Juyongguan Pass Great Wall
Juyongguan Great Wall Key Words:
Features: spectacular pass, steep, slender and circular wall, less original
Hiking Area: east and west sections (two semicircles)
Hiking Time: 2 - 3 hours for each section (one semicircle )
Hiking Level: biginner-intermediate
Distance: 60km from the downtown Beijing
Cable car: not available
At 7:00am I get up and walk out of the courtyard hotel. Taking in the fresh air, I raise my head to look at the Great Wall up there in the slight mist.
Juyongguan Pass
I'm still excited that I'm now in a famous ancient Pass of the Great Wall in Beijing. The Juyongguan Pass is located in the valley sandwiched by the Jundu Mountains and the ending of the Taihang Mountains. It used to be a stronghold, difficult of access dating back to the Spring and Autumn, the Warring States period ( 5000-6000 years ago). Later the Pass was extended to be linked up with the Great Wall. The Pass we see today was planned by General Xuda and completed in the first year of the reign of the Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty ( 1368 ) and the years that followed, it was renovated again and again. The Great Wall around the Pass extends over 4 km snaking the ridge of the mountains forming the valley. The natural landscape surrounding the Pass is extremely beautiful.
The Pass in the valley surrounded by the 4km-Great Wall
The southern Gate of the Juyongguan Pass
The Northern Gate of the Juyongguan Pass
The "Cloud Platform" built in the Yuan Dynasty in the inner city of the Pass
East Section ( East Semicircle ) of the Juyongguan Pass Great Wall
The Juyongguan Pass Great Wall is sectioned into two semicircles - east and west. Most people prefer hiking on its west semicircle for its steepness and beautiful view. Each semicircle takes about 2-hour hike. So if you have time and energy, hiking both sections is a good choice. Yesterday afternoon, I trekked part of the east semicircle. Below are the pictures taken of the east semicircle of the Juyongguan Pass Great Wall:
West Section ( west Semicircle ) of the Juyongguan Pass Great Wall
Still raining lightly, we start our hike on the west semicircle of the Juyongguan Pass Great Wall. The west section covers 4-6 towers. The first three towers are quite difficult to trek. The wall leading to them is quite steep and narrow.
We are heading for the first tower
We are struggling for the second tower hiking across the narrow wall. Much amazed by a man carrying a child on his shoulder coming down the top, we are encouraged to hike up.
Our small group are taking a rest before trekking to the third tower of the Juyongguan Great Wall in the west section
Still on the way to the third tower
On the third tower
Charging for the highest tower on the west semicircle of the Juyongguan Pass Great Wall
Taking a short rest on the top tower
Take a bird's eye view of the valley of the Juyongguan Pass from the top tower
A bird's eye view of the Juyongguan Pass Great Wall Hotel
A special tourist train is just passing the Juyongguan Pass. The train starts from Beijing East station, a special tourist train to the Badaling Great Wall
We are climbing down the Great Wall in a semicircle way towards the Northern Gate of the Juyong Pass
"easy to climb up and difficult to climb down"
Completing the semicircle hike around the west Juyongguan Pass Great Wall and standing by the Northern Gate
If you have time and energy, you may start your another semicircle hike on its east section
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