Yangbian Great Wall Hiking

The Yangbian Great Wall, also known as Miaogang Great Wall, is located in Huailai County, Hebei Province, about a 2.5-hour drive from downtown Beijing. “Yangbian” means “standard template”, and this section served as the model for Great Wall construction during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), setting the engineering standard for building the iconic fortification. Built along the undulating mountain terrain, the Yangbian Great Wall resembles a coiled dragon resting on the mountain ridges. Stretching about 3,000 meters (3,300 yards) in length, with a height of around 6 meters (20 feet) and a width of roughly 5 meters (16 feet), its stone slabs are stacked up to 17 layers high. Renowned as a masterpiece among the various Great Wall sections, it truly stands out.

The Yangbian Great Wall is the most meticulously constructed stone-built segment of the Great Wall. Each stone was painstakingly polished. Despite lacking an outer layer of bricks, its precision and regularity rival those of brick-covered sections. The quality inspection during its construction was extremely rigorous. Legend has it that after completion, soldiers would shoot arrows at the wall; only if the structure remained intact was it deemed acceptable. As a result, compared with other wild Great Wall sections, the Yangbian Great Wall is well-preserved and maintains a consistent height.

The hiking route commences at Dayingpan Village, traverses the Dayingpan Great Wall, the Yangbian Great Wall, and the Shuitou Great Wall, and concludes at Zhenbiancheng Village. Spanning approximately 17 kilometers (10.5 miles), the route predominantly features wide and flat roads, making for easy hiking. While there are a few sections on the Great Wall with scattered stones that pose a bit more of a challenge, the overall difficulty level remains moderate.
 - Board a high-speed train from either Beijing North Railway Station or Qinghe Railway Station to Donghuayuanbei Railway Station in Huailai County. The journey takes around 40 minutes from Beijing North Railway Station and approximately 30 minutes from Qinghe Railway Station, with tickets priced at around CNY 30.

- From Donghuayuanbei Railway Station, take a taxi to Dayingpan Village. The 30-minute ride typically costs around CNY 40.
 Hiring a car with a driver is a more convenient and faster but more expensive option. The drive from Beijing to Dayingpan Village usually takes 2 to 2.5 hours, and the daily car rental fee ranges from CNY 800 to CNY 1,200.
  Route: Dayingpan Village - Dayingpan Great Wall - Yangbian Great Wall - Shuitou Great Wall - Zhenbiancheng Village
Length: 17 kilometers (10.5 miles)
Hiking Time: 7 - 8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate, with a few steep slopes.

The Yangbian Great Wall

Hiking on the Yangbian Great Wall

Upon arrival at Dayingpan Village, follow the road downhill, and you'll soon reach the starting point of the Great Wall climb. This section of the Great Wall encircles half of Dayingpan Village; thus it is called the Dayingpan Great Wall. With a steep cliff on the north side and a gentle slope on the south, standing on the Great Wall rewards you with panoramic views of the lush green basin and the distant reservoir.

After hiking about 5 kilometers (3 miles), you'll come across the Five-Finger Watchtower. This dilapidated watchtower gets its name from its appearance, which resembles five fingers from afar. Then, continue following the Great Wall downhill until it meets a vertical cliff at the base. Below the cliff lies a water pass, where you can pass by following a mountain path.

After passing through the water pass, continue along the Great Wall for approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) until you reach the summit. Here, the Great Wall suddenly widens, and the stones are neatly and sturdily arranged - this is the renowned Yangbian Great Wall, offering a relatively smooth walking experience. After another 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) hike, you'll find a stone tablet in an open area beside the wall, an ideal spot for a brief rest before proceeding to conquer the Shuitou Great Wall. Along the way, you'll encounter six distinctive cylindrical watchtowers.

Finally, follow the mountain path downhill to Zhenbiancheng Village to complete the hike.
 - Take a local minibus from Zhenbiancheng Village to the Mabaoquan Village bus stop. It takes about 20 minutes and costs around CNY 40. Please note that you need to arrive there before the last bus departs at 16:30. 

- From Mabaoquan Village, take Bus No. 33 to Nankouxi Bus Station, then transfer to Express Bus No. 66 or No. 883 to return to downtown Beijing. The entire journey back takes about 2.5 hours and costs CNY 27. 

If you traveled by chartered car, simply arrange for the driver to pick you up at Zhenbiancheng Village for the approximately 2-hour journey back to Beijing.