Peach Blossoms at Jiankou Great Wall

Jiankou Great Wall is one of the most ruined and treacherous sections of the Great Wall built in Ming Dynasty ( 1368 - 1644). It meanders along the mountain ridges at the sea-level of 1141 meters in Badaohe Township.  Xizhazi Village is located below the massive Jiankou Great Wall, about 38km northwest of Huairou District and 120km north of downtown Beijing.

The whole chunk of the winding Wall looks like the shape of "W",  similar to a full bow, hence the name of Jiankou which literally means "Arrow Nock". In the past few years Jiankou Great Wall has become the most photogenic of all the sections around Beijing due to its rugged and overgrown bits of the Wall perched on the steep cliffs and peaks.  Jiankou Great Wall is the most wanted place for photographers and hiking enthusiasts.

"Spring Flowers", "Sea of Clouds", "Golden Autumn" and "Snow Scene" are the four wonders of Jiankou Great Wall. Mid-April is the best time to see spring flowers, or specifically the peach blossoms in Jiankou Great Wall.

Yes, there are tons of online trip reports on the incredible steepness of the Upward Flying Eagle Tower,  Tianti (Sky Ladder) and Beijing Knot along Jiankou Great Wall. We are not advising anyone to scramble that section if you don’t have any mountain or rock climbing experience armed with special equipment though maybe you are an experienced travelers.

We suggest you start from Zhengbeilou Watchtower on Jiankou Great Wall ( east of the Upward Flying Eagle Tower and Sky Ladder), walk eastwards along the rugged Wall and get to the restored Mutianyu Great Wall, a relatively easy walk with stunning views.

Attached below some photos of the peach blooming Jiankou Great Wall.

Tip: Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for Beijing guided tours:

Further Readings