Juyongguan Great Wall
Juyongguan Great Wall or Juyong Pass is located in an 18-kilometer long valley named "Guangou" in Changping County, more than 50 kilometers from Beijing. It is generally considered one of the three greatest passes on the Great Wall of China. The other two passes are Jiayu Pass and Shanhai Pass.
Juyongguan Great Wall History
The name "Juyong Pass" was first used in the Qin Dynasty when Emperor Qinshihuang first gave the order to build the Great Wall. Juyong Pass has two passes: the "Nan Pass", or "Southern Pass" in the south and "Badaling" in the north. Badaling Great Wall has a somewhat larger reputation since it was connected to the Great Wall during both the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In the middle of Juyong Pass, there is a "Cloud Platform", also known as "Crossing Street Tower."
Originally built of white marble during the Yuan Dynasty with a height of 9.5 meters, lots of examples of period architecture such as stone railings and watch towers can be found along the platform. In the middle of the base of the platform there is an arched door where men, horses, and carriages could often pass through on their way either into or out of Beijing. Many animal images were carved in the arched doorways and on both sides of the door are carved statues of both Taoist and Buddhist gods. There were three white towers on the platform in the past, but they were destroyed in the interval between the Yuan and Ming dynasties. Later a Tai’an Temple was built on the platform but was later destroyed in the Qing Dynasty.
The present Juyongguan Great Wall was initially built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt many times later. It was strategically very important as it connected the inland areas and the area near the northern border of China. Being a strong defense barrier for Beijing, Juyong Pass witnessed many important battles throughout Imperial China. As there are lush trees around the Pass, the so-called Folded Greenness of Juyong Pass is one of "the Eight Best Scenic Spots of Ancient Beijing."
Juyongguan Great Wall Tours
Gubeikou Great Wall is 55km (34 miles) , 1 hour drive from downtown Beijing. Juyongguan Great Wall is the most accesible section and is a crucial pass of the Great Wall.
