Code: GW14

Jiankou Great Wall Hiking: Beijing Knot to Jiankou Spot

Beijing Knot to Jiankou Spot is the middle or west part of the Jiankou Great Wall, with a length of about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) and height difference of 550 meters (1,800 feet). Generally, it takes about 6-8 hours to finish the hiking from one end to the other. Many landmarks of Jiankou Great Wall, like Beijing Knot, Eagle Flies Facing Upward and Sky Stair scatter along this section, making it the most attracting yet challenging section. As hiking along this section requires a lot of energy and is somehow dangerous, it is only recommended to experienced outdoor adventurers. 
How to Get to Jiankou Great Wall from Beijing
→ Please take subway line 2 or line 13 to Dongzhimen Station and get out from Exit H to the Dongzhimen Transit Hub. 
→ Take the bus no. 916 Express and get off at Yangjiayuan Stop in Huairou District. This bus trip needs about 1-1.5 hours.
→ Then charter a car to the fifth team of Xizhazi Village (Xizhazi Cun Wu Dui) at the foot of Jiankou Great Wall. The cost is about CNY100-150 per car. You may also take bus no. H25 nearby to cover this trip, but it is only available at 11:30 and 16:30 each day. 
Beijing Knot to Jiankou Hiking Route
 Xizhazi Village - Xidaqiang Wall - Beijing Knot - Eagle Flies Facing Upward - Sky Stair - General Guarding Pass - Jiankou Spot - Xizhazi Village

From Xizhazi Village, you need to hike southward for about 2km (1mi) along country road to the mountain foot, the starting point of the uphill path up to start today's Jiankou Great Wall hike.  

Starting here, you will reach Xidaqiang Wall after around 45 minutes' hiking. 

Then, follow the Great Wall rampart southwards for some time and climb up a nearly vertical stairway to the Beijing Knot, a joining point of Great Wall sections from three directions. Besides the way you come, you can see other two ramparts: one stretching to the south of Jiankou and the other west all the way to Xiangshuihu Great Wall.

Standing at the Beijing Knot, you can overlook the Eagle Flies Facing Upward to the south, who got this name because of the similar appearance to a flying eagle. A watchtower at a lower position looks like the head of the eagle and two sections of upward walls are its two wings. 

The Sky Stair is at the east wing of the eagle. Although only 80 meters (90 yards) in length, it is regarded as one of the most challenging section of Jiankou Great Wall because of a slope of 70 degrees. 

After that, continue this hiking route along the wall for about 30 minutes to the General Guarding Pass. After another one hour's trekking, you will arrive at the lowest point of this section named Jiankou Spot. 

Get down from the ramparts there and walk along a trail northward back to the Xizhazi Village. 
Get Back to Beijing Downtown
As the bus no. H25 only departs for Yangjiayuan at 06:30 and 13:10 every day, you may need to charter a car to get there in Huairou in around one hour and then take bus no. 916 Express there back to the Beijing downtown. The last bus no.916 Express departs from Yangjiayuan at around 18:50. 

If interested, you may stay one night in Xizhazi Village and continue hiking the north or east section of Jiankou Great Wall tomorrow before going back to Beijing. There are hostels in Xizhazi Village providing accommodation and dining services. 
Tips
1. The Jiankou Great Wall around Beijing Knot was constructed of stone bricks. After hundreds of years' exposure to the wind and rain, some sections have already collapsed into gravelly tracks revealing faint traces of the former stairs. It is highly suggested you wear skid-proof climbing boots and watch your step during the climbing. Even use both your hands and feet at some steep sections like the Eagles Flies Facing Upward and Sky Stair. 
2. Do not make this hiking tour around Beijing Knot during rainy, snowy or thundery days.
3. Go along the path beside the Great Wall at some difficult sections. 

 Photos of Jiankou

 More Great Wall Hiking Routes: 
Badaling Hiking: Explore Badaling in one day
Simatai Exploration: One day hike tour to Simatai and Gubei Water Town
Gubeikou Hiking: with accommodation and transportation tips
Shanhaiguan with Laolongtou: itinerary to Laolongtou, Shanhaiguan and Jiaoshan
Juyongguan Hiking: itinerary and tips for Juyongguan section

More Beijing Independent Packages:
Forbidden City: 4 routes to discovery the world's largest imperial palace
Hutong Alleys: Explore the old hutongs and courtyards on a traditional rickshaw
Longqing Gorge and Kangxi Grassland: Three day side trip to Longqing Gorge, Mt. Song Forest Park, and Kangxi Grassland

Questions & Answers
Asked by Liesel from SINGAPORE | May. 02, 2014 21:39Reply
Mutianyu to Jiankou walk
To do the walk from Mutianyu to Jiankou, is the Jiankou exit from the wall easy to find? Is there any signage? If it is not easy to find, is there another part of the wall that we can meet (and find) our car and driver?
Answers (2)
Answered by Mark | May. 03, 2014 21:24
00Reply


There is no English sign at Jiankou Great Wall. This part of the wall is very dangerous, you may follow other travelers to find the route. By the way, there is no guide and driver for this itinerary, you may explore it on your own.
Answered by Valentine from UKRAINE | Nov. 06, 2018 03:40
00Reply


To hike from Mutianyu to Jiankou you don't need any signs to follow because it's simply the extension of the same wall. You hike till the western end of Mutianyu section and simply walk farther on the unreconstructed part of the Wall which is Jiankou. After 2-3 hours of hiking you can walk down the trail to the nearest village (either left or right side). To the right is Xi zha zi village, to the left you can walk down back to the entrance of Mutianyu section.
Asked by Charlie | Aug. 28, 2012 16:36Reply
For lodging in Xizhazi do you have phone#s for reservations?
Answers (1)
Answered by Lee | Aug. 28, 2012 06:53
00Reply


Hi, Xizhazi is just a small village with about 30 families and travelers who visit there can lodge in their home. Here I would like to recommend two families to you and you may try to contact them. One is Zhao Farmhouse and the phone number is 010-61611478, the other is Jiankou Villa and the phone number is 010-61611198. This information is only for your reference.
Asked by Jolan | Aug. 14, 2012 10:28Reply
Jiankou hike
How many kilometer is the hike from 9-Eyes Tower to Zhenbeilou Tower (and back to the village)?
Can I hike it in one day?
Answers (2)
Answered by Donna | Aug. 14, 2012 07:38
01Reply


One day is not enough for you to hike from 9-Eyes Tower to Zhengbei Lou. It is very difficult and dangerous to climb the Jiankou Great Wall, so you are advised to make adequate preparations or find a local guide. Also, you'd better to join a group if possible instead of doing it alone.
Answered by Yannick from FRANCE | Feb. 20, 2019 22:20
00Reply


We walked in one day from Jiuyanlou (nine eyes tower) to the restored section of Mutianyu via Beijing knot and Jiankou.

This is NOT a good idea. My girlfriend was very slow on the descending slopes and it took us 17 hours walk including a few breaks (departure at 5am from Jiuyanlou after sleeping in the watchtower, arrival at the first restored tower of Mutianyu at 10pm where we slept again on the wall).
Asked by JoeW. | Mar. 28, 2012 14:53Reply
Jiankou(9 Eye Tower) - MuTianYu(Tobaggan) Trek
I would like to trek from the Jiankou 9 Eye Tower to the Toboggan at Mutianyu in 1 day sun up to sun down(roughly 12 hours +/-)... is this possible?! I'm an active athlete in exelent shape and I figure by my research online of how long each section is it shouldn't be a problem. I'm just looking for confimation from someone that has done it or a similar trek. Thanks!
Answers (6)
Answered by Lynn | Mar. 28, 2012 07:05
00Reply


I am afraid that one day is not enough for you to trek from Jiankou 9 Eye Tower to Mutianyu Great Wall. Also, I do not think it is a good idea to trek from Jiankou to Mutianyu, because it is very dangerous.
Answered by JoeS from BEIJING | Jul. 03, 2014 02:54
00Reply


Hey JoeW - have you done this trek? I'm planning the same thing together with some olg college buddies. We're all in good shape as well. I've been to the Xizhazi village and explored the wall there as well. Seems not as dangerous as a lot of people make it seem....I think it is possible, however even after research I have not found confirmation of anyone ever having done it. Much appreciated, thanks!
Answered by Darren from USA | Oct. 23, 2014 11:11
00Reply


Yes, JoeS I've done the hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu to beggan from about 5am to 11pm - this was about 4 summers ago so not sure how the condition of Jiankou is now, but when we did it, it was not terribly challenging.
Answered by Yannick from FRANCE | Feb. 20, 2019 22:22
00Reply


I dit it in 2007 in about 18 hours (5:00 - 22:00 + 1 hour the next day) but we were very slow as my girlfriend was afraid in descending slopes. If you are in excellent condition, you will take much much less time than what we did. It's not an easy trail though: quite dangerous at several places.
Answered by JoeW from U.S.A. | Feb. 23, 2019 12:58
00Reply


Hey mate, I ended up doing the trek: https://www.flickr.com/photos/giuseppes/albums/72157630532008558
Scroll down to see the Great Wall photos.
I did half on 1 day, trekked back to the village for the night then the other half the next day... was amazing! Thanks for the reply... happy travels!
Answered by JoeW from U.S.A. | Feb. 23, 2019 13:00
00Reply


Took a while to reply:-) I hope you ended up doing the trek, I did it completely over 2 days:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/giuseppes/albums/72157630532008558
Scroll down to Wall photos. Safe travels!
Asked by Ms.Cheok | Nov. 30, 2010 01:18Reply
Would like to know how to get to
1. Forbidden City
2. Great wall
3. Tiannanmen Square
4. Summer Palace
5. Temple of Heaven

from Jinglun hotel Beijing?
Answers (1)
Answered by Mr.James | Nov. 30, 2010 21:08
00Reply


Hi,Here is my answer, hope it helps you:
1. You can take Bus 810 to the north gate of the Forbbiden City. If you want to the front gate, you should make a transfer at Tian'anmen Square West or East. Not far away from the Tian'anmen Square.
2. Get to Beijing North Railway Station first and take the train to Badaling. Take 810 at the hotel to Xisanqiao or Qinghe, then change to Bus no. 919 to Badaing Great Wall. FYI: Badaling Great Wall Transportation(https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/greatwall.htm) .
3. Walk to Yong'anLi or Guomao Subway Stations near the hotel and take Beijing subway(https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/transportation/subway.htm) Line 1 to Tian'anmen East. By Bus: get to Dabeiyao West Bus station to catch 4, 1, 802, 37 to the square.
4. Take Bus 1, 4 to Gongzhufen East and change to 394 at Gongzhufen North to Summer Palace. Or take 810 to Tieshizifen then change to 331 to the destination.
5. Take subway Line 1 to Dongdan and change to Subway Line 5 to the East gate of Temple of Heaven.
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