On a Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall section is located in Huairou County of Beijing City about 70 km from the centre. The part connects Juyongguan Pass in the west and Gubeikou Great Wall in the east. The wall was first built during Northern Qi dynasty (550 - 557). In Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), generals Tan Lun and Qi Jiguang had rebuilt it in order to strengthen its defensive potential when they guarded the strategic pass, it served as the northern protective screen, guarding the capital and imperial mausoleums for generations.

Mutianyu Great Wall winds 2,3 km through high mountain ridges, many sections of which are made of granite made the wall almost indestructible. It measures 7-8 metres t high and 3,5 - 4,5 metres wide. Both of the wall's inner and outer sides have parapets to defend against enemies coming from the two sides. Some parapets are saw- tooth shaped instead of the regular rectangular form. Below the parapets, there are square embrasures the top of which are designed in an arc structure, different from the traditional round embrasures. There are 22 watchtowers distributed at close intervals along the wall, located not only in the main wall but also at the distinctive 'branch cities'. Branch cities are built on the hill ridge against the inner or outer side of the wall.