Juyongguan Great Wall

Juyongguan Great Wall is one of the three most famous passes along the Great Wall of China, together with Jiayuguan and Shanhaiguan. 37 miles (60 km) from downtown Beijing, Juyong Pass was a solid stronghold encircling a valley, which was the northern direct access to Beijing in ancient times.

Juyongguan Pass in Beijing
Juyongguan Pass 
Map of Juyongguan Great Wall
Map of Juyongguan Great Wall ()

 Photos

Why Visit Juyongguan Rather Than Others

 Juyong Pass ranks as the first of the three impregnable passes along the Great Wall (the other two are Jiayuguan Pass and Shanhaiguan Pass).

 Besides the ancient wall, many old buildings, like towers and temples, can be seen there.

 Stairs on the western part are quite steep while the other side is gentler, suitable for people who are energetic and those who are weak in sports.

 37 miles (60 kilometers) away from downtown Beijing, it is the nearest section from the city proper.

Juyongguan Great Wall
Grand Pass by the River
Juyongguan Cloud Platform
Cloud Platform inside the Pass

Basic Facts of Juyongguan Great Wall

 Situated in a valley surrounded by mountains on two sides, it has long been a military stronghold.

 It was first built in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC) and Warring States Period (476 – 221 BC) by Yan State as a fortification, and was linked to the Great Wall of China in the Southern and Northern Dynasties (386 – 589).

 Zhu Yuanzhang, the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644), ordered the pass to be rebuilt to protect the northern borders from Mongol invasions. The extant pass was built then, and renovated in 1992.

 The mountain to the east is the 492 feet (150 meters) high Cuiping Mountain, with 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) of wall on its ridges. To the west is 1,152 feet (351 meters) Jingui Mountain, with 3,937 feet (1,200 meters) of wall built on it. The walls on the two mountains look like giant arms cradling the buildings of the valley.

 The pass is roughly circular with a perimeter of about 4,530 yards (4,142 meters) long. The widest point of the wall is 18 yards (16.7 meters), while the narrowest measures only 1.3 yards (1.2 meters).

 It consists of two gates, one in the south and the other in the north, respectively called Nan (south) Guan (gate) and Bei (north) Guan. Two high watchtowers were built at each gate.

 There is a high platform called Cloud Platform in the center of the pass. It is a white marble construction. There used to be buildings on top of the platform, but they were destroyed by fire and only the marble base remains. An arched doorway penetrates the platform. On the walls of the doorway, statues of four heavenly gods and sutra scriptures were carved.
 

Admission Fee April to October CNY 45 for adults and children over 3.9 feet (1.2 meters). Free for children less than 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) in height.
November to March CNY 40 for adults and children over 3.9 feet (1.2 meters).
Opening Hours April to October 8:00 – 17:00
November to March 8:30 – 16:00
Juyongguan Pass
Beijing Juyongguan Great Wall

How to Tour Juyongguan Great Wall

 It is a closed loop. You can finish your whole trip without backtracking, in one day. You can also have a half-day tour only visiting half of it.

 From south gate (main entrance), you can start your tour either eastward or westward. Stairs in the eastern section are gentler than the western side. Those who are not too fit can pick the eastern route.

 When arriving at the north gate, visitors can take a good rest there, and then decide whether to continue the other half or not. If you are too tired to finish the whole tour, you can come back down and visit buildings inside the pass.

 Two gate towers are now the best view points to see the full picture of the pass. No. 13 Beacon Tower at the west section is the highest point of the scenic area. You can have a bird's-eye-view of the pass there, too.

 Stairs can be very slippery when wet. You'd better check the weather before your visit to avoid bad conditions.

Juyongguan Great Wall Juyongguan Pass

When is the Best Time to Visit?

The best times to visit this section are April, May, September and October. In April and May, the green mountains are dotted with beautiful flowers. The ancient wall is immersed in a sea of flowers. In autumn, the flamboyant leaves form another highlight of the scenic area. To have a joyful visiting experience, you should avoid the tour peaks of the May Day Holiday (May 1 to May 3) and the National Day Holiday (October 1 to October 7).

How to Get to Juyongguan Great Wall from Downtown Beijing

 By Bus:  883 or 919
Take bus line 883 or 919 from Deshengmen West or Deshengmen to Nankou Lukou South or Nankou Lukou North. Then, change to bus line Chang 20 to Juyongguan Great Wall.
 

 By Train: S2
You can first take subway line 8 or line 13 to get to Huoying Station, and exit from G4 to find Huangtudian Railway Station. Here take the train S2 to Badaling Railway Station, and then take a free shuttle bus to Badaling Bus Station, where you can transfer to bus 879 to get to Juyongguan.

 

Where to Eat

There's no restaurant in the scenic area. You'd better take some snacks. Visitors always get sweating. So bringing some bottled water is also necessary.

 Related Tour: 
Juyongguan Great Wall Hiking Tour

- Last updated on Jun. 13, 2023 by Catherine He -
Questions & Answers on Juyongguan Great Wall
Asked by Angie from GREECE | Oct. 30, 2019 13:26Reply
Afraid of heights of Juyongguan Great Wall
I’m afraid of heights, is there a cable car to take you to the Wall, or you can walk to it?
Answers (1)
Answered by Griselda from UNITED KINGDOM | Oct. 31, 2019 00:17
00Reply


Well, no, there is no cable car in this great wall.
Asked by Tina from UKRAINE | Aug. 23, 2019 23:33Reply
Can I travel with a stroller
Answers (1)
Answered by Happyhippie from AUSTRALIA | Aug. 26, 2019 02:30
00Reply


Not on the wall of China, too many steps
Asked by Sunny from USA | Aug. 09, 2019 08:56Reply
Is it possible to visit Juyongguan Great Wall in 1 hour as soon as the entry opens?
I only have time to visit it from 08:00 to 09:00. Please let me know which route I should follow. Thanks!
Answers (3)
Answered by Madison from UNITED KINGDOM | Aug. 12, 2019 18:07
00Reply


Well, I am afraid that one hour is too tight to tour around this Great Wall. You can enter the scenic area and hike for some kilometers, and then go back to the entrance.
Answered by Sunny from USA | Aug. 13, 2019 07:09
00Reply


Thanks for your reply. Can I purchase tickets online for Juyongguan Great Wall? So I don't have to stand in line there.
Answered by Madison | Aug. 14, 2019 23:43
00Reply


Well, the online ticket booking only has Chinese version. Thus you can find a local travel agency or just purchase the tickets when you arriving there.
Asked by Lorrae from AUSTRALIA HAS | Jul. 25, 2019 22:36Reply
Trekking poles at Juyongguan Great Wall
Are these available to hire at start of walk or Beijing? Also are they needed for senior person?
Answers (1)
Answered by Natalie from UKRAINE | Jul. 30, 2019 23:25
00Reply


Generally speaking, you don't need to use the trekking poles.
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