Plot and Pass Juyunguan on the Great Chinese Wall

Tszyunguan plot On the Great Wall of China, tourists are rarely visited, although it is rightfully considered one of the most interesting. After all, this is not just a piece of protective wall, but a whole fortress with two gates, through which trading caravans from China in Mongolia and Manchuria. This plot is one of the most ancient, and I will start a story with the history of this place.

A bit of history

The first fortifications in Juyunguan arose in the period "Spring and Autumn" (770 – 476 DNE), and the first wall appeared in the era of the "hosting kingdoms" (476 – 221 DNE). This fact affects many tourists, as it is believed that the builder of the Great Wall is Qin Shihuandi (he is also known for its terracotta army). In fact, the first sections of the Great Wall began to build in a century to him.

To Qin Shihuandy Here the fortifications were built by the rulers of the kingdom of Yan (1046 – 222 DNE), they wanted to defend himself from northern nomads and protect trade routes. But then the wall was not yet solid. All plots were connected in a single chain, much later – in the era of the "Northern and South Dynasties" (420-589 NE).

What we see is now on the site of Juyunguan – this is the result of a large-scale reconstruction of the Ming dynasty times (1368 – 1644). To the Mine dynasty in China, the emperors of the Yuan dynasty – Mongols and descendants of Genghis Khan ruled. They were not needed the Great Wall, they abandoned her. The new Ming dynasty needed protection against northern barbarians.

The first emperor min – Zhu Yuanzhan, and continued his case the third Emperor of the Dynasty – Junle (Builder of the Forbidden City). They erected the majestic wall, gates and fortresses for which tourists walk now with pleasure.

The next minute was the Qing Dynasty. They were not the Chinese, but manchurs, and they did not need a wall. The Juyunguan section was destroyed, and only in 1992 the Government of Contemporary China held a large restoration work here. Juyunguan plot opened for free tourists.

Unfortunately, there was not a railway branch, as it was done in Badalin, and direct buses do not go here. Get to the Juyunguan site is difficult, although at a clear distance – this is the closest to the city of the Chinese wall to the city of Beijing.

How to get

Most convenient way – to take a taxi. From the center of Beijing to Juyunguan about 65 kilometers of the way. The trip will cost about 500 yuan in both directions. If you travel one, then such a way is quite expensive. But for several passengers it turns out quite acceptable price.

Taxi in China works on the meter, and ways to save a little. I recommend trying to negotiate in the local tourist bureau. They can provide a car and driver for less money.

The second way is to get to Badalin by train, then get to the Badalin bus station, and take the bus 879. There are other options to get there by several buses, but I will not comment on them, it is difficult for tourists.

Input price

From April to October – 45 Chinese yuan.

From November to March – 40 Chinese yuan.

Children in up to 1.2 meters pass for free.

Opening hours

From April to October – from 8:00 to 17:00.

From November to March – from 8:00 to 16:00.

How much time planning

Juyunguan plot is saturated with attractions, and everyone wants to see them. In addition, here a long enough piece of the wall itself is open for tourists – more than 4 kilometers, and the wall leaves in both sides of the mountain with a steep rise. It is better to plan 2 hours for a quick inspection and 4 hours for solid.

What to look – the great Chinese wall without a crowd of tourists

Here is free, although it is not the main advantage of the section of Juyunguan. There is no crowd of Chinese tourists as in Badalin or Mutyanyu.

Juyunguan is a mountain pass surrounded by two mountains. In the East, there is a mountain of Cypin with a height of 150 meters above the pass level, in the west of the Mountain of the Gengouja height of 351 meters. The length of the walls in Mount Cypin in the east direction – 1500 meters, in the western direction to the mountain of Jingui – another 1200 meters. Wall in this place resembles a horseshoe or letter "V".

Here is one of the widespread walls of the wall of 16.5 meters wide, as well as one of the narrowest – only 1.2 meters.

Calculate your strength. Climb on both mountains on the wall – the task is not the lungs, since the height differences are significant. Of course, this is not a rise to Everest and not even climbing Moise Moise, but some level of physical training is needed here. If you boil, then you are waiting for a remuneration in the form of an amazing view for the passage of Juyunguan and the Valley.

What to look – two gates

For the passage of traders and armies on the plot of Juyunguan, two gates are built immediately. They are called Beiguaa and Nanguan. These names and translated – "North Gate" and the "South Gate".

Each gate consists of a stone foundation and a wooden superstructure. These wooden superstructure was reconstructed modern Chinese scholars, the base remained from the time of the Ming Dynasty.

At the top you can see ancient cannons Ming Dynasty, they can even be touched.

What to watch – Cloud Platform

In the center of the pass is a large building 9.5 meters high and 25 meters in length. It’s not a full house, and only the base, once the structure was much higher.

It was built in 1342-1345 years. What was this building, it is not known. It is assumed that it was a pagoda, or watchtower. Most likely – both as part of one design.

It was called Yongtai, which translates as "it is in the clouds, even if you go away". Probably, the tower was very high. If you want to imagine it, then look at the photos of the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan.

But now the only remaining marble base, which is arranged in a passage. On the walls of the tunnel you can see bas-reliefs with gods and scenes from Buddhist sutras.

According to the written sources, a number of others were pagodas and Buddhist temple, built in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty. Unfortunately, they have not been preserved.

A good trip to the Great Wall of China, and read other blog posts (Links below).