Has anyone taken the S2 Train from Beijing's North Train Station to Badaling?

We had planned to take a taxi for the day and go to the great wall at Mutianyu and then the Summer Palace; however, now think that it would be better to take the S2 train to Badaling (not sure if we can also get off and see Juyong Guan) and then once we get back to the North Station (early afternoon) take a taxi out to the Summer Palace (closes at 5pm).

Any thoughts ...

Looks as if the 1st train back from Badaling is at 3pm ..... so we would plan to see the Summer Palace in the morning and head out to Badaling for the afternon. Makes sense?

It is quicker, more convenient, and (I believe) cheaper to take a 919 express bus to Juyong Guan and Badaling. Using buses you can easily see both in a day and there are return departures right into the early evening.

The buses depart every few minutes from the east side of the Desheng Men (gate) on the north Second Ring Road, and the one-way ticket is ¥12. You can take the metro to Jishui Tan and walk ten minutes east to Desheng Men.

Simply have the characters for Juyong Guan (nearer) and Ba Da Ling ready. There are several versions of the 919 so you need these to make sure you end up on an express and not a stopping bus. You can use a stopping bus between the two, however. Pay on board.

Peter N-H

Juyong Guan bus details:

Buses to stop 居庸关长城: 919, 919慢, 919大战快, 919支, 919直快, 919快, all from Déshèng Mén (得胜门, one block east of m Jī Shuǐ Tán). The 919直快 is the fastest of these and the 919慢 the slowest.

Ba Da Ling bus details:

Buses to stop 八达岭: 919, 919慢, 919大战快, 919支, 919快, all from Déshèng Mén (得胜门, one block east of m Jī Shuǐ Tán, departures 6am–6.30pm every ten minutes or so, 1 1/2 hours, ¥12—20% off if you have the yì kǎ tōng).

Peter N-H

What order is best for seeing Badaling and the Summer Palace?

If we went first to the Summer Gardens, do we then need to go back to Déshèng Mén or if went out to Badaling first, do we need to head back to Déshèng Mén before heading to the Summer Palace?