Located in the mountainous area of Tianjin's northern Ji County, the Huangyaguan Great Wall was first built during the Northern Qi Dynasty (550 - 557) and repaired in large scale with bricks during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). When appointed as the chief commanding officer in the Ji Garrison (one of the eleven garrisons of the Ming Dynasty), Qi Jiguang added watch towers and other defensive works.

The Huangyaguan Great Wall comes out first in the ten most-visited sites in Tianjin. It is considered to be a miniature of the Great Wall of China. The entire section is built on an abrupt mountain ridge. Being endowed with both natural beauty and cultural interest, it has become famous as a natural beauty spot and a summer resort. The major scenic area is composed of Huangyaguan Pass and Taiping Mountain Stronghold.

Huangyaguan Pass
In 1984, the people of Tianjin spent three years repairing 3,308 yards of the main wall from Banlagang Mountain in the east to Wangmaoding Mountain in the west. They restored 20 terraces, the Huangyaguan Water Gate, and the Bagua Castle (the Eight Diagrams Castle). The defensive system of the wall is complete. Watch towers, frontier cities, drain holes, emplacements, barracks and other indispensable military facilities are arranged orderly along the wall. Besides, the stele forests of the Great Wall, Beiji Temple, the exhibition hall of famous couplets, the Great Wall Museum (the first museum along the Great Wall) and the Phoenix Fortress have been newly built within the area.

Taiping Mountain Stronghold
Six miles northwest of Huangyaguan Pass and built 437 yards to 547 yards above sea level, the stronghold is located in Xiaopingan Village. It controls the Chongshan Valley east of Huangyaguan Pass City. Qi Jiguang's stone statue and a tower were erected by twelve widows from this area.

Huangyaguan Great Wall welcomes tourists from all over the world, including many runners, who participate in the annual international marathon race.

 Huangyaguan Travel Tips 

Huangyaguan Great Wall Transportation
Start from Tianjin: You can take a bus to Jixian County in Tianjin Hebei Bus Station. The bus runs from 06:30 to 18:30. Between 06:30 and 12:30, it runs every eleven minutes, and between 12:30 and 18:30, it runs every six minutes. The bus ticket costs CNY 25 per person, and it takes about 2 or 2.5 hours from Tianjin Hebei Bus Station to Jixian County. When arrive in Jixian County, you can take a taxi to Huangyaguan Great Wall. It costs about CNY 50 and takes about one hour to the wall. Or take a tricycle from Jixian Passenger Station to Gulou Xikou (also Xiguan) which costs CNY 3 to CNY 4. In Gulou Xikou, there are many minibuses to Huangyaguan Great Wall. The bus can hold seven to eight people and costs about five to ten yuan (You can bargain over the price). The bus goes when it is full.

Start from Beijing: Take a bus from Sihui long distance bus station to Jixian County. The bus runs every ten minutes between 06:30 to 19:30. When arrive in Jixian County, you can take a taxi or a minibus to Huangyaguan Great Wall (Refer to the above detailed information "Start from Tianjin").

 Huangyaguan Dining & Accomodation
Around Huangyaguan Great Wall, many farmhouses provide visitors with dining, accommodation, picking and other tourist service. It is a good idea to stop at one of these farmhouses for leisure and entertainment.

Laozhaizi Farmhouse
Chinese name: 老宅子农家院 (Lǎo Zhái Zi Nóng Jiā Yuàn)
Location: 50 meters (55 yards) to the west of the parking lot of Huangyaguan Great Wall, about 28 miles to Jixian County
Special dishes: all kinds of "peasant food" including stewed chicken with mushroom, baked corn cake, boiled small fish, cornmeal dumpling with vegetable stuffing, millet gruel, fresh seasonal vegetables and barbecues
Accommodation: It can accommodate 35 guests at one time. Amenities in room: standard toilet and washroom, and 24-hour hot water
Surrounding scenic sites: Huangyaguan Great Wall, Huangyaguan Bagua Maze, Jiulong Mountain, Jiulong Pool, Panshan Mountain, Baxian Zhuozi Scenic Area and Baishe Valley
Average cost per person: CNY 60 to CNY 80

Chunxiang Farmhouse
Chinese name: 春香农家院 (Chūn Xiāng Nóng Jiā Yuàn)
Location: 70 east zone, Huangyaguan Village, Xiaying Town, Jixian County; about 100 meters (109 yards) to Huangyaguan Great Wall; a middle sized parking lot can help visitors park their cars
It can accommodate 45 people to live in and over 60 people to dine together. Visitors can choose from standard double room, multishare room and heated brick bed, and from ordinary room to room with bathroom.
Special dishes: maize cake, wild vegetable cake, millet gruel, corn gruel, baked pancake, roasted whole lamb, fried free range eggs, grilled fish, stewed chicken and Chinese toon salad
Entertainment: fishing, card, chess, bonfire party and picking
Surrounding scenic sites: Jiulong Pool, Baishe Valley and Limutai Natural Scenic Area