Shuiguan Great Wall

Shuiguan Great Wall

The Shuiguan Great Wall is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction, a protected cultural heritage site of Beijing, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Shuiguan Great Wall has a long and storied history, ancient yet majestic in appearance. As a remnant of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, it has stood for over 400 years and once served as one of the key strategic passes protecting the capital. It was constructed under the supervision of the famed anti-Japanese general Qi Jiguang.

It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and is managed by the Badaling Tourism Corporation. Located about 40 kilometers northwest of Beijing, this section of the Great Wall is the finest part at the eastern end of the Badaling stretch, but was severed during the construction of China’s first independently designed Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway. The Shuiguan Great Wall Scenic Area is renowned for its grand landscapes, well-developed service facilities, and rich historical and cultural significance. The ancient pathways, age-old trees and vines, rugged mountains, spiritual waters, historic gates, and old fortifications all come together here to form an array of pristine ink-painting-like scenes. Each frame touches upon the traces of history and absorbs all deeply hidden memories.

Since officially opening to tourists in 1995, the Shuiguan Great Wall has welcomed nearly 80 million domestic and international visitors and hosted dozens of notable figures. It has also served as the venue for nearly 10,000 various events.

The President of the Italian Senate, Pietro Grasso, and his wife Maria Federica, along with a delegation of over 20 people, visited the Shuiguan Great Wall accompanied by relevant officials. Basketball legend Michael Jordan once climbed the Shuiguan Great Wall. The music video for Andy Lau’s song “Chinese People” was filmed here. Snooker legend Ding Junhui stood atop the Shuiguan Great Wall. Popular music groups like TFBOYS, renowned singers such as Tan Weiwei and Wei Chen, athletes, and film stars including Leon Lai, and Ariel Lin have all visited the Shuiguan Great Wall.

The Shuiguan Great Wall is a cultural-themed scenic area centered around the heritage of the Great Wall and supported by high-quality services. It features unique natural scenery, an excellent location, a comfortable visiting environment, outstanding service quality, and clean air. It is also a top choice for hosting large-scale events.

Suggested Duration

2–4 hours

Transportation

1. Take bus 919 from the Deshengmen Bus Station in Beijing and get off at the Shuiguan Great Wall stop.

2. If coming from the Changling or Badaling Great Wall scenic areas, you can take bus 879.

Ticket Prices

Adult ticket: 40 RMB; seniors aged 60–65 in Beijing (with senior ID), seniors over 60 from other regions, and students (with student ID): 20 RMB; children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 65 in Beijing (with senior ID): free.

Opening Hours

7:00-17:00

Location

Shifo Temple Village, Badaling Town, Yanqing District, Beijing

Shifo Temple Village: Located about 15 kilometers southeast of Yanqing County and at the foot of the Badaling Great Wall, Shifo Temple Village lies 10 kilometers east of Jingzhuang Town and 5 kilometers northwest of Qinglongqiao Railway Station. The village covers an area of 3.4 square kilometers and sits at an elevation of approximately 500 meters.

Origin of the Village Name

The village name comes from the ancient Shifo Temple located to the west of the village. According to the Ming Dynasty text “Xiguan Zhi”: “Shifo Temple is fifteen li north of the pass (Juyong Pass) and was built during the Yongle era, featuring a large stone-carved statue of the Goddess of Mercy.” The temple houses a relief sculpture of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, and the village is named after the temple.

Shuiguan Great Wall

The Shuiguan Great Wall is part of the Badaling Great Wall, situated south of Shifo Temple Village, stretching continuously... More details on Shifo Temple Village++

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Protected Cultural Heritage Sites in Beijing