Review: Hefangkou Great Wall Review

[Bryan]

Summary

Want a challenging hike / climb on an old stone wall in difficult terrain? Hefangkou may be just for you. Hefangkou is easy to get to but not easy to climb. The surfaces contain loose stones and portions are very steep.

Access

Hefangkou is one of the closest and easiest places to access the Great Wall from Beijing. It’s on the main road just north of Huairou. Once you reach the Hefangkou area, getting from the road to the Great Wall is also easy, with two short trails on the east side and one short trail on the west side.

Condition

The Hefangkou Great Wall is highly deteriorated. Unlike many of the Great Walls in the Beijing area which were done or re-done in brick during the late Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall at Hefangkou was made from stone during the early Ming Dynasty and was never later improved. While the wall itself was not improved, typical Ming Dynasty brick towers were added.

Description

There are two places to access the Hefangkou Great Wall on the east side of the road, and one place to access it on the west side of the road. The southern access path shown on the map was blocked at the road by a fence with a locked gate when I visited in 2010.

Red paths: Great Wall, yellow paths: foot paths, blue path: road


East side northern access restaurant (40°26'35.50"N 116°39'45.75"E)


East side northern access restaurant sign


East side northern access trailhead (40°26'36.60"N 116°39'47.29"E)


East side southern access trailhead (40°26'18.40"N 116°40'4.30"E)


West side access trailhead (40°26'21.03"N 116°39'52.23"E)


Here you can see the western Hefangkou Great Wall behind the Hefangkouguan memorial




View from 40°26'32.66"N 116°40'5.39"E

[leru]

Does anybody know if there is a path to get off the West side in Wudaodhe? Or any other village on that side. We want to start in Qingkongxia part, and go west to the end. Any info on that? Many thanks!

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by leru

Does anybody know if there is a path to get off the West side in Wudaodhe? Or any other village on that side. We want to start in Qingkongxia part, and go west to the end. Any info on that? Many thanks!

Yes, looking with Google Earth, I can see a path just to the north of Wudaohe at Shipiancun.

[bluetraveler]

This part was repairing now, i got it from the news

[PWCCA]

Originally Posted by bluetraveler

This part was repairing now, i got it from the news

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...t_13145193.htm

http://english.cntv.cn/program/china...7/103143.shtml

http://www.topchinatravel.com/commun...in-beijing.htm