The Great Wall of China at Jiankou Section

The Great Wall at Jiankou is one of the most photographed sections of China's Great Wall, featuring precipitous mountains and wonderful scenery. It is easy to find photos of it from various posters, postcards, and photographic works. This challenging section of the Great Wall is located some 80 kilometers away from Beijing, and zigzags for over 20 kilometers from the Mutianyu to Huanghuacheng sections of the Great Wall. Each side of it is bordered by cliffs, so it is more suitable for experienced travelers.

Highlights of the Great Wall at Jiankou

• Explore the most precipitous section of the Great Wall and admire it carefully from a different angle.
• Overlook the beautiful scenery from the high point of the Great Wall at Jiankou. It's regarded as one of the most popular areas for photography along the Great Wall.
• Compared with other sections of the Great Wall, the Jiankou section is totally wild and unrepaired. You can experience the most authentic and original section of the Great Wall there.

Essentials

• Chinese: 箭扣长城 (jiànkòuchángchéng)
• Features: totally wild, precipitous, beautiful
• Location: Xizhazi Village, Huairou County, Beijing
• Opening times: all day
• Ticket price: free
• Hiking hours: half a day

Top Wonderful Spots of Jiankou

As the most authentic, totally wild, and original section of the Great Wall, there are many unique sites at Jiankou that are worth exploring.

The Eagle Flies Facing Upward (鹰飞倒仰, yīngfēidàoyăng)

The Eagle Flies Facing Upward is not only the highest area of the Great Wall at Jiankou, but it is also the most popular area for taking photographs. It's called this because an eagle has to face upwards before reaching the top of the tower when it passes through there. It is a vivid example showing that the Great Wall at Jiankou is really steep.

The Sky Stairs (天梯, tiāntī)

The Sky Stairs is a well-known spot due to its precipitous staircase. The angle of elevation is an extreme 70 to 80 degrees, and the stairs only accommodate one foothold.

Beijing Knot (北京结, bĕijīngjié)

The Beijing Knot is a very important joint that links three sections of the Great Wall: the west route leads to Huanghuacheng; the midway point is Xiangshuihu; the north route leads to the Nine-Eye Tower. There are numerous lush pine trees and mountains, making it even more beautiful and popular.

Nine-Eye Tower (九眼楼, jiŭyănlóu)

Nine-Eye Tower was an important part of the command post during the ancient wars. It consists of nine holes on each side of the wall, which look like nine eyes. If you arrive there in fine weather, you can even overlook Beijing from the tower.

Hiking Trips for the Great Wall at Jiankou

The Great Wall at Jiankou is roughly divided into three sections. 

The north section is from Nine-Eye Tower to the north section of the Beijing Knot; the middle section is from the Beijing Knot to the middle of Jiankou; the south section is from Jiankou to Ox Horn Edge.

The most important section of the Great Wall at Jiankou is the middle section, including the Beijing Knot, the Eagle Flies Facing Upward, and the Sky Stairs. The Beijing Knot is the north tip of this section. There is a famous pine that looks like an umbrella, and it attracts lots of photographers for their creative works.

The south section is the second most popular area, including the Small Potala and Zhengbei Tower. It's difficult to hike from Jiankou to Zhengbei Tower and it's better to go via another section that is flatter. The southern part of this section is linked with the Great Wall at Mutianyu, and you can visit this section at the same time. Compared with other sections, the north section is ordinary with a flat road. Every spring, it is very beautiful with numerous blooming peach trees.

Travel Tips

Best Season

September to October is the most comfortable time for traveling. It will not be too hot or too cold, and you can enjoy the most beautiful scenery with blooming flowers and lush trees.

Transportation

Jiankou is located in a mountainous area, so it's hard to get there. You can take these buses in the following order:

• Take bus 916 at Dongzhimen Station, and get off at Yingbin Road Station.
• Transfer to bus 862, and get off at Yujiayuan Station.
• Take bus H25, and get off at Xizhazi Station. (Xizhazi village is in the foot of the Great Wall at Jiankou)

Equipment

It's a challenging trip so you have to check your equipment. It's best for you to take: a backpack, sports or hiking shoes, a hat, sunglasses, an alpenstock, gloves, and knee pads. As well as those items, you can take a map to ensure you don't get lost when your mobile phone's signal is weak on the mountain.

Fitness Level

Because of the precipitous terrain, this challenging trip is more suited to experienced hikers or adventurous travelers. Think about it carefully; don't take the challenge if you have a poor physical condition.

Environmental Protection

It's everyone's duty to protect the environment. Please remove any garbage and do not write on any part of the wall.

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