How to Get to the Great Wall of China From Shanghai

Shanghai is a modern testament to the capacity of China to reinvent itself into a global leader in technology and innovation. The Great Wall is one of the ancient wonders of the world and stands as a monument to the scope and level of organization of China in its dynastic heyday. The traveler who finds himself in China will want to visit both of these prime attractions, but first they will need to know how to get from one to the other. At first, the train and bus system may look confusing to a visitor to China, but they are both actually very efficient and comfortable and can be downright fun.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Going from Shanghai to the Great Wall

Things You’ll Need:

Train ticket to Beijing Bus ticket to the Great Wall
Train ticket to Beijing
Bus ticket to the Great Wall

Step 1

Take a high-speed train from Shanghai to Beijing. It is more than 900 miles, so either book a sleeper and travel overnight or ride one of the new high-speed trains during the day. The Shanghai Railway Station is located just north of the city's core, in the Zhabei District.

Step 2

Make your way to the Dongzhimen Bus Terminal, located in the old city walls of Beijing. There should be a bus from the train station that will take you there.

Step 3

Take a public bus from the Dongzhimen Bus Terminal to the Great Wall of China. There are buses that go to the Mutianyu, Simatai and Jinshanling sections of the Great Wall of China from Dongzhimen. Trip time is about an hour.

Step 4

Tour the Wall. From any of the sections of the great wall near Beijing, you can trek the length of the wall or book tours that travel along the length of it.

Tips & Warnings

Beijing has more than 20,000 buses operating at one time, so don't be ashamed of being confused. If you can't figure out which public buses go the Great Wall, there are tourist buses across the street from the Dongzhimen Bus Terminal that will take you there as well.

Resources

Getting to the Great Wall

Article Written By Vincent Madrone

Based in San Francisco, Vincent Madrone is a professional freelance travel writer and voiceover artist. He has written extensively for online and print publications, including USA Today Travel Tips, A to Z World Travel and Viva Travel Guides. Madrone also writes health-related articles for various online publications.

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