Admission Fee: CNY 60 for adults; CNY 30 for children; free for children under 1.2m
Opening Hours: 08:30 - 17:00
Best Visiting Time: July and August
Location: Jiumenkou Great Wall is located in Lijiaxiang Town, Suizhong County of Huludao City in Liaoning province.
Introduction: Jiumenkou is located 15 kilometers (9.315 miles) to the north of Shanhaiguan Pass, and is connected with the wall which stretches from Shanhaiguan Pass. With a total length of 1,700 meters (1,859 yards), the wall winds north along the ridge to the south bank of Jiujiang River. This river is about 100 meters (328 feet) wide, over which this section of the wall was built, as a bridge with nine arches. The scene is spectacular, with the water flowing east to the Bohai Sea directly. Thus, it has been long renowned as the 'Great Wall on water'. In 2002, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site, and is the only listed site in northeast China.
History: This section of the wall was originally built during the Northern Qi period (550 - 577), when it was known as 'Yipianshi', and was the main thoroughfare from Beijing to Shenyang. The existing Jiumenkou Great Wall was built under the supervision of General Xu Da in 1381 during the reign of Emperor Hongwu (1328 - 1398) in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). Many wars took place here during the long history due to its strategic location, the most well-known occurring in 1644, when Li Zhicheng, the leader of the peasant revolt who overthrew the Ming Dynasty, was defeated here by the joint forces of Ming general Wu Sangui and Manchu troops.
Architectural Characteristics: The fortification of Jiumenkou were very strong as they consisted of 12 watch towers, 4 sentry towers, 1 battle platform, 1 beacon tower and a castle. The 110-meter-long bridge on Jiujiang River is a representative for the fame of the Great Wall on the water. The riverbed below the bridge was built with stone slabs that were sealed by iron buckles. 8 piers are rhombus-shaped, which reflects the form of the wall on top. There also used to be two walled fortresses at each end of the bridge. Jiumenkou tunnel, built during the Ming Dynasty, is another impressive feature.
Transportation
A. In the high season, there are buses from Shanhaiguan Pass to Jiumenkou, but during the off-season, tourists can rent a car instead.
B. Take a train to Shanhaiguan and get off at Shanhanguan Railway Station, then, go to Jiumenkou by taxi. The taxi fare is about CNY 20.
C. Take a long-distance bus from Suizhong County to Lijiaxiang Town, and walk about 1 kilometer (0.62 mile) to the scenic area
Dining: The Banquet of Xingcheng Ancient City is most famous, and consists of 22 specialties including roast whole lamb and fresh seafood. The Millet Congee with Almond of Jianchang County is also delicious.
Accommodation: There are many hotels near the sea. Fare for a standard room is CNY 50-80 per night. Visitors can also return to Suizhong County or to the central city of Huludao for better hotels.
