beijing Airport is usually by taxi or booking a private car, albeit this is also a more expensive option.

While buses are a more economical means of transportation, since there is no direct bus service between Beijing Airport and the Great Wall, you will need first to take an airport shuttle bus to the downtown area, and then take another bus to the Great Wall. This method requires a lengthy travel time to and from the downtown area and it is possible to encounter traffic jams during peak hours.

Downtown Beijing to Great Wall

If you arrive in Beijing by high-speed train, you will alight at Beijing West Railway Station, which is located in downtown Beijing. You can depart from downtown Beijing to the Great Wall.

Option 1: By Bus or Great Wall Special Line Bus

Taking a bus or Great Wall special line bus is cost-effective, but requires more time. If your travel time is tight, we do not recommend public transport.

To Mutianyu: Dongzhimen/Qianmen-Mutianyu Great Wall Travel Special Line. Take Bus Line 916 express from Dongzhimen, then change to H7/H23/H24/H35/H36 to Mutianyu Great Wall. The whole journey takes about 2.5-3 hours. Alternatively, you can take the special line 8 or Yuntong 916 to Huairou Town, then change to Huairou 19 to Mutianyu Great Wall.
To Badaling: From downtown Beijing, you can take bus 919 from Deshengmen Station or the Dongzhimen/Qianmen Great Wall Special Line directly to Badaling Great Wall.
To Simatai Great Wall: Public transportation to Simatai Great Wall is not as convenient as to Mutianyu and Badaling, but there are solutions. You can take tourist special Line 22 from Dongzhimen Wai Station to Gubei Water Town Station, then walk 2.1 km to the Great Wall Simatai. Please note that the public transportation time to Simatai is relatively long, about 5 hours, so it is recommended to set off as early as possible.

Option 2: By Taxi/DiDi Ride-Hailing

You can directly take a taxi/DiDi ride-hailing from Beijing West Railway Station, Capital Airport, and Daxing Airport to the Great Wall, which is a more convenient way, but the cost is higher than taking a bus/special line bus.

Option 3: Take a private transfer with China Travel

It's the way simplest and most worry-free way to spare you much hassle. We'll pick you up from the airport, the railway station, or any other location, don't hesitate to get in touch with us to inquire about a private transfer to the Great Wall.

Day Trips from Hong Kong to Great Wall of China

To accomplish a day trip from Hong Kong to the Great Wall, you can embark on a round-trip journey by boarding the overnight D-train.

1、From Hong Kong's Kowloon Station to Beijing West Station: The train departs from Hong Kong's Kowloon Station at 18:24 in the evening and arrives at Beijing West Station the next morning at 06:53.

2、Exploring the Great Wall: To ensure a smooth experience for sightseeing and the return journey on the same day, it is recommended to take a taxi or use Didi directly from Beijing West Station to the Great Wall, or pre-book a one-day tour to the Great Wall.

3、Return from the Great Wall to Beijing West Station: Catch the return train departing at 20:13 and arriving at 08:47 the next morning at Hong Kong's Kowloon Station.

Tips:

It is advisable to apply for a visa in advance to enter the mainland of china.
As trains between Hong Kong and Beijing operate only on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it is recommended to plan the itinerary ahead and secure round-trip train tickets early, as tickets are often in high demand.

You may contact us to book round-trip overnight train tickets from Hong Kong to Beijing and arrange for a day tour service to visit the Great Wall.

Book a Great Wall Trip or Beijing Tour with Us

In summary, the first recommended destination from Hong Kong to the Great Wall should be the Mutianyu Great Wall due to its proximity to the airport or downtown Beijing, and it is also one of the most famous sections with stunning views and fewer tourists.

If you have ample time and want to see the Great Wall at night, the Simatai Great Wall is a wise option. Of course, the choice of how to go to the Great Wall from Beijing Airport ultimately depends on your budget, time, and comfort preference.

If you want to plan a trip to the Great Wall that is more suitable for you, please feel free to share your travel ideas with us. Or have a look at our newly designed The Great Wall tour packages in Beijing to get inspired: