Jiumenkou

Chinese: 九门口
Pinyin: Jiǔ mén kǒu
English: Nine door pass
Coordinates: 40°7'3"N 119°44'39"E

The Jiumenkou Great Wall was originally built by the Northern Qi Dynasty, and was rebuilt and enlarged during the Ming Dynasty. A span of about one kilometer (0.6 miles) was restored in 1992-1994. The Jiumenkou Great Wall incorporates a bridge over the Jiujiang River of about 100 meters (330 feet) in length. The bridge features a unique flood gate with nine arched sluiceways. This is the only part of the Great Wall that was built over water.

Jiumenkou bridge
Photo by Kim Siefert

From the bridge, the Great Wall continues to the northeast and to the southwest. On the northeast side, the wall is restored for a distance of about 250 meters (800 feet). At the second tower, the wall turns left and heads northwest. There is a ridge to the right (northeast) that has a path and a large tower at the top as well as another, smaller tower about half way to the top. The wall continues northwest for two towers and splits again. The left (southern) branch circles back down to form a large enclosure, while the right (northern) branch continues the main path of the Great Wall towards Zhuizishan. On the southwest side of the bridge, about 500 meters (1600 feet) of Great Wall has been restored. About 350 meters (1100 feet) beyond the end of the restored section, the wall dead ends at a cliff at the base of a mountain.

Jiumenkou tower at top of ridge
Photo by Kim Siefert

If you're lucky enough to visit Jiumenkou when the water level is very low, you will see a fantastic system of 7000 square meters (1.7 acres) of flat stones connected with steel splices that forms the level river bed in this area.

Jiumenkou also has a very interesting underground tunnel system that was designed to allow Chinese soldiers to surprise any attacking enemy.

Location summary: Jiumenkou is on the border of Liaoning and Hebei provinces. Jiumenkou is about 287 kilometers (178 miles) east of downtown Beijing. It is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of Shanhaiguan and about 6 kilometers (4 miles) north of Sandaoguan. The path of the Great Wall from Sandaoguan to Jiumenkou is about 10.6 kilometers (6.6 miles). The path of the Great Wall from Jiumenkou to Zhuizishan is about 12.5 kilometers (7.84 miles).

Driving directions: From Shanhaiguan, drive northeast on the G102 National Road for 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles). Turn left onto Guancheng East Road and drive for 5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles). You will reach the road Changshou Shanlu. Turn right and drive for 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles) to the end of the road. Turn left and drive 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles) to the end of the road. Turn left and drive 900 meters (2953 feet) to Jiumenkou.