Jiankou Great Wall

Jiankou Great Wall

The Jiankou Great Wall is a national AAA-level tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Destination Introduction

The Jiankou Great Wall is located in Huairou District. Here, the Great Wall follows the mountain’s contours—winding low where the terrain is gentle, resembling a giant dragon leaping and undulating with the ridges, a truly spectacular sight. The watchtowers are built along the perilous mountain ridges, their layout varied and rhythmic. With strong support from the government, the Jiankou Great Wall has been well preserved, showcasing its majestic and rugged ancient form.

Located 10 kilometers west of the Mutianyu Great Wall, Jiankou features a more varied and rhythmic layout than Simatai; its mountain terrain is more rugged and precipitous than that of Mutianyu; and the wall is constructed from large blocks of white dolomite, making it highly visible.

The Jiankou Great Wall is one of the most famous and perilous sections of the Ming Dynasty’s Great Wall and is the most frequently photographed section in various Great Wall albums, making it a popular spot for Great Wall photography. Much of this section of the wall is built atop steep cliffs and peaks, presenting a majestic, rugged, and grand spectacle with a highly varied and rhythmic layout. It is situated in Zhenzhuquan Village, Bohai Town, Huairou County, to the northwest. This is an extremely rugged mountainous area where the wall’s layout is dynamic and rhythmic, featuring the “Ox Horn Edge” built atop a mountain peak over 1,000 meters above sea level, as well as the “Eagle Flies Facing Upward” and “Jiankou” sections built on knife-edge-like cliffs. From the left side of the Longtan Dam valley, you can go directly to the famous Jiankou and Eagle Flies Facing Upward sections, experiencing the thrill of ascending the Great Wall along the way.

Location: Located in Huairou District, 10 kilometers west of the Mutianyu Great Wall

Walking from Mutianyu along the Great Wall offers quite scenic views, including the famous “Knife Handle Tower” (a small branch of the Great Wall with a uniquely shaped, large watchtower) and the “Ox Horn Edge” (where the wall takes a long detour around a mountain peak to secure a high vantage point). However, taking this route will likely leave you exhausted by the time you reach Jiankou. Alternatively, starting from Longtan Dam in Zhenzhuquan Village and hiking up the valley not only allows direct access to the famous Jiankou (locally also called “Jiankou,” a fitting but less poetic name) and “Eagle Flies Facing Upward” (describing cliffs so steep that even eagles have to tilt their heads upward), but also lets you enjoy views of Longtan and the ruins of ancient Great Wall brick kilns.

Time Needed

1–2 days

Transportation

Visiting the Jiankou Great Wall usually starts from Xizhazhaizi Village, which serves as the trailhead for hiking the wall. To get to Xizhazhaizi Village from downtown Beijing, you first need to reach Huairou, then transfer from there.

1. Take bus 916 from Beijing Dongzhimen Bus Hub to Yingbin Road Station (about 70 minutes).

2. Cross the street at Yingbin Road Station and transfer to bus 862 to Yujia Yuan Station (there are two Yujia Yuan Stations; get off at the second one).

3. From Yujia Yuan, take H25 (the Xizhazhaizi Village shuttle bus) to Xizhazhaizi Station (this bus departs Yujia Yuan daily at 11:30 and 16:30, and returns from Xizhazhaizi at 6:30 and 13:15; the one-way trip takes about 70 minutes).

Ticket

No ticket required for the Great Wall itself. However, if entering via Xizhazhaizi Village, you’ll need to pay a 20 RMB fee for the Xizhazhaizi Ecological Scenic Area (essentially an entry fee for the village).

Opening Hours

Open all day

Location

Xizhazhaizi Village, Yanqi Town, Huairou County, Beijing