Chenjiabao

Chinese: 陈家堡
Pinyin: Chén jiā bǎo
English: Chen home fortress
Coordinates: 40°18'1"N 115°55'42"E

The Chenjiabao area marks the next pass to the west of Shixiaguan. Chenjiabao is actually located in Hebei Province because on the way from Shixiaguan to Chenjiabao the wall turns toward the west and crosses the provincial border. But soon after Chenjiabao the wall turns back towards the east and re-enters Beijing Municipality.

Heading west along the wall from Shixiaguan, the wall continues for about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) before descending sharply into a valley at Chenjiabao. The surface of the wall is covered in crumbling bricks and stones, making progress critical and tedious.The wall at the final descent to the valley is very deteriorated, due mostly to materials having been removed from this area, and it's best to walk alongside it, with the west side providing the best route.

In this valley, there is a short, easy trail of about 500 meters (1650 feet) that leads from the Great Wall to the upper Chenjiabao village. From here, the wall leads south and southwest towards Bijiashan, 42 kilometers (26 miles) away along the Great Wall.

A partially collapsed tower and a steep climb at Chenjiabao

Continuing along the wall, again the first slope is in very poor condition and is best bypassed on its west (right) side. The wall heads to the south for about 1.4 kilomters (0.9 miles), passing by Chenjiapu village to the west before turning east and back to the border between Beijing Municipality and Hebei Province. There are about five towers in this stretch of the wall, only one of which is in reasonably good condition. As you walk along this part of the Great Wall, there is another, older wall running parallel to you on a nearby ridge approximately 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) to the east. That wall runs approximately on the Beijing/Hebei border. Soon the main wall turns toward the east (left) and then joins the older wall. You have to look carefully for it, because at the junction point, the older wall is almost invisible due to its deteriorated state. Here the main wall turns south (right) and roughly follows the border for some distance.

About 700 meters (2300 feet) from this point, a large tower sits atop a high peak. This tower known as General's Tower and is in good condition. It has an elevation of some 1040 meters (3400 feet) and affords impressive views of the surrounding Great Wall and countryside.

General's Tower
Photo by Richard Fairbrother

About 800 meters (2600 feet) beyond General's Tower, you will find a trail that exits the wall to the right. It's about 3.4 kilometers (2.1 miles) total distance to this trail from the valley at Chenjiabao. The trail is about 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) long and is easy to follow. It leads to a road which heads north towards Chenjiabao and south to the trail described in the Huangtaizi section below.

In the Chenjiabao area, you will notice a number of kilns dating back from the Ming Dynasty. They are relatively large in size and still in good condition today.

Location summary: Chenjiabao is about 59 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of downtown Beijing. It is about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) southwest of Shixiaguan and about 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) northeast of Dayingpan. The path of the Great Wall from Chenjiabao to Huangtaizi is about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles). And the path of the Great Wall from Chenjiabao to Dayingpan is about 23 kilometers (14 miles).

Driving directions: From Deshengmen City Gate near the Jishuitan subway station on the north side of Beijing, drive north and northwest on the G110 Badaling Expressway for 62 kilometers (38.5 miles). Exit onto S220 and drive north for about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles). Make a U-turn and drive south for about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles). The road curves to the left to parallel the expressway. Drive for another 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles). Turn left at Waipocun and drive south on Waishi Road for about 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles) to Chenjiabaocun.

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall

Chenjiabao Great Wall