Places you can reach in the morning and leave in the evening. Public transport first; the car only where it really helps.
Mutianyu Great Wall
A Ming section of the Great Wall in Huairou winding through green woods, UNESCO-listed in 1987, with towers 1 to 20 open, a cable car, a chairlift and a toboggan slide. An easy Great Wall day for first-timers and families.
How to get there
- Bus · Beijing Public Transport (916 Express) + Huairou local bus H7/H23/H24/H35/H36From Dongzhimen Transport Hub
Departures: not verified 2026 (916 Express is a frequent line; seats fill up, board by 07:30 per MyChinaGuide)
Fare: Fare not verified with the operator 2026; MyChinaGuide (updated Sep 2026) gives CNY 12 with a transit card/QR code, cash about CNY 16
Take the 916 Express to Huairou Beidajie (the official site's transfer point), then a local H-line bus to the scenic area. MyChinaGuide puts the 916 at 1h15 off-peak and 1h45-2h at weekends, the last H-line minibus out of Mutianyu around 16:30 and the last 916 back from Huairou about 19:30 in summer, 18:30 in winter (not verified with the operator). Local taxis wait at Huairou.
- Shuttle bus · Mutianyu tourist shuttle lines (listed by the scenic area)From Dongzhimen subway station Exit B1 (also Qianmen, Dongzhimen Exit H, Shaoyaoju Exit E, Wangfujing Regent hotel)
Departures: Route 1 Dongzhimen B1: 08:00, 10:00. Route 2: Qianmen 07:00-11:00 rolling, Dongzhimen H 09:10, Shaoyaoju E 09:30; returns 13:00-16:00 from parking lot P4. Route 3 Wangfujing: 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 (official site, Aug 2026)
Fare: not verified 2026
Phone reservation needed in advance, some lines the day before (Route 1 +86 400 660 3560; Route 2 +86 10 83531111; Route 3 +86 10 64448522). Times valid for summer 2026; check before travel.
What to see
- Cable car to watchtower 14. The official "head of state reception route": ride up to the Mu No. 14 viewing platform, walk to tower 15 and back. About 2 hours.
- Walk towers 10 to 20. The "extreme challenge route" from the North Entrance via the northern wall path to tower 10, on to tower 14 and up to tower 20 (Hero's Platform), then down by cable car from 14. Half a day.
- Opening-time visit. The scenic area recommends 3-4 hours and arriving at opening time or after 15:30 to avoid crowds.
Closed days
Open daily. Peak season 16 Mar - 15 Nov: Mon-Fri 7:30-18:00, Sat-Sun 7:30-18:30; off-season 16 Nov - 15 Mar 8:00-17:30; ticket sales stop 1 hour and entry 30 min before closing (official site; extended 7:30-19:30 hours applied 13 Jul - 10 Aug 2026).
Best time to go
all year; spring and autumn best. Peak season 16 Mar - 15 Nov.
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. Jingcheng Expressway exit 13 (Beitai Road), then follow signs; parking CNY 20 per car per entry (official site). Foreign visitors cannot simply drive on a home licence: they need a Chinese temporary driving permit, which Beijing issues at a vehicle management station in Daxing Airport terminal (passport/entry document, original licence, photo; Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Jan 2025).
Good to know
- Entry CNY 45, shuttle bus inside the area CNY 15, cable car CNY 140 return / CNY 100 one way; children up to 1.2 m free (official site, Aug 2026). The cable car, chairlift and toboggan are run by separate companies with tickets that are not interchangeable; chairlift and toboggan prices not verified 2026.
- Tickets are real-name: buy online (up to 15 days ahead) with your passport number and enter by scanning the passport; cable-car ticket holders use the North Ticket Gate, chairlift/toboggan holders the Slide Ticket Gate (official visitor notice).
- The shuttle-bus station is about 3 km from the ticket gate, so buy the shuttle ticket unless you want the walk.
- Plan the return first: if you miss the last local bus, taxis wait in Huairou for the 916 connection.
Badaling Great Wall
The best-preserved and most representative Ming section and the first opened to tourists, built in 1504 at the north entrance of the Guangou pass in Yanqing, 60 km northwest of Beijing. About 20 minutes by high-speed train from Qinghe, the quickest Great Wall trip by public transport.
How to get there
- Train · China Railway (Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed line) · 19 minFrom Qinghe station (also Beijing North)
Departures: 15 trains a day to Badaling Great Wall station on Wed 21 Oct 2026, e.g. Qinghe 06:40, 07:45, 08:52, 09:11, 10:09; from Beijing North 07:29, 07:47, 08:52. Last return to Qinghe 20:43 (G7886).
Fare: CNY 21 second class from Qinghe (G7839), CNY 31 from Beijing North (G7831); first class CNY 34 / 50 (12306, checked 2026-10)
Qinghe to Badaling takes 19-23 min, Beijing North 27-40 min. Book on 12306 and buy the return at the same time. Badaling Great Wall station lies about 700 m (straight line, OSM) from the main scenic area; walking time not verified.
What to see
- Badaling Great Wall. 3,741 m of walkable restored Ming wall with an east and a west gate (visitbeijing); 2-3 hours.
- Badaling Great Wall Cultural Block. 590 m street of food, shops and performances at the foot of the wall (visitbeijing); 30-60 min.
Closed days
Open daily: 06:30-16:30 (1 Apr - 31 Oct), 07:30-16:00 (1 Nov - 31 Mar).
Best time to go
all year (peak season 1 Apr - 31 Oct)
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. The scenic area is at exit 58 of the G6 Jingzang Expressway (visitbeijing). Not needed: the high-speed train is faster. Foreign visitors cannot simply drive on a home licence: they need a Chinese temporary driving permit, which Beijing issues at a vehicle management station in Daxing Airport terminal (passport/entry document, original licence, photo; Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Jan 2025).
Good to know
- Adult ticket CNY 40 in peak season (1 Apr - 31 Oct) and CNY 35 off-season; free for under-18s and over-60s with ID (Beijing government ticketing page, 2024; checked 2026-10). That page says tickets can be bought on site without reservation, but the scenic area also runs real-name online booking: book ahead on busy dates with your passport.
- Early trains leave Qinghe at 06:40 and 07:45, arriving before 08:05.
- Hours: 06:30-16:30 from 1 Apr to 31 Oct, 07:30-16:00 from 1 Nov to 31 Mar (Beijing government ticketing page).
Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall
A resort town of canals and courtyard inns at the foot of the Simatai Great Wall in Miyun, about 2 hours from Beijing; Simatai, steep and densely towered, also runs a night tour in season. A long day by bus, or an overnight stay to see the lit wall.
How to get there
- Bus · Beijing Public Transport direct bus (listed on wtown.com) · 2 hFrom Wangjing West transport hub (mezzanine, door 5)
Departures: Wangjing West 09:00 and 13:00; return from Gubei Water Town parking lot 2 at 12:00 and 17:00
Fare: CNY 48 per person; pay with a Beijing transit card, the Yitongxing/Beijing Bus app QR code or exact cash (wtown.com, checked 2026-10)
134 km. Mini-programs, Alipay and WeChat QR codes do not work on this bus (wtown.com). A CYTS tourist bus (also CNY 48) leaves from the CYTS building at Dongzhimen; book through the CYTS mini-program; times not listed.
- Train · China Railway (Huaimi line, S5) + shuttle bus · 2 h 30 minFrom Beijing North or Qinghe
Departures: S501 Beijing North 06:55 / Qinghe 07:10 -> Gubeikou 09:25; shuttle Gubeikou station -> water town 09:40 and 17:10; back: shuttle 08:40 and 15:50, S504 Gubeikou 17:20 -> Qinghe 19:36 / Beijing North 19:52 (12306 and wtown.com, Oct 2026)
Fare: CNY 12 Beijing North - Gubeikou (12306, checked 2026-10); shuttle fare per bus company tariff, not verified
Only a few trains a day; the shuttle is run by the bus company and is suspended in bad weather.
What to see
- Simatai Great Wall by cable car. Official route: cable car to the upper station, walk to tower 5, down to tower 2, back to the cable car. 2-3 hours. Simatai ticket check 9:00-15:00.
- Gubei Water Town. Canals, lanes and courtyard inns below the wall; 2-3 hours.
- Simatai night tour. Cable car up and walk to tower 5 to see the lit wall; night ticket check 18:00-21:40 (May-October), everyone off the wall by 22:40 (Beijing government page, 2024). Needs an overnight stay or a car.
Closed days
Open daily. Water Town 9:00-22:30 Sun-Thu, to 23:00 Fri-Sat; Simatai day ticket check 9:00-15:00 (Beijing government ticketing page, 2024).
Best time to go
May-Oct (night tour season); the town is open all year.
By car
A car makes this trip easier. About 2 h by car. About 120 km / 2 hours from central Beijing: Jingcheng Expressway exit 24 (Simatai). Parking CNY 25 per car, no time limit (wtown.com). A car or an overnight stay is the only way to see the night wall, since the last bus and shuttle leave around 17:00. Foreign visitors cannot simply drive on a home licence: they need a Chinese temporary driving permit, which Beijing issues at a vehicle management station in Daxing Airport terminal (passport/entry document, original licence, photo; Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Jan 2025).
Good to know
- Gubei Water Town CNY 140 walk-in (list price 160); Simatai Great Wall CNY 40; day combined ticket CNY 170 (list 180) (wtown.com FAQ, checked 2026-10). Night wall ticket CNY 200 (Beijing government ticketing page, 2024).
- Online tickets need an ID number (use your passport); on-site QR entry needs no ID (wtown.com).
- Water Town and Simatai are two separately ticketed scenic areas managed by the same company.
Ming Tombs (Changling, Dingling, Sacred Way)
The burial valley of 13 Ming emperors at the foot of Tianshou Mountain, 50 km north of Beijing and a UNESCO site since 2003: the great hall of Changling, the excavated underground palace of Dingling and the statue-lined Sacred Way. A calm half day for history lovers.
How to get there
- Bus · Beijing Public Transport tourist bus 872From Deshengmen bus station (near Jishuitan, Line 2)
Departures: every 30 min in peak hours, 07:10-19:10 (Beijing government page, 2020)
Fare: not verified 2026
Direct to Dingling and Changling. Alternative: subway Changping Line to Changping Dongguan, then bus 314 to the Sacred Way (Nanxin Village stop), Dingling and Changling (visitbeijing).
- Bus · Beijing Public Transport bus 314From Changping Dongguan (Changping Line subway)
Departures: not verified 2026
Fare: not verified 2026
Links the Sacred Way (Nanxin Village), Dingling and Changling, so you can do the sites in one loop.
What to see
- Changling. Tomb of the Yongle Emperor (Zhu Di), built in 1409, the best preserved of the tombs; 60-90 min.
- Dingling. Tomb of the Wanli Emperor (Zhu Yijun) and two empresses, the first tomb excavated in China as planned; 60-90 min. Current access to the underground chamber not verified 2026.
- Sacred Way. Long spirit way lined with stone animals and officials at the entrance to the valley; 45 min.
- Zhaoling. Restored tomb of Zhu Zaihou (Longqing Emperor) and three empresses, with a crescent-shaped "dumb yard"; 45 min.
Closed days
Open daily: 8:30-17:30 peak season, 8:30-16:30 off-season (Beijing government ticketing page, 2024; sources differ slightly by site).
Best time to go
Apr-Oct (peak-season hours); all year
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. Not needed: direct tourist bus 872 and subway plus bus 314. Foreign visitors cannot simply drive on a home licence: they need a Chinese temporary driving permit, which Beijing issues at a vehicle management station in Daxing Airport terminal (passport/entry document, original licence, photo; Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Jan 2025).
Good to know
- Peak-season tickets: Dingling CNY 60, Changling CNY 45, Zhaoling CNY 30, Sacred Way CNY 20; off-season Dingling 40, Changling 30, Zhaoling 20, Sacred Way 15. Half price for students 6-25; free for over-60s and children up to 1.2 m (Beijing government ticketing page, 2024; visitbeijing).
- Tickets can be bought on site; no reservation required (Beijing government ticketing page, 2024).
- Bus 314 links the three main sites, so start at the Sacred Way and finish at Changling.
Tianjin
China's old treaty port, 30 minutes from Beijing South by intercity train: European villas on the Five Great Avenues, the former Italian concession, the temple-and-shop street of Ancient Culture Street and a food culture of its own (Goubuli baozi, jianbing guozi, mahua twists). An easy full day for architecture and food.
How to get there
- Train · China Railway (Beijing-Tianjin intercity, C trains; some G trains to Tianjin South) · 30 minFrom Beijing South
Departures: 78 trains a day Beijing South -> Tianjin station on Wed 21 Oct 2026, from 06:00, several an hour; last return Tianjin 22:42 -> Beijing South 23:19 (12306)
Fare: CNY 54.5 second class, CNY 88 first class Beijing South - Tianjin (C2551, 12306, checked 2026-10)
Take a C train to Tianjin (main) station, which is next to the Italian Style Town and the Hai River; trains marked Tianjin South or Tianjin West stop further out. Journey 30-37 min.
What to see
- Italian Style Town. Former Italian concession in Hebei District, about 1 km from Tianjin Station across the Hai River, with nearly 200 preserved European buildings; 60 min.
- Five Great Avenues (Wudadao). Five parallel east-west roads (Chengdu, Chongqing, Dali, Munan and Machang Dao) with over 2,000 garden houses built in the 1920s-30s; Prince Qing's Mansion (1922) at 55 Chongqing Road. 2 hours.
- Ancient Culture Street. Pedestrian street of old-style shops around the Queen of Heaven Palace (Tianhou Gong); 60 min.
- Tianjin Eye. 120 m Ferris wheel on Yongle Bridge over the Hai River, 48 cabins; 45 min.
- Tianjin snacks. Goubuli steamed baozi (brand founded 1858), Tianjin-style jianbing guozi, fried dough twists (mahua).
Closed days
Streets open daily; opening days of individual mansions and museums not verified 2026.
Best time to go
all year; spring and autumn best for walking
By car
Public transport is the better way to go here. Not needed: intercity trains every few minutes. Foreign visitors cannot simply drive on a home licence: they need a Chinese temporary driving permit, which Beijing issues at a vehicle management station in Daxing Airport terminal (passport/entry document, original licence, photo; Beijing Foreign Affairs Office, Jan 2025).
Good to know
- Buy the return train on 12306 together with the outbound; evening trains back are busy at weekends.
- Walk from Tianjin Station across the Hai River to the Italian Style Town, then take a taxi or metro to Wudadao and Ancient Culture Street.