Jiaoshan Great Wall Scenic Area

Jiaoshan Great Wall Scenic Area

The Jiaoshan Great Wall Scenic Area is a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction and a World Cultural Heritage site.

The Jiaoshan Scenic Area holds a series of honors, such as World Cultural Heritage site, National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit, National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, National Forest Park, and National Geological Park. Jiaoshan is situated 3 kilometers north of Shanhaiguan City, spanning an area of 3 square kilometers. Its highest peak reaches 519 meters above sea level and belongs to the Yan Mountain range. It is named for the way “its twin peaks rise sharply, standing like horns.” Additionally, it is revered as the “First Mountain of the Great Wall” because it is the first major peak crossed by the Ming Dynasty’s Great Wall, starting from Laolongtou.

The geological and geomorphological landscapes within the Jiaoshan Scenic Area are part of the Liujian National Geological Park in Qinhuangdao, Hebei. The main rocks forming the mountain consist of volcanic eruptive rocks and granite created during the Yanshan Movement. Since 1991, the “Spring Outing Festival” and “Mountain Climbing Festival” have been held annually in spring and autumn, inviting visitors to pack their bags and enjoy nature.

The area features majestic and undulating mountains, serving as a natural barrier for Shanhaiguan and also a place rich in cultural heritage. As early as the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Qixian Temple was built here, nurturing numerous notable figures and thus earning the reputation as the “Cradle of Shanhaiguan Culture.” At the same time, it has witnessed the long history, timeless changes, and vicissitudes of Shanhaiguan, making it a significant historical testament. Following Deng Xiaoping’s 1984 call to “Love our China, Repair our Great Wall,” the Jiaoshan Great Wall was well restored. The Jiaoshan Gate, Sightseeing Cableway, and Qixian Temple were respectively constructed or renovated in 1991, collectively forming the Jiaoshan Scenic Area to welcome visitors from all over the world.

Major attractions in the Jiaoshan Scenic Area include Mountain Gate Sea of Clouds, Qixian Buddhist Halo, Mountain Temple Rain and Shine, Auspicious Lotus Holding the Sun, Upside-down Hanging Great Wall, Pine Forest Drizzle, Goddess Bathing in the Sun, Secluded Winding Path, and Flight Over the Cliff. There are also 35 scenic spots such as Dry Gate Pass, Zhenlu Platform, Lotus Terrace, Kuixing Pavilion, Sweet Dew Pavilion, Guanyin of the Sea View, Xiao Xian’s Reading Spot, Guan Di Hall, and Dragon God Shrine.