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Located along the Yanshan Mountain range in the northeast of Miyun County, south of the hill country of Panlong Mountain and Wohu Mountain, Gubeikou Great Wall occupies a strategically important location which is difficult to access. Situated between Shanhaiguan Pass and Juyongguan Pass, and about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to Beijing, it is the bastion protecting the northern gateway to the capital.
The first section of the wall was built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557). Centuries later, General Xuda ordered to rebuild it in the early Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The defensive capability of the wall was enhanced by adding more stones. When Qi Jiguang was appointed the chief commanding officer of Ji Garrison (one of the eleven garrisons in Ming Dynasty), he laid another line of brick wall beside the original one, thus forming the unique Gubeikou double-lined Wall.
Today the famous Gubeikou Great Wall stretches for more than 40 kilometers (25 miles). There are 14 beacon towers, 143 watch towers, 16 strategic pass, three citadels and many other military constructions. Many of them are famous cultural relics, such as the Big Flower Beacon Tower of the Northern Qi Dynasty, Fairy Tower, General Tower, and the dominant Wangjing Tower.
The Gubeikou Great Wall construction rates highly as an architectural achievement. The scenic highlights include Wohushan Great Wall and Panlongshan Great Wall.
Wohushan Great Wall
'Wohu' means 'Crouching Tiger' in English, because the mountain looks like two tigers, one lying on its back while the other lies on its stomach. Located in the western section of the Gubeikou Great Wall, its highest peak measures about 665 meters (2,181 feet). A watch tower is erected every 150 meters (492 feet) of the wall, overlooking a deep valley or mounted on a strategically important hilltop. A professor from Beijing University compares the Great Wall to a huge cursive script work with the watch towers providing the pausing or transitional strokes. It retains its fascination today as its raw condition is still evident.
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Panlongshan Great Wall
West of Wohushan Great Wall, it is located in the middle section of Gubeikou Great Wall, where most of the historical wars took place. In ancient times, both warring parties placed emphasis on securing the Panlongshan Great Wall, because each knew that once the wall was captured, the Gubeikou Great Wall would be readily occupied. The whole wall measures about 13 kilometers (3.1 miles). Of its over 40 watch towers, the General Tower is the most famous. It is located at the commanding elevation of Panlongshan Mountain, from where wars were directed. There are four arrow windows on the north and south sides respectively, while each of the east and west sides has three arrow windows. This section of the wall is of unique construction: it is made up of earth walls, stone walls and brick walls. And it is also preserved in its original state.
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| Admission Fee: | CNY 25 |
Gubeikou Travel Tips
Gubeikou Great Wall Transportation
By Bus
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| Overlook Gubeikou Great Wall |
b. Take a bus to Miyun County at Dongzhimen long-distance bus station in Beijing, get off at Miyun Bus Station, and take a minibus to Gubeikou Great Wall, but most of the minibuses at Miyun Bus Station are privately owned, which are less safe than the state owned buses. It is advisable to take state-owned buses, you are advised to get off at Gulou (Bell Tower) in Miyun County, and take the state-owned minibus to the north of Miyun Hospital. It costs about CNY 3 to Gubeikou.
By Car
Start from Siyuanqiao Bridge, take Jingshun Lu and reach Kuliushu Roundabout, head for the direction of Miyun, reach Niulanshan Roundabout, drive along the National Highway 101, pass Miyun County and Taishitun, and you will arrive at Gubeikou Town.
By Train
The following trains stop at Gubeikou Station:
| Train No. | Leave from – Go to | Departure Time | Reach Gubeikou at |
| 4449 | Beijing North - Longhua | 16:43 | 20:41 |
| 2559 | Beijing North - Chifeng | 20:59 | 04:07 |
| 2189 | Beijing - Wulanhaote | 15:30 | 18:10 |
Gubeikou Great Wall Dining & Accommodation
Gubeikou Hexi Village
Chinese name: 古北口河西村 (Gǔ Běi Kǒu Hé Xī Cūn)
Location: in the upper stream of Miyun reservoir, at the foot of Wohushan Great Wall (the western section of Gubeikou Great Wall) and the bank of Chaohe River. 
Gubeikou Hexi Village
If you would like to experience the authentic peasant life around Gubeikou Great Wall, Hexi Village is a nice choice. The village has rich cultural heritage such as Luzu Temple (The Temple of Lu Dongbin, the Taoist immortal) and the tomb of Yang Qilang (a hero in Northern Song Dynasty (960 - 1127)). In recent years, the village has made great efforts to develop its tourism industry. The farmhouses in the village attract visitors with good food and accommodation, an elegant environment and considerate service. Each farmhouse can receive 10 to 20 guests. The dinner includes eight to ten peasant dishes. Visitors can play chess and cards, bonfire, mahjong, and fish in the village. The average cost per person per day is about CNY 60.
How to get there: Take bus 980 at Dongzhimen in Beijing to Miyun long-distance bus station. The journey takes about two hours and the bus ticket is CNY 15. Take a minibus in Miyun County to Hexi Village. It takes about one hour. Gubeikou Town Folk Village
Chinese name: 古北口镇民俗度假村 (Gǔ Běi Kǒu Zhèn Mín Sú Dù Jià Cūn)
Located in Miyun County to the northeast of Beijing City, Gubeikou Town Folk Village has about 100 folk farmhouses. Visitors can taste the authentic village food and go picking in person. The local flavor dishes include pancakes and mixed grain vermicelli. Besides, the village is a multi-ethnic region where Han, Hui and Man nationalities live in. Visitors can make choices from their eating habits. The traditional cultural activities are held in the village such as dance yangko, running land boat dance, walk on stilts and riding.
How to get there: Take bus no.980 to Minyu Bus Station, and take local mini-buses to Gubeikou Town Folk Village
Surrounding scenic sights: Simatai Great Wall, Jinshanling Great Wall
Related Tour: Gubeikou Great Wall Hiking
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