If you look carefully at the recent published Great Wall photographic works, you will quickly find that most of the pictures are taken from Jiankou Great Wall. Due to its unique style, steep mountains and beautiful scenery, Jiankou Great Wall has become a photographic hotspot and also a hot travel destination these days. 'Jiankou', is translated as 'Arrow Nock' in English, because the shape of the mountain is like an arrow, with the collapsed ridge opening as its arrow nock.
Jiankou Great Wall in Beijing
Located in the mountain ridge of Xizhazi Village, about 30km (19 miles) to Huairou County in Beijing, Jiankou Great Wall was an important section of the wall in Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Owing to the need for renovation, the wall is regarded as one of the most dangerous sections of the Ming's wall. It connects to Mutianyu Great Wall in the east and joins Huanghuacheng Great Wall in the west. From east to north, the wall zigzags 9.3 miles from 'The Ox Horn Edge Wall' to 'The Nine-Eye Tower' via 'The Beijing Knot'. Compared with Mutianyu Great Wall, the mountain is higher and steeper, while compared with Simatai Great Wall, it is more winding and varied. It was built from the local material - dolomite. The large pieces of white rock make the wall striking to the eye at a distance.
There are many famous sections of Jiankou Great Wall, such as 'The Nine-Eye Tower', an important command post during the ancient wars. It has three layers, and there are nine holes which look like nine eyes on each side. 'The Beijing Knot' is the meeting point for three walls coming from different directions. 'The Sky Stair', is a precipitous stair whose angle of elevation is 70 to 80 degrees. It leads to 'The Eagle Flies Facing Upward', a watch tower built on the lofty peaks. It is so dangerous that even eagles have to fly facing upward to reach the top. 'Zhengbei Tower' is the right place to appreciate the beauty of the sunrise and the sunset.
Jiankou Travel Tips
Jiankou Great Wall Transportation
By Bus:
a. Take Bus No.916 at Dongzhimen, get off at Huairou Fangshan (diagonally opposite Huairou First Hospital). There you can find buses to Jiankou Great Wall. The buses run between 10:00 and 15:00. 
Beijing Jiankou Great Wall
b. Take Bus 936 (支) at Dongzhimen, get off at Yanxi Huandao in Huairou District. There are buses there to Jiankou Great Wall The buses run between 10:00 and 15:00.
By Car:
a. Dongzhimen Gate – Jingshun Lu – Huairou Kaifang Roundabout – turn left at Yanxi Fangezhuang Roundabout –Shentangyu Village – Lianhuachi Village – Jiankou Great Wall
b. Sanyuanqiao Bridge – Jingshun Expressway – Kuliushun Roundabout – Huairou Kaifang Roundabout – turn left at Yanxi Fangezhuang Roundabout – Shentangyu Village – Lianhuachi Village – Jiankou Great Wall
Jiankou Dining & Accommodation
Beijing Trout Channel
Chinese name: 北京虹鳟鱼一条沟 (Běijīng Hóng Zūn Yú Yi Tiáo Gōu)
Location : Lianhua Village (Lotus Village), Yanxi Town, Huairou District
Beijing Trout Channel is a clear spring where rainbow trout are raised. Along the two banks of Yanxi River, there are over 100 fishing gardens and holiday villages which can accommodate over 10,000 people. In addition, the famous Shentangyu Scenic Spot is located in the channel. The over 100 farmhouses and about 30 fishing mountain villas can receive more than 1,000 visitors at the same time.
How to get there: By Bus:
a. Take bus No.916 at Huairou Bus Station and it will arrive at Huairou Lianhuachi Village where visitors can find the trout channel 
Steep Arrow Nock (Jiankou)
b. Take Bus No.3 at Huairou International Conference Center in the north of Huairou District. It will run to Lianhuachi Village every hour between 07:20 and 16:00. The bus ticket is about CNY 3.
By Car:
a. Start from Beijing Siyuanqiao Bridge, go north by passing Huairou District, Yanxi Roundabout and Shentangyu Road, go straight and you will find the trout channel.
b. Start from Jingshun Lu, turn left when arrive at Kaifang Roundabout, go straight along Fule Roundabout, turn left at Yanxi Roundabout and go straight to find the trout channel.
c. Start from Jingcheng (Beijing to Chengde Expressway), enter Huairou County, go east along the main road until reaching Yanxi Roundabout, turn left and drive north along the mountain road, the trout channel is located within 10km (6.2 miles).
Xizhazi Village 西栅子村 (Xī Zhà Zi Cūn)
Situated at the foot of Jiankou Great Wall, Zhazi Village is the base of Jiankou Great Wall where visitors can stop for a rest. It is a simple and peaceful village. Most of the farmhouses in the village receive guests.
Zhao's Hostel
Chinese name: 赵氏山庄 (Zhào Shì Shān Zhuāng)
Location: Near to the parking lot of Xizhazi Village, at the foot of Jiankou Great Wall
Jiankou Zhao's Hostel
Zhao's Hostel is the most famous farmhouse in Xizhazi Village. It is also called "Ying You Zhi Jia" (The home of photography enthusiasts) or "Lao Zhao Jia' (Old Zhao's). Visitors can recognize it by the four big characters "影友之家" on the walls of Zhao's Hostel. The master Lao Zhao is a simple and enthusiastic peasant who has guided many visitors on climbs of Jiankou Great Wall.
Accommodations: Twenty guests rooms to accommodate 80 people; ten standard rooms costing CNY 150 each; ten multi-share rooms costing CNY 15 each; three heated brick beds costing CNY 20 each (low season prices). Amenities in the room: TV, toilet, and 24 hour hot water. The pictures of Jiankou Great Wall can be seen in each room.
Dining: Zhao's Hostel offers authentic "peasant dishes" including all sorts of wild vegetables, free range eggs, pan-fried green onion cakes, cornmeal dumpling with vegetable stuffing, millet gruel and all sorts of barbecue.
Entertainment: Great Wall night view, karaoke, chess, cards and Mahjong, fireworks & firecrackers, horseback riding, bonfires and mountain climbing
How to get there: By bus: Take bus No.916 at Dongzhimen Gate in Beijing and get off at Nanda Street in Huairou, take a minibus which goes in the direction of Qifengcha, and get off at Badaohe, take a taxi to Xizhazi Village (about CNY 20 for the taxi fare)
By car: Take Jingcheng (Beijing – Chengde) Expressway, pass Yanxi Roundabout, Shentangyu Village, turn left at Badaohe Bridge and drive along until you reach Xizhazi Village
Warm Prompt
It is free to visit Jiankou Great Wall. However, in a state of disrepair, the bricks, walls and steps of Jiankou Great Wall are loose and unsteady. It is better to go in a group. Visitors should be very careful!
a. Wear durable clothes and trousers. Wear sport sunglasses and goggles.
b. Avoid the wild vegetation and broken bricks.
c. Raise special attention to the following sections: "Sky Stair" (Tian Ti), where visitors should climb on all fours; "The Eagle Flies Facing Upward" (Ying Fei Dao Yang), where a part of the wall has collapsed, so visitors should detour the wall; "Beijing Knot" (Beijing Jie) to "Wangjing Tower": the wall is on the east side and the shrubs are on the west side, with no steps between, so visitors should maintain proper intervals to avoid the rolling broken stones.
d. Be environmentally conscious. Please don't litter on the wall.
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Travelers' Voices on Jiankou Great Wall
1.
Oct. 24,2009 20:53 Reply
Mr.dsbenson.com(USA) said:
I took a marvelous tour of the Jiankou section yesterday. Absolutely incredible. We hiked for about 6 hours, using a guide we found over the web. Ping knew the trails very well and was able to take us around the most treacherous spots (where people have recently died). We saw no other westerners the entire day. The trip did have some danger, and there were at least three spots where we had to be very careful in climbing up or down, and where a fall would have been lethal. I recommend hiking boots or other shoes with very good treads, a backpack that won't shift rather than a shoulder bag, and a hiking stick. Ping (aka "Dereck") leant us hiking sticks, and I would have had a lot of trouble without it. I'm 45 and in good shape. If you have knee trouble, a large fear of heights or climbing, or think you can't do steep ups and downs of a few thousand feet, then don't go to Jiankou!
2.
Oct. 7,2009 11:43 Reply
Ms.student(USA) said:
How long is Arrow Nock? and how far is it from Beijing? also does it cost money to go to the Wall?
Oct. 8,2009 20:43
Mr.Leo replied:
Arrow Nock Great Wall is about 30km (19 miles) to Huairou County in Beijing. It is about 20km (12 miles). It is not officially open but the local villagers will ask you to pay the entrance fees priced by themselves.
3.
Aug. 8,2009 03:36 Reply
Mr.Bailey(USA) said:
To Mr Bryan Feldman(usa):
thank you for your comments here. I am an american living in china and also a photographer. I am wanting to see the wall before i leave china and I hate being cramped by so many tourist. It sounds like going to ___ then hiking to Jiankou would be my most enjoyable. I am wanting to get shots at sunset, spend one night somewhere then shots at sunrise then make my way back to beijing. I will check out your website link for place to stay. I am told this area is not for the avg tourist but i am an experienced hiker so I think i will be ok. I will be traveling with another american plus an interpreter. Any other comments from others are extremely welcomed! Thanks, Jeff
Aug. 8,2009 20:22
Mr.Eric replied:
Mr.Bailey, you should choose a nice day to go to the wall. Do Not go there in rainy, cloudy and thunder days. Close your cellphone if it is about to rain. It can be very dangerous when you climb the wall in a bad weather, so take care!
4.
Aug. 1,2009 23:22 Reply
Mr.Kelly(USA) said:
Trying to set a trip up to visit The Great Wall and was wondering the best time of year to travel. I'm young adventuras and looking for an unremarkable visit. Also, is it safe or unsafe in certain areas as a single traveler; are there places to aviod?
Thanks
Kelly
Aug. 2,2009 03:07
Mr.AQQ replied:
The best year to visit the wall is in spring or autumn. But the winter is also Ok if you enjoy snow scenes. As a young and single traveler, I suggest you visit Mutianyu Great Wall for good view, less people and security concern. Aviod Jiankou, for it is very dangerous (more than you can imagine). Aviod Jinshanling or Simatai, though they are wild and challeging, you may get lost because you are alone. Badaling is also a choice but the newly repaired wall will make you feel dull.
5.
Jun. 23,2009 03:33 Reply
Ms.Shane said:
In my heart, Jiankou Great Wall is the Great Wall in the true sense. It is wild, old and desolate. Every brick on the wall is cultural relic!
6.
Jun. 16,2009 04:17 Reply
Ms.Cora said:
Jiankou "6.13" Tragedy
On June 13, a young couple were struck by lightning and fell off the cliff while cimbing the famous "Ying Fei Dao Yang" (Eagles Flies Facing Upward) in Jiankou Great Wall. They were found dead on the hillside at the foot of a 60-meter deep cliff in the "right wing" of "Ying Fei Dao Yang". It is learned that the couple were using cell phone when it thundered over the wall. The lightning shocked them from the cliff.
Jiankou Great Wall, due to its wildness, attracts more and more visitors to challenge it. But it is not yet formally open to the public. The relevant department keeps reminding visitors its danger, but still, many visitors do not care about it. From this tragedy, we can learn that it is better not climb the wild sections of the wall and DO NOT make phone calls or use any other communication equipment on the wall in rains, thurder and lightning. Be remember that the safety always comes first at any time!
Jun. 20,2009 22:23
Mr.Clifford replied:
What a sad news! Pray for the dead! So Ms.Cora, can you plz tell us how to avoid thunders on the wall. Thank you in advance.
Jun. 21,2009 01:16
Ms.Cora replied:
To Mr.Clifford and every visitor to the Great Wall:
The tragedy is a big lesson for us. We should enhance the self-protection awareness when visit the wall. The Great Wall can be dangerous! Before travelling, visitors should hear the weather forecast, don't go to the wall in rain, storm or snow days. If the rain or thunder comes while you are on the wall. Find the nearest beacon tower for shelter, and close any wireless communications including cell phones, broadcast and cameras. Walk in small steps because big steps may cause step voltage.
This is all what I know about how to avoid thunders. Any one has other ideas?
7.
Jan. 6,2009 07:40 Reply
Mr.Bryan Feldman(USA) said:
Of the many places I have been to the Great Wall, Jiankou is one of my favorites. I have also stayed at Zhao's hostel and it was very good. You can find details on Zhao's hostel at http://www.greatwallforum.com/forum/jiankou/425-zhao-s-hostel-xizhazi-village.html as well as plenty of info and maps for the Jiankou Great Wall. Jiankou can truly be dangerous so take care!