Archive for the ‘Beijing Excursions’ Category

Cuandixia, Cuandixia Village

Wednesday, March 30th, 2022
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Cuandixia Village is located between Shuangshitou Village and Baiyu Village under the jurisdiction of Zhaitang Town in Mentougou Beijing.

Lying about 90km west of Beijing, Cuandinxia Village is an ancient village of over 400 years built in Ming and Qing Dynsties with an area of 5.3 square km.

“Cuandixia – 爨底下” literally means “under the stove” relative to fire wood and cooking on an stove ( something hot ). All the surnames of the people in Cuandixia Village are “Han – 韩”. “Han – 韩” in Chinese has the same pronunciation of “寒” ( Cold ). So 爨 Cuan (hot) and “韩” (cold) complement each other in Chinese Fengshui, hence the village’ name.

There are about 74 courtyards with 689 rooms, most of which were built in late Qing Dynasties. Many of the local villagers, especially the young people have left the village for the development in the big cities. But there are still approx. 29 households with 93 people living in the village. Most of the people in the village now live on the rural tourism offering accommodation and dining for the visitors.

Cuandixia Village is nestled on the northern hillside of the valley and faces the southern hillside with a main road passing by the village from east to west in the valley.

The village spreads like a opened Chinese fan perched on the northern hillside in the valley. Hiking up to the hillside in the south, you can have an eye-bird’s view of the whole village resembling a shoe-shaped gold ingot as well as a Chinese fan.

Follow us to have a circuit walking tour of Cuandixia Village.

After visiting Shuangshitou Village, we continue to drive 2km in the north and soon we arrive at the entrance to Cuandixia Village. A banner “Welcome to Cuandixia Village” is hung over the main road to the village. 

Now we are at the entrance to Cuandixia Village.

A stone carved with a huge Chinese character “爨” (Cuan) functions as a screen wall of the village standing by the entrance.

This is the east-west street road in front of the village houses. North of the street road are located the ancient houses perched on the hillside. South of the street road is the south side where you can have a bird-eye’s view of the village. 

This is the east-west street road in front of the village houses.

Now we are going to have a circuit hike around the village. We begin our circular walk from southeast at the stone stairs leading to Goddess Temple.

The stone stairs leading to Goddess Temple is the best starting point for your circular hike.

We begin our circular walk at the stone stairs leading to Goddess Temple

This is the Goddess Temple. If you long for a kid, then come here to pray the goddess. The temple faces the north. 

This is the Goddess Temple

Please look at the picture. We are supposed to walk by the Goddess Temple ( see the temple in the picture).

Then hike on the stair steps to some open places or the platform on the hillside in the south where we can have a panoramic view of the village on the northern hillside.

Then hike on the stairsteps to some open places or the platform on the hillside in the south

We are looking at Cuandixia Village perched on the hillside in the north while we are standing on the southern hillside.

It is an easy walk up to the platform on the southern hillside.

Cuandixia Village spreads like an opened Chinese fan. 

we are standing on the southern hillside.

I zoom in on my camera and get the picture below:

Cuandixia Village spreads like an opened Chinese fan.

Father zooming in my pictures, I spot a Mao’s slogan”Use Mao Zedong’s thought to arm ourselves “.

I zoom in on my camera and get the picture

Use Mao Zedong’s thought to arm ourselves
Overlooking at the village from west hillside.
We are hiking from west hillside down to the main street road.

This is an ancient well, 16.67 meters in depth with stone walls. A bucket is hung by windlass used to draw water. A stone notch was dug out for holding water on the water stand, which can used for washing vegetable and watering the drought animals.

There is a small hole at the lower part of it, which can drain the dirt water. Until 1960s, people had been drawing water in this well.

This is an ancient well, 16.67 meters in depth with stone walls.
Now we cross the main street road and walk up the northern part of the village from west to east.

This is a farmhouse inn managed by the local villages with the financial support from the local government. They offer accommodation and dining.

Now we cross the main street road and walk up the northern part of the village from west to east.

A hutong, or an arrow lane in the village.
a Mao’s slogan – Learn From Dazhai in Agriculture and learn Daqing in Industry
A slogan on the wall of one courtyard. – Long live Chairman Mao
The doorway decorated with couplets
A local landlord’s Doorway.
Chinese painting and Chinese calligraphy on the both sides of the hall after first door.
A screen wall
Inside the landlord’s courtyard.
We are passing through the northern part of the village and start to walk down to the east of the village
Inside the Marshal Guan Temple
Overlooking Cuandixia Village from the east hillside.
We are back to the main road and plan to visit Baiyu Village, 4km north of Cuandixia Village
Two foreign visitors have just arrived at the village and guided by Beijing tour guides.
Some of the villagers are actively engaged in rural tourism and offering Beijing accommodation and dining.

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Beijing Winter Tour
Beijing Autumn Tour
Great Wall Tour
Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour

Further Readings


Best Time to Visit Beijing
How to plan a trip to Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Walking Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Gui Jie ( Ghost Street) Food Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

Top 10 Wetlands in Beijing

Friday, March 25th, 2022
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Beijing top wetlands for bird watching and sightseeing

Often compared to the “Kidney of the Earth”, wetlands are one of the three equally important ecological systems on earth with the other two being forests and the sea. One of the functions of wetlands are to provide a habitat for birds. Birds use wetlands for breeding, nesting, resting, shelter, and social interactions.

If you visit Beijing as a bird watcher or birder, or just want to rewind yourself in a beautiful natural environment, you may come to visit one of the beautiful wetlands in Beijing.

It is recorded that there are about 350 kinds of birds in Beijing with 80% of the them being migrant birds. Usually spring (Feb -Mar) and autumn ( Oct -Nov) are the best times to watch the birds in Beijing.

To watch these birds, you need to go to the parks, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands. We’ve summed up a list of Top 10 Wetlands in Beijing where you can have better opportunities for your Beijing bird watching or sightseeing.

1. Yeyahu Lake Wetland Natural Reserve 北京延庆野鸭湖湿地

Yeyahu Lake is located on the northwest of Yanqing County, about 100km northwest of Beijing city center. Its protected area covers 6,873 hectares with wetlands area of 3,939 hectares, one of the favorite wetland birds nature reserves in Beijing.

Yeyahu Lake Wetland

There are a total 280 kinds of wetland birds – passing migrant birds 56.6%, summer migrant birds 21.1%, resident birds 14.7% and winter migrant birds 7.6%.

Tel: 010-69131458; 010-69131226

Entrance Fee: 50 yuan (including wetland Museum, children under 1.2m free)

Open time 08:30-17:00 (January 1 – December 31, Monday – Sunday)

Address: Kanye Road, Kangzhuang Town, Yanqing District, Beijing
北京市延庆区康庄镇坎野路

Bus: Deshengmen → Bus 919 → Yanqing Station → Transfer to Y46 → Yanyahu Station

Self-drive: Badaling Expressway exit at Kangzhuang along the road sign and for a 10 minutes’s drive to get there.

2. Beijing Sahe Reservoir Wetland 北京沙河水库湿地

Sahe Reservoir Wetland is officially known as Wenyu River and Shahe Reservoir Wetland, about 40 km to the northwest of Beijing city center, one of the nearest wetlands in Beijing.

Beijing Sahe Reservoir

The reservoir is nicknamed by bird watchers as “Zuihu”, which literally means ” Drunk Lake”, a beautiful lake that makes people drunk. The Drunk Lake is a haven for bird watchers and leisure travel.

It is recorded that there are 189 kinds of birds in the Sahe reservoir area. The main birds include Common Pheasant, Whooper Swan and many more.

Address: the confluence of Wenyu River and Shahe Reservoir, Changping District, Beijing 昌平区温榆河与沙河水库交汇处

3. Cuihu National Urban Wetland Park 翠湖湿地公园

Cuihu National Urban Wetland Park is located on the north of Shangzhuang Reservoir in Shangzhaung Town, Haidian District, Beijing. The wetland park occupies an area of 157 hectares, 1,9 km long from east to west and 1.2 km wide from north to south, with a surface area of 90 hectares. The wetland park consists of enclosed protected area, transit area and experimental area open to the public.

Cuihu National Urban Wetland Park

There are 178 kinds of birds in the wetland park including Great bustard, golden eagle, Larus relictus, red-crowned cranes and black-crowned cranes.

There have been built lotus pond, reed pond, waterfowl reserve and several other scenic spots for visitors to enjoy in Cuihu Wetland Park. In addition to fishing here for leisure, you can also go to Naran Garden to feel the charm of the first poet of the Qing Dynasty.

Address: Cuihu Water town, Shangzhuang Town, Haidian District, Beijing
北京市海淀区上庄镇翠湖水乡

Bus: 1) Metro Line 4 → Beigongmen Station → Transfer to 303 Road → Shangzhuang Health Center → take a taxi → Cuihu Wetland; 2) Metro Line 4 → North of Anheqiao Terminal → Transfer to 512 and 575 Roads → Shangzhuang Health Center → Take a taxi → Cuihu Wetland; 3) Subway Line 4 → Xiyuan Station → Subway Line 16 → Daoxianghu Station → Take a taxi → Cuihu Wetland

Self-drive: Along the Beijing-Tibet Expressway → The Exit of Beian River → auxiliary road to the west of Xinzhuang Bridge → 10 km along Beiqing Road → Shangzhuang Road to the north → via Shangzhuang Bridge → Shangzhuang Hospital intersection → 3 km along Cuihu North Road to the west → Cuihu Wetland

4. Daxing Nanhaizi Park 北京南海子郊野公园

Daxing Nanhaizi Park is one of the four largest wild suburban parks in Beijing. It is located on the northeast of Daxing District, about 15km south of Beijing city center. It is also known as the largest wetland park in Beijing.

Daxing Nanhaizi Park

It is built on the former imperial Pere David’s Deer garden in Qing Dynasty. Beside the Pere David’s Deer Garden which has been restored and opened to the public, people have the opportunity to see birds here. It is recorded that there are 81 kinds of birds in the wetland park.

Address: Luyuan Road, Daxing District, Beijing
北京市大兴区鹿苑路

Bus: Take Express No.1 to Demaozhuang and change to 453 to Nanhaizi Park Station

5. Hanshiqiao Wetland in Shunyi District, Beijing 顺义汉石桥湿地

Hanshiqiao Wetland Nature Reserve ( also known as Health Bridge Wetland ) is located about 50 km to the northeast of Beijing city center. The wetland is the only large reed marsh wetland on the plain area in Beijing with an area of 19,000 hectares including the core zone and experimental zone.

Hanshiqiao Wetland

It is recorded that there are about 153 species of birds ever discovered in the reserve, a habitat and transit area for many endangered migrant birds. Hanshiqiao ( or Health Bridge ) Wetland Reserve was established in April, 2005 aimed at effectively protecting the typical reed marsh wetland ecological system and wild animals and plants.

Address: Muyan Road, Hanshiqiao Village, Shunyi District, Beijing
北京市顺义区汉石桥村木燕路

Bus: Metro Line 15 → Fengbo Station → Transfer to bus Shun 18→ Shaying yangzhen

Self-drive: Sanyuan Bridge → Airport Expressway → Airport South Line → Jingping Expressway → Muyan Road exit → 8 km straight north direction;

6. The Wetland in the Olympic Green Park
奥林匹克森林公园叠水花台湿地

Beijing Olympic Green Park consists of lawns, forests, wetlands, lakes and Gravel banks, a large and complicated ecological system.

The Wetland in the Olympic Green Park

The wetland features a three-layered terrace with cascading water, forming a small beautiful waterfall. The wetland is teemed with reeds, bulrush, calamus and canna, making people feel as they were in a water town.

The quiet wetland with green trees and blooming flowers attract resident and migrant birds coming here for a rest and nesting. It is recorded that there are over 200 species of birds ever discovered on the wetland and the Olympic Park as a whole, becoming a best bird watching spot in the city of Beijing.

Address: Anli Road, Chaoyang District (north of bird’s Nest)
朝阳区 安立路(鸟巢北侧)

South Gate of Nanyuan: Get off at Forest Park station of Subway Olympic Extension (Line 8);

East gate of Nanyuan: You will arrive at Yangshan Bridge South Station of Line 3 Express;

East gate of Beiyuan: Yangshanqiao North Station of Bus line 3 Express

7. Changgou National Wetlan Park 长沟国家泉水湿地公园

Changgou wetland is a newly built national-level wetland park. It is located in Changgou Town, Fangshan District, about 75km to the southwest of Beijing city center.

Changgou National Wetlan Park

The wetland park has the planned area of 249 hectares with one marsh land, one lake, two belts and 10 sites. The most important part of the park is the wetland area, where a birding area is the highlight of the wetland park.

Address: Yancun, Changgou Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
北京市房山区长沟镇沿村

Bus: Metro Line 9 → East Liuliqiao Station → Transfer to bus 917 express interval → Erlonggang Station → transfer to Fang 12 → follow the village

8. Liuli Temple Wetland Park 琉璃庙湿地公园

Liulimiao ( or Liuli Temple) Wetland Park is located in Liulimiao Town, Huairou District, Beijing. Liuli Temple Wetland Park is a vast area connecting the beautiful scenery along the Baihe and Liuli rivers. This wetland park is rich with water resources, natural resources and beautiful landscape.

Liuli Temple Wetland Park

In addition, there are black storks and egrets, mandarin ducks and other wild birds under the national first-class protection. Liulimiao Wetland park is a paradise for the growth and reproduction of these wild birds.

Address: Liulimiao Town, Huairou District, Beijing

Bus: Metro Line 14 (east section) → Wangjing → Transfer to Metro Line 15 → Houshayu Station →916 Road → Yangjiayuan Station → Yujiayuan District Station → H11 Road → Liuli Temple (Liulimiao)

9. Yanchi Jiuhe Wetland Park 雁翅九河湿地公园

Yanchi Jiuhe Wetland Park is located in Yanchi town, Mentougou District. Yanwing Jiuhe Wetland Park extends from Zhuwo Village in Yanwing Town to Xiamaling Village, 20 kilometers long and narrow, occupying a total of 356 hectares of land, the widest water up to 120 meters.

Yanchi Jiuhe Wetland Park

Yanchi Jiuhe Wetland Park mainly displays the functions of wetland water storage and flood regulation and science popularization and education. The vegetation mainly includes dry willow, reed, cattope and xerophytes.

Address: West of Feng Village, Yongding Town, Mentougou District, Beijing
北京市门头沟区永定镇冯村西

Bus: Bus No. 890, 931, 959, 981 at Fengcun Station

10. Miyun Gubeikou Wetland Park 密云古北口镇湿地公园

Gubeikou was once a strategically important passage linking Inner Mongolia and Beijing. The passage is sandwiched by the two mountains which faces each other – Wohushan (Crouching Tiger Mountain ) and Panlongshan ( Coiled Dragon Mountain ).

Miyun Gubeikou Wetland Park

On the both of the mountains built with the Gubeikou Great Wall, which has two sections: namely Wohushan Great Wall and Panlongshan Great Wall.

Chaohe River passes through the passage of the two mountains from the north to the south. The Chaohe River area at Gubeikou is also a paradise for bird watchers in Beijing.

Address: Tang River basin, Gubeikou Town, Miyun County
密云县古北口镇汤河流域

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Car Rental in Beijing
Beijing Day Tour
Beijing Tour Packages
Beijing Winter Tour
Great Wall Tour
Beijing Tours
China City Tours
China Tour

Further Readings


Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Night Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.

Top 8 Sections of the Great Wall around Beijing

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022
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Plan your Beijing tour? If you visit Beijing for the first time, definitely you want to leave some footprints on the Great Wall of China.

When you do some online preparation research regarding the Great Wall around Beijing, you will surprisingly know that there are so many Great Walls” – Mutianyu, Badaling, Juyongguan, Simatai and Jinshanling – just name some of them.

You may wonder totally how many sections of the Great Wall around Beijing and which part of the Great Wall to visit. Having hiked the major bits of the Great Wall around Beijing, I try to present you my version of Top List of the sections of the Great Wall in Beijing in terms of their landscapes and hiking level. Hopefully my post will help you a little bit in choosing your favourites on your Great Wall Tour.

1. Jinshanling Great Wall ( For Experienced Travelers)

Of all the parts of the Great Wall around Beijing, Jinshanling Great Wall has always been my biggest favorite option. Strictly speaking, Jinshanling Great Wall doesn’t belong to the administrative control of Beijing (Chengde City instead), but the proud Beijing people show no hesitation to place Jinshanling Great Wall into their own bag.

Jinshanling Great Wall is located on the border area between Miyun County in Beijing and Luanping County in Chengde, around 130km to the northeast of Beijing city center.

Jinshanling Great Wall is extended to Simatai Great Wall on its east. In the past people could hike from Jinshanling Great Wall to Simatai Great Wall. But today people have to stop in the mid-way, then either get off the wall or retrace to the starting point due to the closure of the Wall on Simatai side.

Jinshanling Great Wall
Jinshanling Great Wall

Unlike the restored and revamped Mutianyu Great Wall and the totally wide and deserted Jiankou Great Wall, Jinshanling Great Wall is half original and half restored with stunning views!

You’d better off arranging your own transport, or hook up with other travellers to split the cost of the drive since the public bus system is not easy to handle.

How to get to Jinshanling from Beijing city center by bus:

Bus No. 980 Express (980快) To:
Destination: Jinshanling Great Wall 金山岭长城.
Very Important Notice: Actually the Bus 980 Express stops at Miyun County ( 密云汽车站 ), and then you take a mini bus from the downtown Miyun to Jinshanling.
Bus Fare: RMB 15
Minibus Fare: about RMB 50 ( you have to share a mini-bus for Jinshanling Great Wall)

2. Gubeikou Great Wall ( For Experienced Travelers )

Gubeikou Great Wall is located in Miyun County, 140 kilometers away from downtown Beijing. Gubeikou Great Wall is extended east to be connected to Jinshanling Great Wall. Gubeikou Great Wall itself is composed of two parts – Panlongshan Great Wall and Wohushan Great Wall. “Panlongshan” literally means “Coiled Dragon Mountain” while “Wohushan” literally means “Crouching Tiger Mountain”.

The two mountains faces each other with a valley in between from south to north, a strategic passage in the ancient times linking Inner Mongolia and Beijing. Now the valley has been turned into a fast developing Gubeikou Township under Miyun County of Beijing City.

Wohushan Great Wall is now still completely wild and unrestored, not officially opened to the public while Panlongshan Great Wall is partly opened by the local government. So when people talk about Gubeikou Great Wall, very often it refers to Panlongshan Great Wall. This section of the Great Wall is not reconstructed and unrestored with fantastic landscape.

There are two parallel sections of the Great Wall on the Panlong Mountain running shoulder to shoulder. One section was built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 – 557) and other section was constructed in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). The last watch tower of Gubeikou Great Wall is a 24-window tower, also the end of the accessible Panlongshan Great Wall.

The further section to the east is the Wall is forbidden for hiking because it is within the military zone. People can make a detour bypassing the forbidden wall, and go down to a deep valley and walk towards Jinshanling Great Wall.

Gubeikou Great Wall
Gubeikou Great Wall

You may have a 2-3 hour hike along the wide original Gubeikou Great Wall, or you may hike further across the Gubeikou Great Wall and get to Jinshanling Great Wall, an estimated 5-hour 10 km hike.

3. Simatai Great Wall ( For Leisure & business Travelers )

The Simatai section of the Great Wall is located in the northeast of Miyun County, about 140 kilometers from downtown Beijing. It was first built in the early Hongwu years (1368-1398) of the Ming Dynasty. The Simatai Great Wall is cut into two parts by the Simatai Reservoir, over which there is a chain bridge running through east to west.

The Simatai Great Wall is 5 km long with all together 28 watchtowers ( East 16 and West 12 ). Constructed by the Ming Dynasty general Qi Ji Guang, it is one of the few stretches of the Wall that still preserve the original look of that period. It not only features unique points from other Great Wall sections, but also shows some features found nowhere. To the west there 12 watchtowers snaking on the sloping hills. To the east there are 16 watchtowers atop peaks up to 1,000 meters high.

The views are amazing. The wall at Simatai has received very little renovation. So Simatai Great Wall still retains all its original look. It is well beyond the reach of the great crowds of visitors who come to the more popular and easily accessible parts of the Wall.

The Simatai Great Wall, with densely positioned watchtowers running along the mountain ridges, looks amazing and grandeur!

Simatai Great Wall
Simatai Great Wall

Simatai Great Wall is linked to Jinshanling Great Wall on its west. Most tourists would choose to hike up the east section of Simatai Great Wall since it is more photogenic and treacherous. After you climb up to the 12th tower ( you are not allowed to go further to other 4 towers due to safety reason), you may either hike down or take a cable car down ( from 5th tower or 8th tower ).

The cross hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall is still not allowed mainly due to the closure of Simatai West Section.

4. Mutianyu Great Wall ( For Leisure Travelers )

Mutianyu Great Wall ranks as the number one attraction in Beijing. The Mutianyu Great Wall is also one of my favorite sections of the Great Wall in Beijing. It has an extremely beautiful natural landscape once you are up on the wall, green, densely wooded. This section of the Great Wall is comparatively smoother than most of other sections.

Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall is located in Huairou District, about 80 km to the north of Beijing. There are 23 towers on the Mutianyu Great Wall snaking the ridge for about 3000 meters. The watch towers at the Mutianyu Great Wall are distributed at short intervals. If you have strong legs and continue to hike westwards, you will walk across Jiankou Great Wall.

5. Jiankou Great Wall ( For Experienced Travelers )

Jiankou Great Wall is located in Huairou District, 10 km to the east of Mutianyu Great Wall, about 80 KM from downtown Beijing. Huanghuacheng Great Wall is situated to the west of Jiankou. This section was first constructed in 1368 during the period of the Ming Dynasty.

Jiankou Great Wall is the most dangerous and ruined section of the great wall around Beijing. There are most risky areas along the section of Jiankou Great Wall.

Jiankou Great Wall
Jiankou Great Wall

“The Eagle Flies Facing Upward”: it is actually an enemy observation tower. It is such named due to the fact that the observation tower is built on the highest place of the mountain. So, if an eagle wants to fly to the tower, it has to fly facing upwards before it gets to the top of the tower.

“Ladders in the sky”: At this part of the Wall the ladders go actually straight up, and they are so narrow that it is almost impossible to hold a foothold.

“Beijing Knot”: the meeting place for three different linking sections of the Great Wall at Jiankou.
“The Nine-Eye Tower”: A watchtower with 9 holes resembling 9 eyes.

Yes, there are tons of online trip reports on the incredible steepness of the Upward Flying Eagle Tower to Tianti (Sky Ladder) and Beijing Knot. We are not advising anyone to scramble that section if you don’t have any rock climbing experience armed with special equipment though maybe you are an experienced travelers.

Starting from Zhengbeilou Watchtower ( east of the Upward Flying Eagle Tower and Sky Ladder), walk eastwards along the rugged Wall and get to the restored Mutianyu Great Wall, a relatively easy walk with stunning views.

At the time of my writing, Jiankou Great Wall is still officially not open to the public due to its risky hike as well as the government’s policy to protect the “wild wall”. If you choose to walk from Zhengbeilou at Jiankou Great Wall to Mutianyu Great Wall, the risk involved would be less. But still you should apply for travel insurance for your coverage of injury or accident.

6. Huanghuancheng Great Wall ( For Experienced Travelers )

Huanghuacheng literally meaning “Yellow Flower City”. Huanghuacheng Great Wall, about 60 km north of downtown Beijing, is one of the most ruined sections of the wall in Beijing. It has become popular with hikers in recent years.

Huanghuacheng Great Wall
Huanghuacheng Great Wall

It is about 1000 meters long and connecting Juyongguan Pass Great Wall and Badaling Great Wall in the west and Jiankou Great Wall and Mutianuyu Great Wall in the east. Now it is a quite challenge to climb the wall since it has no stone steps or no smooth path found at other sections of Great Wall in Beijing.

7. Badaling Great Wall ( For Leisure Travelers )

Badaling section of the Great Wall is within Yanqing County, one of the two counties in Beijing. The wall is about 80 kilometers northwest from downtown Beijing. Badaling Great Wall is actually a mountain pass of the Jundu Mountain.

It is recorded that the Badaling Great Wall was built to protect the Juyongguan Pass ( Juyongguan section of the Great Wall ) on its south, further protecting the city of Beijing. Badaling is an ancient military defense project. It is about 1,000 meters above sea level.

The Badaling section of Great Wall is about 3, 740 meters long and average 8 meters high. The highest section is 15 meters high. The wall is wide enough for five horses to ride abreast. Badaling was the earliest part open to the visitors among all the sections of the Great Wall in Beijing.

Badaling Great Wall
Badaling Great Wall

The wall is narrow on the top and broad on the base making the wall stands firmly rising and falling ridges. The Wall are made of mud and stone block. This makes the wall clean, pretty and firm.

Every other 300 to 500 meters, there are fortresses. There are two kinds of fortresses. One is a two-storied fortress used as a fighting tower. Its ground floor was used for living, storing weapons and the top floor was used for watching and shooting. Another kind is fighting terrace or enemy terrace, which was used for patrolling and fighting.

8. Juyongguan Great Wall ( For Leisure Travelers )

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.

Juyongguan Great Wall.
Juyongguan 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.

Tip:  Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:

Mutianyu Great Wall Group Day Tour
Mutianyu Great Wall Half  Day Private Tour
Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
Hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall West Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour

Visit Badaling Great Wall by Train
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall by Bus

Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
Hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall West Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour

Further Readings


Best Time to Visit Beijing
How to plan a trip to Beijing

Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites

Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping

Wangfujing Night Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street

Any questions, just drop a line.