Hefangkou Great Wall is located at Hefangkou village, Huairou county, about 75km (46miles) away northeastern of Beijing. Hefangkou is quiet, easily accessible, yet it attracts far less visitors than Badaling Great Wall. It’s a ideal site for hiking and short excursions. Originally built during the North Qi Dynasty (550-577), most of the Walls were rebuilt during the Jiaqing reign of the Ming dynasty. It’s about 20km (13miles) in length with 23 watchtowers. Hefangkou is famous for its jagged cliffs and steep drop-offs. This kind of ‘wild’ bit of the Wall is best done via a tour, or hiring a vehicle. If you are adventurous, you do it by public transport. In my opinion, how you actually do it probably depends on your budget.

By Car

Hiring a private car getting to Hefangkou is a good choice if your budget is not tight and want to avoid the crowds and traffic. If you are travelling with 3 or 4 people, this way is really good value for your money.

By Bus

Alternatively, Bus 936 is a good option to visit Hefangkou Great Wall. Bus 936 from Dongzhimen Outer that runs daily between 7:00am-19:00pm is the fastest, most direct way to reach Hefangkou by bus so far. It takes around 2 hrs or 2.5 hrs from Dongzhimen Outer to Hefangkou and it costs around 4.8RMB by using Beijing IC Card/commuter pass and the full price is around 14RMB. Be sure to get off at Qinglongxiadaokou bus station where you can walk to Hefangkou.

Where is the 936 bus station in Beijing?

936 bus station is on the outside bus transfer depot at Dongzhimen Outer, which is also next to Mutianyu 867 bus station. The bus transfer depot is just outside of exit B of Dongzhimen Line 2 subway staion. There are signs, in English, throughout the subway station pointing you toward the bus transfer depot and exit B. Most of the buses are inside bus transfer depot in a massive building. 

While 936 bus station is on the outside bus transfer depot and a little bit difficult to find. The easiest way to find it is to go to the main entrance of Dongzhimen Outer bus transfer depot then walk anticlock wise around the block until you get to the another bus station. Luckily, you can get there from Dongzhimen subway station within 20 minutes on foot.

Related Tours: Gubeikou to Jinshanling Hike

                         Jiankou Hiking plus Mutianyu Toboggan Ride 

Related Links:  How to Get to Mutianyu by Bus

                         How to Get to Badaling       

                         How to Get to Ming Tombs and Sacred Way

                         How to get to Huanghuacheng

                         How to get to Wonderland            

 

936 bus sign

Hefangkou Great Wall is largely restored, but less crowded.

 

 

Telegraph poles on the Wall

 

The watchtower is in a good condition.

 

Miss Zhang seels water and cucumber at Hefangkou, she told me some interesting stories of Hefangkou Great Wall, What a change!

The trail towards Hefangkou Great Wall.

 

The trail towards Hefangkou is near the guesthouse.

 

 

Your turn