Nine-Eye Tower Great Wall

Nine-Eye Tower Great Wall

The Nine-Eye Tower Great Wall is a national A-level tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sihai Town is situated 46 kilometers east of Yanqing County, covering an area of 115.7 square kilometers with an average altitude of around 700 meters. It enjoys a cool climate and significant diurnal temperature variation. The annual average temperature is 5–7°C lower than in the urban area, and annual precipitation ranges between 550–600 mm. The town is rich in forestry resources, with vegetation coverage exceeding 90%, the highest in Beijing, making it one of the nation’s top 100 forested towns. The area has well-developed infrastructure and convenient transportation, with roads extending in all directions, serving as the economic and cultural hub of the eastern mountainous region of the county. Its elegant environment, unique climate, stunning natural scenery, and numerous historical and cultural sites contribute to its abundant tourism resources. The Nine-Eye Tower, hailed as the “First Tower of the Great Wall,” is a comprehensive landscape that embodies both natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The Nine-Eye Tower Natural Scenic Area is located atop the main peak of Flame Mountain, 9 kilometers southeast of Sihai Town. It is the largest and most grandly constructed watchtower along the Great Wall. Now developed as the “Nine-Eye Tower Great Wall Natural Scenic Area,” it is open to visitors. The scenic area features high mountains, deep valleys, vast terrain, lush vegetation, a serene environment, and magnificent scenery.

According to the *Yanqing County Place Names Record* of Beijing: “The Nine-Eye Tower was built in the 20th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1543 AD) by Regional Inspector Wang Yi. It had large and small red gates in the middle, stretching 160 li from Chadao Yangtou Mountain in the west to Sihaiye in the east, with five passes and 14 beacon towers flanking the red gates. The Nine-Eye Tower is located 5 li south of Shiyao Village in Sihai Township at the eastern end of this border wall, on Flame Mountain, standing 7.8 meters tall with nine lookout holes connecting three sections of the wall. If an alert were raised in Sihai, cannon fire from the southern wall could instantly reach Juyong Pass.” This account tells us that the Nine-Eye Tower is over 450 years old and also highlights its significant military importance.

The Nine-Eye Tower is a two-story square structure, named for its nine lookout holes on each side. Currently, only the first floor remains, standing 7.8 meters tall with each side measuring 13 meters. The lookout holes are 1.65 meters high and 0.5 meters wide, with a 1.2-meter-wide circular patrol path inside for soldiers to walk along. The lower part of the tower is built with stone slabs, while the upper part uses blue bricks mortared with white lime, creating a structure that is both sturdy and magnificent. On the western side of the base is a platform, serving as a gathering area for soldiers. To the north of the platform, brick steps lead up to the tower’s south gate. The tower’s roof features a brick arched structure. The interior is spacious, accommodating soldiers and storing equipment, with two windows facing north and a door on each of the four sides. Each door is two meters high and 1.2 meters wide, allowing for easy access.

The Nine-Eye Tower is not only the largest and most densely outfitted with lookout holes among all watchtowers on the Great Wall, but it also holds great strategic significance in military defense. Its location is extremely precarious, situated at the junction of three major military strongholds: Xuanda (present-day Xuanhua), Jizhou (present-day Beijing), and Changping. It marks the convergence point of the Inner and Outer Great Walls. Such a critical position is unmatched by any other watchtower along the Great Wall. Moreover, the tower bears 24 inscribed stelae, most of which praise its majestic presence and express the authors’ lofty sentiments. No other watchtower has inspired such a wealth of poetry. The exceptional attention it received from ancient military strategists and poets further underscores its unique status.

The surrounding mountains undulate dramatically, with valleys stretching far and wide. Up close, dense green trees form surging waves that seem to push forward endlessly; in the distance, clouds and mist hover like smoke or fog. To the southeast, a stretch of azure surrounded by mountains is the Yanxi Lake Reservoir; to the southwest, beyond the haze, lies Beijing—just as the ancients described, “the divine capital lies before you, its palaces within sight.”

Recently, experts from the China Great Wall Society visited and fully affirmed the Nine-Eye Tower’s status as the “First Tower of the Great Wall.” Upon ascending the tower, they remarked with deep emotion: “We’ve walked along every part of the Great Wall, but we’ve never felt such awe.”

Scenic Area Rating: 1A

Scenic Area Category: Natural

Opening Hours: Early May – End of October annually

Address: Sihai Town, Yanqing County

Phone: 60187019, 60187367

Admission: First-entry ticket: 20 RMB/person, no additional charges

Transportation

By Car: Take the Beijing–Lhasa Expressway from Madian Bridge to Yanqing County, then follow Yan-Si Road (Yanqing–Sihai) to reach the Nine-Eye Tower Scenic Area.

By Bus: Take bus 919 from Deshengmen to Yanqing Bus Terminal, transfer to bus 920 heading toward Sihai, alight at Sihai Town Government. Then hire a small white van (10 RMB) right outside the government building for direct transport to the Nine-Eye Tower Scenic Area.

Address: Main peak of Flame Mountain, 4 km southeast of Sihai Town, Yanqing District, Beijing (altitude 1141 m)

Sihai Town: Sihai Town is located 46 kilometers east of Yanqing County, directly north of Beijing’s central axis. The town covers a total area of 115.7 square kilometers, bordering Huairou District to the east and south, adjacent to Qianjiadian Town and Zhenzhuquan Township to the northeast, and abutting Liubinbao Township to the northwest. The town comprises 18 administrative villages, 6 natural villages, totaling 2,490 households with a population of 6,880, including 6,001 agricultural residents and 2,784 rural laborers. The arable land area spans 14,278 mu, while mountainous land covers 143,000 mu. The area features an extensive network of crisscrossing roads, including the Yan-Liu Road, An-Si Road, and Si-Bao Road, forming a well-connected… More details about Sihai Town++