China Travel

Sublimely beautiful in the way only undisturbed ancient ruins can be, Gubeikou is perhaps the most pristine and enjoyable sections of the Great Wall of China within day-trip reach of Beijing.

Peaceful and free of the touristy trappings of the Badaling Great Wall, Gubeikou rewards hikers with vistas of tranquil, mountainous terrain and farmland, but it's considerable work to get there. Overgrown in some areas, crumbling in others, the Wall here is not as welcoming to the casual visitor as restored sections.

Be aware that some sections are steep enough to turn even well-toned thighs to liquid fire and with no no guardrails to catch you if you trip, brash moves on Gubeikou could land you in the hospital.  

Highlights include the Wohu Shan and Panlong Shan sections of the Great Wall, the former offering majestic views of the surrounding countryside, the latter great vantages from towers over the gate guarding the pass. Taking the Flying Fox zip line from the last tower over the river to the opposite shore is great way to finish a trip to the area.

Situated 125 km from Beijing, Gubeikou was a strategic linchpin of China's northern defenses in dynastic times. Cutting across a narrow pass through the Yanshan mountains, Gubeikou stood watch over the only major corridor between China's heartland and the north for hundreds of kilometers. 

Construction on this 40 km stretch of wall began 1,500 years ago during the short-lived Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577 AD), with reinforcements coming with every subsequent dynasty. The bastion would eventually comprise secondary walls and towers capable of housing the 100-man garrisons who formed a first line of defense against incursions by Manchu, Mongolian and Jurchen tribes over the ages.