Niujiaobian

Chinese: 牛角边
Pinyin: Niú jiǎo biān
English: Ox horn wall
Coordinates: 40°27'17"N 116°32'39"E

Leaving the restored part of Mutianyu to the west, after maybe one hour of walking, you will reach the hairpin-shaped feature known as Niujiaobian or Ox-horn edge Great Wall. The high point of this feature is one of the highest Great Wall spots in the area at 1029 meters (3375 feet) elevation. The view from here on a clear day is truly spectacular. If you decide to continue westward, you will reach the Zhengbeilou tower of the Jiankou section of the Great Wall, another high point at 991 meters (3250 feet). See the Jiankou section, following this one, for more details about this area.

View of Zhengbeilou and Jiankou from Niujiaobian

Niujiaobian is a prime example of how much trouble the builders of the Great Wall took to ensure that the wall followed the highest ground in the area. From the base of one side of the hairpin to the other, it's a straight-line distance of about 150 meters (500 feet). But to go between these points, the wall extends for 550 meters (1,800 feet) in order to follow the mountain ridges rather than to traverse a minor valley, even though the local territory is difficult to attack.

The two sides of the hairpin are different from each other. The eastern side is covered with smooth stones that can be slippery, especially if not totally dry. The western side is covered in loose bricks and stones. About halfway up the eastern side, there is a tower that is partially collapsed. From below (south), the wall enters this tower from the bottom, as usual. But from above (north), the wall enters the tower from its top. Therefore, to pass through this tower you must climb up or down through a hole in the ceiling of the inside of the tower.

Unfortunately, the tower at the top of Niujiaobian is highly deteriorated. Only fragments of it remain today. It was surely once a big and impressive tower.

Niujiaobian viewed from the west, near Zhengbeilou

With the hike between Mutianyu and the Zhengbeilou tower at Jiankou being very popular, it's fortunate to have an impressive feature like Niujiaobian in between.

Location summary: Niujiaobian is about 62 kilometers (39 miles) north of downtown Beijing. It is about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) northwest of Mutianyu and about 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles) east of Zhengbeilou tower at Jiankou. The path of the Great Wall from Niujiaobian to Zhengbeilou tower at Jiankou is about 0.9 kilometers (0.5 miles).

Driving directions: From the Huairou urban area, take X009 northwest for 15.6 kilometers (10.3 miles) to the Mutianyu roundabout. Go straight across the roundabout, turn right at the next road and drive north for about 3 kilometers (1.86 miles), bearing right at one fork in the road. Proceed through Beigou village and to the end of the road. See the Mutianyu section for more information on accessing the Great Wall via Beigou village.

Mutianyu Ox Horn Great Wall (Niujiaobian)