Banjiayu Great Wall

Banjiayu Great Wall

The Banjiayu Great Wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Banjiayu Great Wall was built under the supervision of the Ming Dynasty general Qi Jiguang. The wall is 5 meters wide and 4.8 meters high (with battlements approximately 1.8 meters tall), constructed from stone and blue bricks, stretching about 15 kilometers. With its perilous terrain, majestic architecture, and watchtowers scattered across the landscape, the highest watchtower stands atop a mountain peak over 800 meters above sea level. Each section of the Great Wall is named after a local geographical feature, such as Tiger Gully, Pan Dao Gully, Snake Kiln Gully, and Yanglai Tower. Among the more than 50 watchtowers, over 30 are relatively well-preserved. There are also more than ten surviving boundary steles of the Great Wall, which are very rare among the existing sections of the Ming Great Wall. Beacon towers and battle platforms complement each other, presenting a comprehensive and multi-layered view of the unique military defensive system of the Ming Great Wall.

The Great Wall stretches in a row along the high ridges, with a watchtower on each towering peak. Among them, Yanglai Tower marks the dividing line between the eastern and western sections of the Great Wall. The eastern side leads toward Dongjiakou and Damo Mountain, while the western side extends toward Yiyuankou. After extending eastward and westward, both sides of the wall soon turn south, connected in between by a horizontally aligned, heavily collapsed section of wall.

Yanglai Tower is a two-story structure with a barrack room located in the middle. The upper and lower levels are connected by stairs. The lower level provides shelter from wind and rain, while the rooftop allows for surveillance and shooting. The barrack room can be used to store weapons and provisions. The hollow watchtower features arrow slits on all four sides and is known as the “Four-Eyed Tower.” Although this watchtower is now in ruins, its majestic presence remains intact. The Great Wall within the area has not undergone any restoration and, having endured the elements for centuries, stands here in its ancient grandeur, showcasing its timeless beauty.

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