Huangyaguan Great Wall Description

One of the Great Wall’s ultimate setbacks is that its popularity means it’s often swimming with tourists – somewhat detracting from the magic. The Huangya (‘Yellow Cliff’) Pass section, in the Tianjin municipality some 137km north-east of the city, is a good opportunity to see the wall, minus the crowds. Some sections suffer from over-restoration, looking more Legoland than Qing Dynasty, but keep walking and you’ll discover beautiful views, snaking up through the green mountains. Certain sections can be a tough climb, but there’s plenty of opportunity to buy drinks and fuel along the way. Getting there is an effort, though: either take a train to Jixian from Tianjin East Station, then taxi to ‘Huangya,’ or take a bus from Tianjin Hebei Coach Station to Jixian coach station, then a taxi. Drivers might not offer the meter, so bargain hard: aim for around RMB50-75.