Jiankou Great Wall and Xizhazi village
History of the Jiankou Great Wall
The Jiankou Great Wall, a section of the enormous Great Wall of China, dates back to the 14th century during the Ming Dynasty. Known for its rugged and unrestored appearance, the Jiankou Great Wall offers a glimpse into the past, with its original construction largely intact. This section of the Great Wall served as a strategic defense point, protecting the northern borders of China from invasions.
Xizhazi village
This village is 38 km northwest of Huairou district (100 km from downtown Beijing). It is a super beautiful village! This village has 300+ years of history. It is surrounded by mountains from 4 directions, and the Jiankou Great Wall goes from east, south, and west on the top. (alt 615 meters)
Xizhazi village has six groups (Group in Chinese is called Dui 队):
- Group 1 (1队): Nangou cun (南沟村)
- Group 2 (2队): Nanjili cun【南吉利村】
- Group 3 (3队): Qianzhazi cun【前栅子村】
- Group 4 (4队): Houzhazi cun【后栅子村】
- Group 5 (5队): Jiushuikeng cun【旧水坑村】
- Group 6 (6队): Duishi cun【对石村】
The most dangerous parts are the Upward flying eagle (鹰飞倒仰) and heaven stairs（天梯).
The Great Wall starts from Zhengbeilou （正北楼） on the east side and finishes at 9 Eyes Tower (九眼楼). It is about 9kms long.
- Zhengbeilou tower 【正北楼】（N 40°27.289’，E 116°32.159’，alt 975m）
- Jiankou【箭扣】（N 40°27.333’，E 116°31.476’，alt 694m）
- Heaven Stair 【天梯】（N 40°27.339’，E 116°30.100’，alt 912m）
- Upward flying eagle 【鹰飞倒仰】（N 40°27.385’，E 116°29.928’，alt 1013m）
- Beijing Knot 【北京结】（N 40°27.772’，E 116°29.669’，alt 985m）
- Nine-eye tower 【九眼楼】（N 40°28.914’，E 116°30.126’，alt 1194m）
This wild section is good for people who like adventure and are fit to visit. It is a great place for photographers and people to escape the crowd in Beijing. Some of the places are super hard to hike.
The famous hike route is called Jiankou to Mutianyu. If you start from Beijing Knot （北京结）to Mutianyu （慕田峪）, it is over 17kms hike, and with the mountains, it equals a 30kms walk. If you plan a challenging hike, you should know this before.
The most classic hiking route is a 4 hours hike from Zhengbeilou (正北楼) to Mutianyu Great Wall （慕田峪）. You can enjoy the wild section and the rebuilt Mutianyu Great Wall for this hike. The hike is doable for most people and can finish in 1 day, which is excellent for people with limited time.
Which is the most dangerous hike?
Compare with the Wild Simatai Hike here:
Accommodation:
Many guest house options exist for staying one night in the village.
Most are like a family hotel; the host is amiable and helpful and cooks delicious food. The one in the Picture just finished the decoration in 2019. The price is around 200 RMB to 300 RMB. It is a bit more expensive than other little hotels but much cleaner. She doesn’t speak English, so it is better to let your Chinese friend help you book it for you.
If you would like to have one night at the Great Wall, contact us for the guest house booking, and you will get a better price.
If you like to do the Jiankou hike, please read these blogs:
How to hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall on your own?
FAQS
How can I reach Xizhazi Village?
There is no public bus now; usually, you need private transportation and contact with locals, and then you can enter the village.
How long is the Jiankou Great Wall?
The Jiankou section of the Great Wall stretches approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles).
Can I camp overnight on the Jiankou Great Wall?
Camping on the Jiankou Great Wall is generally prohibited due to conservation efforts and safety concerns. But at some point, it is ok to camp; contact Leo for more information.
Are there alternative routes or hikes near the Jiankou Great Wall?
Yes, there are alternative routes and hikes near Jiankou Great Wall. One popular option is to combine a visit to Jiankou with a hike to Mutianyu Great Wall, which offers a more accessible and well-preserved section nearby.
Is there an entrance fee to visit the Jiankou Great Wall?
A10: As Jiankou Great Wall is an unrestored section, it does not have an official entrance fee. However, if you access it through a tour operator or hire a guide, there may be associated costs for transportation and services.
