Juyongguan Great Wall Hiking

At the time of this morning confirmed with you in advance, our guide and driver will greet you at the lobby of your self-booked hotel in downtown Beijing, and then a 1.5-hour private transfer will take you straight to Juyongguan Great Wall. After arriving, the guide will escort you to hike the Great Wall counterclockwise from the South Pass Tower. Pass successively through Watchtower No.7 to No.14 in the west and we will reach the North Pass Tower, then continue through Watchtower No.1 to No.6 in the east, and finally end today’s fantastic hike at the starting point. Expect to be overwhelmed by the majesty of the Great Wall when looking at the plaque reads ‘Number One Guarding Pass under Heaven’ hanging on the South Pass Tower, venture through the most precipitous part between Watchtower No.12 and No.14, and take in stunning surrounding idyllic scenery along the railway at the Watchtower No.5. The whole journey demands a high level of physical exertion and endurance, but rest assured that the guide will adjust the most suitable route for you according to your physical condition. Afterward, it’s time to send you back to your downtown hotel. At Any time you can find our travel experts to customize the itinerary to your satisfaction.

Meals: Not included, but suggestions available.

The Great Wall, the pinnacle of ancient Chinese war culture, is a strong military defense line that has stood the test of time and space, usually built on strategic arteries and choke points, of which the Juyongguan Great Wall is exactly a good example. As early as in the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC), the Yan State was at Juyongguan Pass, the first of the three great passes (the other two are Jiayuguan Pass and Shanhaiguan Pass), built a fortress to ward off the nomadic Donghu people. Later in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor, ordered the Great Wall here to be renovated to prevent Mongol invasions. And until now, the entire circular Wall stretches 2,098 meters (2,294 yards) on the Jingui Mountain in the west with 8 watchtowers, and extends 1,505 meters (1,646 yards) on Cuiping Mountain in the east with 6 watchtowers, like arms hugging many temples and ancient buildings in the valley. It is steeper on the west side and gentler on the east side, so both adventurers and families with children can find the hiking joy here. Moreover, compared with other popular sections like Badaling, there are relatively few visitors here, which allows you to enjoy a leisurely and quiet tour.● Basic Facts of Juyongguan
-Ticket Price:

Apr.1 - Oct.31 (high season)	Nov.1 - Mar.31 (low season)
CNY 40	CNY 35

* The ticket can be purchased on the Juyongguan Great Wall WeChat Official Account (Chinese version only) or on site.

-Opening Hours:

	Mar.16 - Oct.7	Oct.8 - Mar.15
North Pass Tower	6:30 - 18:00	8:30 - 17:00
South Pass Tower	8:30 - 17:00

* On Friday, Saturday, and holiday nights from Apr.29 to Oct.15, the area between Watchtower No.1 and Watchtower No.2 is also open for visitors from 18:30 to 22:30, with a ticket price of CNY 40. Take your chance to enjoy not only the Great Wall covered in gold by lights but also some traditional Chinese martial arts and acrobatic shows.

How to Get to Juyongguan
● Most Convenient Way: Non-stop Tourist Bus
It departs from Dongzhimen Bus Station in downtown Beijing at 8:30 and arrives at Juyongguan Great Wall about 1.5 hours later. Keep in mind that it returns at 14:00. It costs CNY 80 for a round trip. It is only available on weekends from May to October.

● Most Economical Way: City Bus
1. Get on Bus 919 at Deshengmen Bus Station and Get off at Juyongguan Great Wall Bus Station, and the whole journey takes about 2 hours and costs CNY 11. It leaves Deshengmen from 05:45 to 19:00 and returns from Juyongguan from 05:00 to 18:30. Be sure to check with the driver that the bus you are boarding is 919 rather than 919 Express, as the latter does not stop at Juyongguan Great Wall Station.
2. Or take Bus 870 or 833 from Deshengmen to Nankou Dongjie Station, and then transfer to Bus 879 or Chang 20 to Juyongguan Great Wall Station, which takes around 2.5 hours and costs CNY 12 in total.Highlights along Juyongguan Hiking Route
Hiking Route: South Pass Tower - Watchtower No.7 - Watchtower No.14 - North Pass Tower - Watchtower No.1 - Watchtower No.6 - South Pass Tower
Hiking Distance: 4.2 km (2.6 mi)
Hiking Duration: 3 - 4 hours
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Scenery: ★★★★☆
What to Prepare: sturdy hiking shoes, windproof coat, sunglasses and sunhat
Best Time to Visit: April, May, September and October

Pass the Ticket Check and proceed towards the north, you will first get to the Ying’en Archway, a place where soldiers received rewards and condolences from the emperor after winning a battle in ancient times. What comes next will be the Jingshan Pavilion, also known as the Hexagonal Pavilion, which was mainly used to issue award lists. Along the stairways, ascend to the South Pass Tower, atop which a plaque that says “Number One Guarding Pass under Heaven” is decorated, to begin your Great Wall hiking. Look around here, and perhaps you can really understand the importance of the military position reflected in a Chinese saying "One man guards the pass, and ten thousand enemies are unable to get through". On the north side of the Tower is the famous Cloud Platform, made of white marble, only the base of which remains today, with some exquisite stone carvings and Buddha statues. It is also a perfect site to get a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.

Heading west, you will walk on 1,700 steps to reach the top of the mountain. First, a 20-minute trek on a path which is flat and in good condition will take you to the Watchtower No. 7. Continue forward to reach the Watchtowers No.8 and No.9 via the Biaozhong Ancestral Temple, which was built in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives to defend Juyongguan Pass. Next, there is a large turret tower that was believed to have been used by soldiers to ambush enemies. From here, the road gradually becomes steeper, with some certain parts even inclining to nearly 80 degrees. Just after the Watchtower No.10, you’ll see a hidden living quarter for ancient soldiers during wartime. Also, there is a narrow fork path that leads to the Guandi Temple, a venue built to commemorate the famous general Guan Yu of the Three Kingdoms Period (190-280). Go along the main road to Watchtower No.12, the highest point, and enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the sneaking Great Wall. Work up your mettle to challenge the most perilous part between the Watchtowers No.12 and No.14.As you approach the North Pass Tower, rest a bit and carry forward your hike along the east section. By the way, the South Pass Tower and North Pass Tower are located right between two mountains, forming a natural bottleneck in this main passage. Pay a visit to the Zhenwu Temple here, whose roof is covered with blue glazed tiles and rimmed with gold, dedicated to the Taoist Xuanwu God, the North God in Chinese mythology. Climb up a slightly steep part and after passing by the Watchtower No.3, you’ll find the route thereon is downhill. Interestingly, someone once picked up some pottery fragments that were coated with glaze and had many prickly bumps on the way. Curious about what they are? It turned out to be the remnants of the porcelain mine that exploded during the wars over 400 years ago. Once you reach the Watchtower No.5, you are nearly at the foot of the Great Wall where the Sluice Gate Tower connects the wall on the other side of the river. Feast your eyes on the spring flowers or autumn leaves along the railway, and then return to the South Pass Tower to end the trip.

● Alternative Hiking Options
No cable car is available at the Juyongguan Great Wall. To complete the whole loop detailed above, one must generally be in good physical condition and regularly exercise at ordinary times. To avoid the crowds on some busy holidays or weekends, you may reverse the above itinerary by starting from the east section. If you don’t have enough strength to make it all the way through, perhaps only hike along the shorter and gentler east route from Watchtower No.1 to No.6 for an easier trip or along the longer and steeper west route from Watchtower No.7 to No.14 for more challenges. Stop at the Watchtower No.12 and retrace your steps if you can’t get through the especially perilous part between Watchtowers No.12 and No.14. For a special night tour of the Juyongguan Great Wall, maybe stay here for one night and visit the open area between Watchtower No.1 and No.2 from the North Pass Tower.

● Food and Accommodation
There are some food points on the Great Wall, but notice that the commodities’ prices are definitely higher than usual, so you are advised to eat full at your hotel before your morning departure and bring along some energy-boosting snacks like chocolates and bottled water. For a simple meal, you can also get to the McDonald’s north of Parking Lot 3. The Juyongguan Ancient Hostel at the foot of the Great Wall, the only 4-star hotel in an antique wooden style in the scenic area, may be your preferred accommodation for the night.

Hope you can gain something useful from the above information. Choosing to travel independently means that you have to spend much time and energy researching where to buy tickets, what means of transportation to employ, and how to plan your tour route, which will be even more difficult if you are not well-skilled in Chinese. Want to be free from those hassles? Consider our personalized Juyongguan Great Wall hiking tour, where you will enjoy smooth transfer service and professional guide commentary. If you are also interested in the nearby well-known Guangou Scenic Area, Badaling Great Wall, or Ming Tombs, feel free to contact our travel consultant to craft and add them to your itinerary.