Juyong Pass of Great Wall
Juyong Pass of Great Wall
4.5
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12 miles north of Changping and 37 miles north of Beijing. Apparently closest portion of Great Wall to Beijing.
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Jackie W
Brisbane, Australia139 contributions
Sept 2019
To see the Great Wall is truly amazing. The history behind the building is incredible. The walk on it is very strenuous though as steps are so uneven. My advice is to just take your time and you will be able to go quite a distance.
Written 17 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandini W
Colombo, Sri Lanka87 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
Such a wonderful experience! Once in a lifetime!! The climb is steep and the steps are of varying height. Still it’s a doable. I climbed to the the top - 12th fortress - in one hour 15 minutes. I took lot of breaks in between. It was really worth going to the top!! A wonderful sight!! Coming down was easier but one has to be more careful. I didn’t go on the lower part of the wall as it was more time consuming and the view might not be that great.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patrick Mahony
London, UK21 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
China's Great Wall is the longest wall in the world. It is one of China's most iconic symbols and is also included in UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as in the new Seven Wonders Of The World of the world. Its architecture extends over more than 5,000 steep hills, which provide a unique view to China. It was great to visit this section of the great wall.
Written 19 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan Maarek
Tel Aviv, Israel16,000 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
There are several places not far from Beijing where you can see and walk the Great Wall.
This very one I am reviewing here is the Juyong Pass.
But you can see the Wall also at Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng, Jiankou, of course at Badaling ... and probably in many other places.
To say the truth we were somehow disappointed with Juyong Pass.
We were expecting, as you would have been, a ... Waoow !
But it wasn't like that.
We did not see tens of miles of Wall and wide ramparts in an endless landscape taking our breath away.
We did see a beautiful mountain landscape with valleys and a river but of the Wall saw only a few miles ... and a museum and that's it.
We shouldn't have been surprised and actually we should have expected since all was said beforehand in this place name: Juyong Pass ...
Yes, if it is a Pass then it should be narrow, between hills or mountains and therefore no ramparts spreading far away.
Besides this we did enjoy ourselves because of ... the sport: starting at the bottom level we climbed till the highest Tower, something like more than 2,000 steps (many of them really high) and while it was rather exhausting (we're not that young) especially in that hot weather, it was indeed satisfying finding ourselves in very little company (few visitors climbed there) at the last and highest tower.
It took my wife and me 45minutes each way so 1.5 hour altogether.
We were part of an organized group so we had to come back on our steps to join back the group .
But if we had been there by ourselves we would have not gone back on our steps. You see at the last highest tower you reach a fork giving you the choice whether to go back down the same way or to go down but by another way allowing you to go down the hill, to cross the valley, climb up again the other side of the Valley and then reach your starting point again. Kind of a circular path.
This would have been a much more fulfilling option, probably twice the number of steps and around a 3-4 hours hike but the best point being that the Wall on the other side of the Valley looked much wider than the narrow steps we took and therefore probably this time deserving the Waow we were expecting.
That's it, I recommend you read the reviews for the other Great Wall sites near Beijing and then decide at which spot to see the Great Wall.
You can also take a look at the pictures I have attached to my review, as I usually do, to help you i making your mind...
Bottom line, a rather disappointing experience... since we expected much more.
This very one I am reviewing here is the Juyong Pass.
But you can see the Wall also at Mutianyu, Jinshanling, Huanghuacheng, Jiankou, of course at Badaling ... and probably in many other places.
To say the truth we were somehow disappointed with Juyong Pass.
We were expecting, as you would have been, a ... Waoow !
But it wasn't like that.
We did not see tens of miles of Wall and wide ramparts in an endless landscape taking our breath away.
We did see a beautiful mountain landscape with valleys and a river but of the Wall saw only a few miles ... and a museum and that's it.
We shouldn't have been surprised and actually we should have expected since all was said beforehand in this place name: Juyong Pass ...
Yes, if it is a Pass then it should be narrow, between hills or mountains and therefore no ramparts spreading far away.
Besides this we did enjoy ourselves because of ... the sport: starting at the bottom level we climbed till the highest Tower, something like more than 2,000 steps (many of them really high) and while it was rather exhausting (we're not that young) especially in that hot weather, it was indeed satisfying finding ourselves in very little company (few visitors climbed there) at the last and highest tower.
It took my wife and me 45minutes each way so 1.5 hour altogether.
We were part of an organized group so we had to come back on our steps to join back the group .
But if we had been there by ourselves we would have not gone back on our steps. You see at the last highest tower you reach a fork giving you the choice whether to go back down the same way or to go down but by another way allowing you to go down the hill, to cross the valley, climb up again the other side of the Valley and then reach your starting point again. Kind of a circular path.
This would have been a much more fulfilling option, probably twice the number of steps and around a 3-4 hours hike but the best point being that the Wall on the other side of the Valley looked much wider than the narrow steps we took and therefore probably this time deserving the Waow we were expecting.
That's it, I recommend you read the reviews for the other Great Wall sites near Beijing and then decide at which spot to see the Great Wall.
You can also take a look at the pictures I have attached to my review, as I usually do, to help you i making your mind...
Bottom line, a rather disappointing experience... since we expected much more.
Written 24 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,623 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
This is a beautiful, well-maintained section of The Great Wall of China. With all the up and down, walking on it certainly burns energy. The walkways are smooth but tread carefully. Of the 12 fortresses on this section, I visited Fortress No. 12, 13 and 14. This is about the fourth section of The Great Wall that I’ve visited, and I hope to visit more. I find them all to be interesting. Be prepared for steps, steps, and more steep steps.
Written 7 December 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen W
Brisbane Region, Australia2,182 contributions
Aug 2017
This is a scenic drive from Beijing through the countryside to The Great Wall. The Great Wall meanders through China's northern mountain ranges from the Yellow Sea to the Gobi Desert—a distance of over 3500 miles. The Juyong pass has some steep walking (as you can see from the photos) but is apparently not as busy as some parts of the Great Wall.
The construction of this wall is amazing, the Great Wall worked as a complete military defence line in ancient China, protecting the Central Plains from invasions of the northern nomadic tribes.
The Great Wall was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It starts from Hushan in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west.
Very hot in August and a lot of people, a couple of souvenir shops, suggest a guided tour trip if you don’t speak Chinese. Good idea to take some snacks and water.
The construction of this wall is amazing, the Great Wall worked as a complete military defence line in ancient China, protecting the Central Plains from invasions of the northern nomadic tribes.
The Great Wall was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). It starts from Hushan in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west.
Very hot in August and a lot of people, a couple of souvenir shops, suggest a guided tour trip if you don’t speak Chinese. Good idea to take some snacks and water.
Written 29 December 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
handycrafter77
Los Angeles, CA114 contributions
Aug 2013 • Couples
This was my second time going to China to the same section of the Great Wall. Both times I've gone with Charming Asia Tours, but it was until the 2nd time that I finally climbed the wall. The first time it was too hot for me and that hindered my abilities to climb it. This 2nd time the weather was just right so I went for it. Took my water bottle with me and up I went. People were cheering me on, I had some stares, but mostly friendly people cheering me on. I rested when needed, and leaned up against the bar rail a lot. That rail became my best friend. My husband started first and he thought I wouldn't be able to climb it again and boy did I surprise him when he worked his way down and I was at the 2nd beacon drinking my water. I went up 3 beacons and am 5'2 and close to 300lbs, so for me it was a great accomplishment. Up there with a graduate degree...haha. It didn't really take me long, I think about 25-30 mins. or less. I really didn't time it. I was too happy and felt I could do anything! Climbing down was a sinch for me, I heard people around saying their legs were trembling bad, but mine were, at least not yet. I was until about 1-2 hours later when I got off the car that my legs were trembling so bad I thought I would break one. It felt like they had a mind of their own. It was worth every bit though.
Written 20 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kennysutch
Melbourne, Australia17 contributions
Mar 2018 • Friends
Just returned from the 10 day tour of China and had a fantastic time. China is not at all what I was expecting and was pleasantly surprised by the prosperity of the country. Apart from the smog the sights were spectacular. Our guides were excellent and knowledgeable about the history and interest points in their respective areas (Sidney in Shanghai, Rocky in Xi’an and Sophie in Beijing).
We did the Xi-an extension and saw the fantastic Terracotta Warriors, well worth the expense. We met up with our group again in Beijing which meant that we all travelled on the bullet train, visited the Imperial palace, saw the pandas and walked the Great Wall.
The accommodation (and western breakfast) varied from excellent to out-dated, but then again trip-a-deal is working to a budget, and they’ve done well to source what they’ve got. The days are quite long with some early morning starts and very little down time. Traveling even short distances can take ages as the traffic is incredible, and this reduces down-time before the night-time optional tours. Don’t expect to go market shopping for ‘knock-offs’ as you will only be taken to the High Street shopping areas.
Recommendations:
• be prepared as you will be walking on average 10 km per day (and some more);
• carry some high protein bars as lunch can be quite late (mid-afternoon);
• do all the day-time optional tours; and
• get a group together to visit the Xi’an City Walls at night.
Communications
• Once you land in China it is suggested that you switch your phone to “airport mode” and use these useful apps to communicate. This way you won’t need expensive home roaming charges, and the free in-house hotel wifi will suffice:
o Express VPN so you can still use your google/face book/viber/hot mail, but be wary as this is not sanctioned (and don’t mention using it to the hotel staff);
o MAPS.ME for navigation; and
o Google translate for offline help communicating with the locals.
Overall I would thoroughly recommend the trip-a-deal China tour (with the Xi-an extension) as a great way to see the best parts of China at a budget price. Well done trip-a-deal.
We did the Xi-an extension and saw the fantastic Terracotta Warriors, well worth the expense. We met up with our group again in Beijing which meant that we all travelled on the bullet train, visited the Imperial palace, saw the pandas and walked the Great Wall.
The accommodation (and western breakfast) varied from excellent to out-dated, but then again trip-a-deal is working to a budget, and they’ve done well to source what they’ve got. The days are quite long with some early morning starts and very little down time. Traveling even short distances can take ages as the traffic is incredible, and this reduces down-time before the night-time optional tours. Don’t expect to go market shopping for ‘knock-offs’ as you will only be taken to the High Street shopping areas.
Recommendations:
• be prepared as you will be walking on average 10 km per day (and some more);
• carry some high protein bars as lunch can be quite late (mid-afternoon);
• do all the day-time optional tours; and
• get a group together to visit the Xi’an City Walls at night.
Communications
• Once you land in China it is suggested that you switch your phone to “airport mode” and use these useful apps to communicate. This way you won’t need expensive home roaming charges, and the free in-house hotel wifi will suffice:
o Express VPN so you can still use your google/face book/viber/hot mail, but be wary as this is not sanctioned (and don’t mention using it to the hotel staff);
o MAPS.ME for navigation; and
o Google translate for offline help communicating with the locals.
Overall I would thoroughly recommend the trip-a-deal China tour (with the Xi-an extension) as a great way to see the best parts of China at a budget price. Well done trip-a-deal.
Written 3 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TexSteve
Austin TX135 contributions
Dec 2012 • Solo
I traveled to the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall in early December. I am in my late 40's and accustomed to hiking. It took about 30 minutes to hike up, and was very steep. The temperature was in the 30s Fahrenheit so I wore multiple layers of clothes, but after about 20 minutes of climbing I started to pull off my jackets. By the time I reached bottom, a tee-shirt was plenty. I mention that to reinforce that it is a strenuous climb.
The views were spectacular and really gave me a good feel for the impressiveness of the Wall and the beauty of the mountainous area there. There was a good bit of background haze in the air there though. Not sure what the air quality regularly is.
There weren't very large crowds at 9am and most people were clustered at a level about 5-10 minutes from the bottom. Not many people seemed to go to the top. When I went, there was a little snow/ice on the steps up, but it was avoidable. I imagine it would be much more difficult with more ice. I do not have a great camera, but have attached pictures.
When you hike down from the top, be careful to take the same fork back down or you will not return to exactly where you started.
The views were spectacular and really gave me a good feel for the impressiveness of the Wall and the beauty of the mountainous area there. There was a good bit of background haze in the air there though. Not sure what the air quality regularly is.
There weren't very large crowds at 9am and most people were clustered at a level about 5-10 minutes from the bottom. Not many people seemed to go to the top. When I went, there was a little snow/ice on the steps up, but it was avoidable. I imagine it would be much more difficult with more ice. I do not have a great camera, but have attached pictures.
When you hike down from the top, be careful to take the same fork back down or you will not return to exactly where you started.
Written 14 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yycflip
Calgary, Canada2,641 contributions
Nov 2017 • Friends
This was my 3rd visit to The Great Wall and it never gets old. It was as magnificent as my 1st and 2nd tries. The Badaling section was really crowded and much easier to climb and the less visited Mutianyu is less touristy and not as frequented by the tour operators and I think it was the longest one with 22 watch towers that one can visit.
As mentioned, this was the hardest one to climb, for me at least. I got up to the 7th out of the 11 towers that are open to the public and that was tough. I am still hurting as I write this review and it has been almost a day since the hike up there.
The descend was even difficult for me as I'm actually afraid of heights that are stationary (love roller coasters as they are moving!) so it was a struggle trying to control the shaking of my legs and thighs and trying not to stumble down to my death.
Nevertheless, I would do it over and over again as the vantage view on top is incomparable!
Prepare to hurt and feel the aches after the climb but the experience in itself is out of this world!
As mentioned, this was the hardest one to climb, for me at least. I got up to the 7th out of the 11 towers that are open to the public and that was tough. I am still hurting as I write this review and it has been almost a day since the hike up there.
The descend was even difficult for me as I'm actually afraid of heights that are stationary (love roller coasters as they are moving!) so it was a struggle trying to control the shaking of my legs and thighs and trying not to stumble down to my death.
Nevertheless, I would do it over and over again as the vantage view on top is incomparable!
Prepare to hurt and feel the aches after the climb but the experience in itself is out of this world!
Written 21 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
To visit Juyongguan Great Wall independently (without any tour), can you purchase the ticket online in advance?
Written 27 July 2019
Hi!
I don't know, we were with Trip a Deal and everything was organised for us. Sorry I can't help you.
Written 28 July 2019
Is there any luggage storage at Jurongguan to keep the backpack before climbing the wall?
Written 24 July 2019
As far as I know there is no place to store your luggage, so it would be a good idea if you only took things to the pass that you can carry. Its a very steep climb but a lovely experience.
Written 26 July 2019
what level of fitness is required to climb the wall
Written 14 April 2019
It’s up to you how high you go. I’m unfit & got to Fortress 8 - but others in my group who had trained or were fit went to Fortress 12 which was the top for this part of the wall. Definitely a workout for your legs & butt 😇
Written 14 April 2019
I am staying in Hong Kong for 3 days. I would love to see the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army. Which trip should I take to see both and do I require a visa.
Written 15 January 2019
Hi,
I hope this message would help you.
First of all in order for you to visit Greatwall or Terracotta warrior you must either fly from Hongkong to Beijing 3-4H(where Greatwall is located) and you can either fly again (1-2H) or ride bullet train (5-6H) from Beijing to Xian (where Terracotta Warriors are located). For Australian Passport holder,visa is required upon entering either Xi'an or Beijng.
Written 16 January 2019
Updated instructions to travel from Beijing City (Chongwenmen) to Juyongguan Great Wall:
I am trying to find out what is the latest route to travel by public transport to Juyongguan. I read somewhere that you can take Bus Chang 68 from Longze Station directly to Juyongguan. Another article mentioned that bus 68 no longer leaves from Longze but from Shahe Station. Is that correct?
From the website, it's about 68 mins from Chongwenmen to Shahe. How long will it take from Shahe to Juyongguan if bus Chang 68 is still running?
Thank you in advance.
Written 1 April 2018
From Chong wen men, take Beijing Subway (Di Tie) Line 2 (either the inner circle or the outer circle, one is 8 stops one is 10 stops) to Xi zhi men, change to subway Line 13 (5 stops) to Xi er qi, then change to subway Changping Line (9 stops) to Changping. Take Exit A, at Changping Nan Da Jie but stop, take bus 870 or 655 for 3 stops to Deng Zhuang, change to bus 919 or 879, which should take you to Juyongguan Great Wall (information from Beijing Public Transport website, checked on 3 April 2018, don’t think the site has an English version). Hope you will find this useful. Public transport in Beijing has been improved/changed dramatically. New bus lines are opening and old ones are discontinued or combined all the time.
Written 3 April 2018
How hard is it for un fit person physically (elderly) just to reach the reach able wall (entrance etc)
Without climb further are we able to be able to get to the great wall?
Tx in advance
Written 10 March 2018
Been to Badaling once and Jurong Pass three times. I found the Jurong Pass part of the wall much easier, quieter and nicer. You can easily walk up to the beginning of the climb and then decide how far you want to go or not go up at all. You still can get some good pictures even at the bottom of the climb. The first time we went to Badaling in 1988, I was so afraid that I would get knock down by the crowds, but not at Jurong Pass. My sister who had a stroke a couple of years back took a few steps on our last trip there (Nov. 2017) and she was happy. Or, if you go to the restrooms there, after you are done, you could just walk over to the wall and then walk down.
Written 19 March 2018
How long does it take to get all the way to fortress 12 and back down ?
My husband and I are fairly fit, live a very active lifestyle and enjoy hiking if that helps.
We are going with Rewards Travel China and in one review they said they only had 45 minutes at the wall. is this enough time ?
Looking for answers from every range of persons time it took them to get a sense for our own timeline.
Thanks In advance !
Written 22 January 2018
It depends on the time of day you visit. We were on a tour and we got up at 4 in the morning to visit the wall. We were there early and it was rather relaxing visit, we then had a coffee at the bottom at about 11 o-clock. As we came down the last couple of hundred meters it got very busy and whilst having the coffee the wall looked like the entrance to a major sporting event.
So if you get there early you can reach the top and back if you are fit, but would not have time to visit the shop at No 10 and defiantly would not be able to take in the views. If you get there later then there is no way.
Written 26 January 2018
I read somewhere that one path has some sort of shop along the way with a certificate that can be purchased indicating that you climbed the great wall. Does anyone know what side, and if one side has more souvenirs to purchase than the others? I also read that one side has ice cream. Thanks!
Written 17 June 2017
Hi yes there is a shop with ice cream and drinks. They do offer a certificate service
and this can be incorporated with a booklet showing many wall pics for about 200 yuan .
Written 17 June 2017
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