The “Overhanging Great Wall” (Xuankong Changcheng) is a steep section that climbs 750 meters up the Black Mountain (Heishan) ridge near Jiayuguan. With gradients reaching 45 degrees, it appears to hang from the cliff face — hence the name.
Built in 1539 to strengthen Jiayuguan’s eastern defenses, this section was restored in 1987. The climb rewards visitors with sweeping views of the Gobi Desert and the Jiayuguan fortress.
Shuiguan, “Water Pass,” is a short but interesting section near Badaling where the wall was built to control a river valley. A large archway allowed water to pass through while the wall above maintained its defensive function.
Built by General Qi Jiguang during the Ming Dynasty, this section demonstrates how the Great Wall was adapted to natural terrain features.
Badaling is the most famous section of the Great Wall, visited by over 10 million people annually. It was the first section opened to tourists (1957) and has hosted numerous world leaders including Nixon and Queen Elizabeth II.
The famous quote by Mao Zedong — “He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man” — is inscribed on a stone tablet here. The section offers panoramic views of the wall snaking over mountain ridges, and is accessible by cable car.
Mutianyu is the most popular section of the Great Wall for international visitors. Fully restored in the 1980s, it offers excellent accessibility with cable cars, a chairlift, and a fun toboggan slide for descent.
The wall here features 22 watchtowers across 2.25 km, with both inner and outer walls — a rare double-layered defense. The dense watchtower spacing reflects the strategic importance of this mountain corridor protecting Beijing’s northeast approach.
Simatai is renowned for its steepness and dramatic mountain setting. It features the “Heavenly Bridge” — a narrow walkway 100 meters above a gorge, barely wide enough for one person, connecting two peaks.
The Fairy Tower (Xiannü Lou) is the most elegant of Simatai’s 35 watchtowers, decorated with marble carvings of lotus flowers. Simatai is one of the few sections open for night visits, offering a once-in-a-lifetime sunset experience.
Jinshanling is widely considered the most beautiful section of the Great Wall for photography. Its 10.5 km stretch contains 67 watchtowers, each with a unique architectural design, rolling over mountain ridges in a rhythm that changes with every season.
Built during the Ming Dynasty under the supervision of General Qi Jiguang, the wall here features innovative defensive features including barrier walls, horse-blocking walls, and inscribed bricks recording the names of the artisans who built them.
Jiumenkou, meaning “Nine Gates Pass,” is one of the most architecturally unique sections of the Great Wall. It is the only place where the wall crosses a river — the Jiujiang River — via a 110-meter stone bridge with nine arches.
This engineering marvel allowed the wall to maintain its defensive line while permitting water to flow freely. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it demonstrates the incredible adaptability of Chinese military engineering.
Jiaoshan is the first section of the Great Wall that climbs into the mountains after Shanhaiguan. The name “Jiaoshan” means “Horn Mountain” — its peaks resemble the horns of a dragon.
This section features some of the steepest gradients on the entire Great Wall, with steps carved directly into the bedrock. Much of it remains in a wild, unrestored state, offering adventurous hikers a glimpse of the wall as it stood centuries ago.