great wall bus trips from city

IN the lonely planet they list tour buses 1and 2 as ways to reach the great wall at Badaling and also the Ming Tombs from downtown. They are both fairly cheap at 45-50 yuan.

Has anyone had experience with either bustour? Your comments are welcome

How long so the tours give you at the Wall?

How long at Ming tombs and do they just past by the Spirit Way as suggested by many posts.

3rd do these tours also have stops at various shops, medicine shops etc all trying to sell you stuff!!!!!

Heard a lot of mixed comments about Ming tombs. True or Americans just don%26#39;t understand /appreciate the significants of this sight?

REplies welcome

great wall bus trips from city

You can take line 919 departure from Deshengmen bus station to Badaling or Juyongguan Section, check this thread: adventurechinatrip.com/bbs/forum_posts.asp鈥?/a> But if you also want to visit Ming tombs, perhaps the tourist bus you mentioned, buses 1and 2, are more suitable for you.

';How long at Ming tombs and do they just past by the Spirit Way as suggested by many posts.';

yes, some body do not like ming tomb. But sacred road is a good alternative.

Cheers

great wall bus trips from city

If you decide to visit Badaling great Wall,try to do this

Take subway to Jishuitan,then walk to Deshengmen or take taxi to Deshengmen directly.Take bus 919,(around 10) directly to Badaling great wall.

After the wall,you can find a taxi(local taxi mini van) to Ming tombs(spirit way,this is the only thing worth to see,not the tomb) the van will charge around 30-50,then there have bus again back to downtown,in my opinion,if you do this bus tour,no tourists shops,however it is a little difficutle for you find the way to Ming tombs,maybe just to the wall,not the tomb.

I have some tips on the bus to Badaling at virtualtourist.com.

We caught the 919 airconditioned express bus to Bedaling and it was great. We caught a cab from our hotel (Crowne Plaza Wangfujing) to the bus depot, but be warned the cab drivers will insist that there is no bus to the great wall, just ignore them and state where you want to go. Make sure you get the airconditioned, express bus its very comfortable and very cheap, about 16 Yuan from memory.

We liked it because we were free to stay at the Wall as long as we wanted (with no mandatory stops at Jade factories etc etc) and buses were returning to Beijing all the time, so getting back was no problem.

thanks for the replies. I was just inBeijing 2 weeks ago for business and visited the wall at badeling on a Sunday. Hard to capture a memory when 3 people are tucking on your sleve wanting to sell you postcards.

I know they are poor, but it can wear on you.

We are apcking light for this vacation and don%26#39;t need to tote Jade nick nacks around