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Zhengbeilou of Jiankou
and Great Wall Hiking Tour from Zhengbeilou
Zhengbeilou tower looks down on the rugged
Jiankou section of the Wall to the west and toward
Mutianyu in the east, making it a great spot for the amateur photographer.
It is this panorama that adorns many postcards and advertisements of the
Great Wall. Jiankou is an impressive part of the Wall, built with
light-colored bricks that still manage to stand out against the trees
threatening to overwhelm it. The wall makes a large L shaped loop around the
small valley where the village of Xizhazi is located. At the south-western
end is Zhengbeilou (ZhengBei Tower) and on the northern end is Jiuyanlou (9
Eye Tower). In between the other major features (from East at Zhengbei
heading west and north) : the actual Jiankou or Arrow Notch, meaning the
notch of the bow, where the wall dips sharply to a narrow notch between two
hills; the Heavenly Ladder, a very narrow steep section of the Wall; Where
Even the Eagle Flies Upward, a section where the Wall is almost straight up
a very steep peak; The Beijing Knot, where two sections of the Great Wall
come together and finally after a long stretch the amazing 9 Eye Tower. In
four seasons and in any weather, the Great Wall is impressive, but nothing
can beat witnessing the sun rise and fall over the Great Wall on a clear
day. The relentlessly-steep climb in order to reach Zhengbeilou will have
you had puffing, as for the most part, it's the right balance of challenge
and enjoyment.
Unfortunately, the Wall on the steep hilltops leading east toward the
Zhengbeilou tower is impassable without rock-climbing equipment, and we do
not advise you to go further. Technically, this area is "not open to the
public". However, a nearby ticket booth selling 20-yuan tickets will ease
your collective conscience. Be aware, if visiting during the winter, this is
not the perfect season to hike and trek on a stone wall, perched on a
mountain. However, since the views are crystal clear and the location
deserted, the chill is just about worth suffering for. From Zhengbilou, your
trek will take you on a narrow path on the Wall that's almost completely
overgrown, over the Ox Horn, a steep and slippery mountainside route, to the
Mutianyu Great Wall.
Great Wall Hiking at Jiankou
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