Great Wall Trekking from Jiankou to Mutianyu

This morning, meet our guide and driver at the pre-agreed time at the lobby of the hotel you booked yourself in downtown Beijing, and then set out for the Jiankou Great Wall, which will take 2 hours or so by our comfortable vehicle. Upon arrival, the guide will accompany you on an adventurous hike along its east part from Jiankou Spot to Mutianyu. Starting from the Wofo Mountain Villa on the south side of the Great Wall, let’s pass through the Jiankou Spot, the lowest point, the Tiny Potola Palace named after its appearance, Zhengbei Tower, the largest and most complete of its kind, and the Ox Horn Edge with a 90-degree turn until reaching the Mutianyu Great Wall, where we’ll descend the mountain to the Yingbeigou Village to conclude today’s hike. Along the way, seize the opportunity to explore the vicissitudes and simplicity of the historical remnants themselves, appreciate the surrounding fascinating natural beauties, and challenge yourself physically and mentally on some quite dangerous segments. Afterward, you’ll be sent back to your hotel. Share with us if you have any ideas on this Jiankou to Mutianyu hiking tour so that we can craft it to your satisfaction.

Throughout Chinese history, from the battles among vassal states to the competitions for survival space among the nomadic and agricultural groups, the manmade defensive miracle - the Great Wall - has played a significant role in dynasties. Especially during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the construction of the Great Wall was on the largest scale and with the longest duration, and so far the most remaining and the best preserved sections are also from this dynasty, with a total length of appropriately 6,300 kilometers (3,914 miles). Among them, the Jiankou Great Wall, which connects Huanghuacheng in the west and Mutianyu in the east, is an unrestored wild section of its kind, allowing you to enjoy the original and authentic ancient Ming walls. The mountains on which it lies are overall like an arrow, thus it is named ‘Jiankou’, literally meaning ‘arrow nock’. Built of large pieces of local dolomite, it looks like a jade dragon rolling on an endless ocean from a distance. Plus most of its essence sits atop sheer cliffs, so ‘beauty’ and ‘precipitousness’ have always been its hallmarks. Moreover, the Jiankou is the one that has been photographed the most in the albums of China’s Great Wall.

● What Should You Know and Prepare Before You Go
1. Jiankou Great Wall can be accessed for free and at any time of the day.
2. Only experienced hikers with good physical fitness are recommended to hike this section.
3. Avoid going hiking in rain, snow or other extreme weather. 
4. No toilet is available on the Great Wall, so get prepared in advance.
5. Wear a pair of anti-slippery hiking shoes and comfortable sports clothes. Gloves and an alpenstock are also very necessary.
6. Bring a power bank as mobile phones will perform poorly in this area.How to Reach the Jiankou Great Wall
Bus is the only public transportation to the Jiankou Great Wall from downtown Beijing, and both the Wofo Mountain Villa at the southern foot of the Jiankou and the Xizhazi Village at the northern foot can serve as the starting points for your Great Wall hiking. Notice that it takes about two hours to walk from the former to the Great Wall while it takes 40 minutes from the latter.

-To Wofo Mountain Villa (2.5 to 3 hours, CNY 16 for the whole trip):
Step 1: Get on the Bus 916 Express at Dongzhimen Transit Hub, and get off at the Huairou North Avenue Station about 1 hour later. It departs from Dongzhimen from 05:50 to 20:00 every 10 minutes and returns from Huairou North Avenue from 04:30 to 18:50.

Step 2: Transfer to Bus H36 to Tianxianyu Station, from where walk about 1 kilometer (0.67 miles) north to get to the Wofo Mountain Villa, which will take about another hour. The H36 departs at 06:20, 11:30, and 17:40 and returns at 07:05, 12:15, and 18:30 every day.

-To Xizhazi Village (3.5 to 4 hours, CNY 20 for the whole trip):
Step 1: Take Bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen Transit Hub to Yangjiayuan Station, which takes about 1.5 hours.

Step 2: Walk about 300 meters (984 feet) north, turn right and then continue walking another 200 meters (656 feet) to reach the Yujiayuan Yiqu Station, where you can transfer to Bus H25 and get off at Xizhazi Village West Station in about another 1.5 hours. The bus only departs at 11:30 and 16:30 and returns at 06:30 and 13:15 every day.

* Note: Neither of the above two transportation methods can achieve a round trip on the same day. Therefore, an overnight stay at a hotel in the Wofo Mountain villa or Xizhazi Village may be required. If you want to save time, hail a taxi which costs CNY 200 - 300 (USD 27 - 41) for a single trip, or use Bus 916 Express and take a taxi the other half way.

Hiking Map of Jiankou (click for full map)

Highlights along Jiankou to Mutianyu Hiking Route
Hiking Route: Wofo Mountain Villa - Jiankou Spot - Tiny Potala Palace - Zhengbei Tower - Ox Horn Edge - Mutianyu Great Wall - Yingbeigou Village
Hiking Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi)
Hiking Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Scenery: ★★★☆☆
Best Time to Visit: April, May, September and October

Upon your arrival at the Wofo Mountain Villa, hike uphill for about 2 hours and you’ll get to the Jiankou Spot, the lowest point of the Jiankou Great Wall and also the inflection point of the first stretch of V-shaped Wall. Proceeding to walk eastward and passing by two watchtowers, you’ll be welcomed by the Tiny Potala Palace, which was so named because of its similar appearance to the Potala Palace in Tibet. Note that on both sides of it are bottomless precipices, and to reach its top, you have to use all four limbs and check if it is firm before each set. After one more hour’s hike, reach the Zhengbei Tower on a higher peak. It not only occupies the highest location, but also features as the largest and most intact watchtower of the whole Jiankou Great Wall. When it was built in ancient times, there were exquisite ridge beasts designed on its roof, whose function was to enhance the stability of the structure. It is said that they have also been endowed with superstitious meanings, that is, to ensure the safety of the soldiers defending the Great Wall and bring them good luck as well. From there, you can have a full view of the majestic Jiankou and take perfect shots of the Tiny Potala Palace.

Continue your hike eastwards to the Ox Horn Edge. It is like a giant dragon suddenly raising its head at a 90-degree angle on the mountain ranges and soaring straight to the clouds, and then turning and sliding elegantly down the mountainside, outlining a breathtaking “ox horn” picture, hence the name. It is not hard to find the stairs of the Ox Horn Edge have already collapsed into gravels after hundreds of years of wind and rain. The downward road here has almost no obvious trace of steps, and for safety reasons, it is recommended that you take a shortcut through the woods at the first watchtower you meet to make a detour. Then, in less than 10 minutes, you’ll get back on the Great Wall again. After another 10 minutes' hiking, the western end of the well-preserved Mutianyu Great Wall which reveals a totally different view from the wildness of Jiankou Great Wall will appear in front of you. As visito rs are not allowed to climb over the wall to reach the visiting zone of Mutianyu, you need to go down from here to reach Yingbeigou Village at the foot and finish your hike.

● Alternative Hiking Routes
If you are not so physically strong enough, perhaps opt to hike the north part between Beijing Knot and Nine Eyed Tower. Especially from April to May, peach trees are in full bloom on both sides of the Wall, giving you a feeling as if you were wandering in a painting. Or it could be the west part between Beijing Knot and Jiankou Spot that includes more well-known spots like Eagle Flies Facing Upward and Sky Stair, but note that it is extremely challenging due to some nearly vertical slopes. Generally, one can only hike one part a day, and if you feel up to conquering two or all three parts of Jiankou Great Wall, you need to stay at a farmhouse in Wofo Mountain Villa or Xizhazi Village for one night.

● Memo on Food
Since you’ll find no food stalls on the Great Wall, you are advised to have a hearty breakfast at your hotel and pack some simple energy-boosting snacks like chocolate or biscuits, as well as electrolyte drinks. At the foot of the Wall, there is a restaurant called Shuntong Rainbow Trout Breeding Center near the Wofo Mountain Villa, offering some authentic homemade dishes including the local specialty trout. Give it a try if you are interested, and the average cost per person here is around CNY 90 (USD 12).

After checking the above information, it may not be difficult for you to conclude that a self-guided tour can be really troublesome. For example, you have to make inconvenient transfers when taking public transportation to the destination, and even there is no guarantee of having a seat on the bus to cope with the long journey. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consider our custom-made Great Wall Beijing tour from Jiankou to Mutianyu, which offers hassle-free transfers between downtown areas and Jiankou and a caring guide service. There are still some other popular sections of the Great Wall such as Badaling and Mutianyu or world-famous city highlights like the Forbidden City are worth your visit, and if you have abundant vacation time, feel free to contact our travel consultant to customize your trip to extend to some of those attractions to your liking.