If you look carefully at the recent published Great Wall photographic works, you will quickly find that most of the pictures are taken from Jian Kou 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.
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 are buses to Jiankou Great Wall (the bus runs between 10:00 and 15:00)
b. Take Bus 936 (支) at Dongzhimen, get off at Yanxi Huandao in Huairou District, there are buses to Jiankou Great Wall (the bus runs between 10:00 and 15:00)
Drive Travel:
a. Dongzhimen – Jingshun Lu – Huairou Kaifang Huandao – turn left at Yanxi Fangezhuang Huandao – Shen Tang Yu – Lian Hua Chi – Jiankou Great Wall
b. Sanyuanqiao – Jingshun Expressway – Ku Liu Shun Huandao – Huairou Kaifang Huandao – turn left at Yanxi Fangezhuang Huandao – Shen Tang Yu – Lian Hua Chi – Ba Dao He – Jiankou Great Wall
Jiankou Dining & Accommodation
Beijing Trouts 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
Brief Introduction: Beijing Trouts Channel is a clear spring where rainbow trouts 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. Besides, the famous Shentangyu Scenic Spot is located in the channel. The over 100 farmhouses and about 30 fishing mountain villas can receive over 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 Lian Hua Chi where visitors can find the trouts channel
b. Take Bus No.3 at Huairou International Conference Center in the north of Huairou District, it will run to Lian Hua Chi every hour between 07:20 and 16:00. The bus ticket price is about CNY 3.
Drive Travel:
a. Start from Beijing Siyuanqiao Bridge, go north by passing Huairou District, Yanxi Huandao and Shentangyu Road, go straight and you will find trouts channel
b. Start from Jingshun Lu, turn left when arrive at Kaifang Huandao, go straight along Fule Huandao, turn left at Yanxi Huandao and go straight and you will find trouts channel.
c. Start from Jingcheng (Beijing – Chengde Expressway), enter Huairou County, go east along the main road until reach Yanxi Huandao, turn left and drive north along the mountain road, the trouts channel is available within 10km (6.2 miles).
Xizhazi Village 西栅子村 (Xī Zhà Zi Cūn)
Located at the foot of Jiankou Great Wall, Zhazi Village is the base of Jiankou Great Wall where visitors would 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
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 to climb Jiankou Great Wall.
Accommodation: Twenty guests rooms to accommodate 80 people; ten standard rooms cost CNY 150 each; ten multishare rooms cost CNY 15 each; three heated brick beds cost CNY 20 each (low season prices). Establishment 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 vegetation, free range eggs, pan-fried green onion cakes, cornmeal dumpling with vegetable stuffing, millet gruel and all sorts of barbecues.
Entertainment: Great Wall night view, Karaoke, Chesses & Cards and Mahjong, fireworks & crackers, riding horse, bonfire and mountain climbing
How to get there:
By bus: Take bus No.916 at Dong Zhi Men in Beijing and get off at Nan Da Jie in Huairou, take a minibus which goes in the direction of Qifengcha, and get off at Ba Dao He, take a taxi to Xizhazi Village (the taxi costs about CNY 20)
Drive Travel: Take Jingcheng (Beijing - Chengde) Expressway, pass Yanxi Huandao, Shentangyu, 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 sporty 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.
Copyright© 1998-2009 TravelChinaGuide.com, All rights reserved.
Travelers' Voices on Jiankou Great Wall
1.
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!
2.
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?
3.
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!