Huangyaguan Great Wall Scenic Area is located in the northern part of Jizhou District, Tianjin. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and an important pass of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. It gets its name "Huangyaguan" because the cliffs take on a yellowish-brown color under the setting sun. The scenic area is famous for its danger, uniqueness, and beauty. It has a complete military defense system, integrating various Great Wall architectural forms such as pass cities, water passes, walls, watchtowers, and beacon towers, making it a relatively unique section along the Great Wall. The total length of Huangyaguan Great Wall is 42 kilometers, with 21 kilometers of existing walls, including 1 pass city, 1 water pass, 52 watchtowers, and 14 beacon towers. The total area of the scenic area is about 30 square kilometers, and it is a famous Great Wall tourist attraction in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Historical Culture
Huangyaguan Great Wall was first built during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty (556 AD). When the famous general Qi Jiguang of the Ming Dynasty served as the commander-in-chief of Jizhen, he presided over its reconstruction. Since then, it has become an important barrier for defending the capital. Historically, due to its strategic location, it has been a battleground for military conflicts and has witnessed many military clashes and ethnic integration.
As a typical representative of the military defense system of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, the architectural layout of Huangyaguan Great Wall fully embodies ancient military wisdom. The design of the pass city is built according to the terrain, with ups and downs, combining offense and defense. It has not only solid walls to resist enemies but also water passes to control rivers, forming a defense pattern of "one man guards the pass, ten thousand men cannot force it". In addition, the inscriptions and inscriptions left along the Great Wall also provide important physical materials for the study of Ming Dynasty military affairs and culture.
Main Attractions
Pass City
The Pass City is the core area of Huangyaguan Great Wall. It was built in the Ming Dynasty, with a circumference of about 1 kilometer and an area of about 80,000 square meters. The layout of the Pass City is ingenious, divided into the inner city and the outer city, with three city gates in the east, west, and south. The east gate is the main gate, inlaid with the "Huangyaguan" plaque. Some remains of government offices and residential buildings from the Ming Dynasty are preserved in the city, showing the military life scenes of that time. Standing on the Pass City, you can overlook the trend and magnificent scenery of the surrounding Great Wall.
Water Pass
The Water Pass is located on the east side of the Pass City and is an important part of Huangyaguan Great Wall. It is named because it spans the Ju River. The Water Pass is 75.5 meters long, 20.1 meters wide, and 12.15 meters high. It consists of a five-hole bridge and city walls on both banks. It not only plays a defensive role but also can regulate water flow, making it a rare "Water Great Wall" in the Great Wall. The architectural design of the Water Pass takes into account both military defense and water conservancy functions, reflecting the wisdom of ancient craftsmen.
Hollow Watchtower
There are 52 watchtowers distributed along Huangyaguan Great Wall, most of which are hollow watchtowers, an innovative design during Qi Jiguang's presided construction. The interior of the hollow watchtower can station soldiers and store grain, and the exterior is equipped with defensive facilities such as arrow windows and observation ports, which greatly improves the defensive capability of the Great Wall. One of the most famous watchtowers is called "Widow's Tower". It is said that it was built with donations from 12 soldiers' widows. It is 13 meters high, 10 meters wide, and 9 meters deep, with important historical significance.
Bagua City
Bagua City is located on the north side of the Pass City. It is a city built according to the layout of the Bagua diagram, with a circumference of about 2.5 kilometers and an area of about 160,000 square meters. The streets in the city are crisscrossed like a maze, with 8 main streets and 32 alleys, making it easy to defend but hard to attack. The design of Bagua City not only has a strong defensive function but also embodies the ancient Chinese Bagua culture, which is a major feature of Huangyaguan Great Wall.
Beacon Tower
There are 14 beacon towers along Huangyaguan Great Wall, which are important facilities for transmitting military information in ancient times. Beacon towers are generally built on mountain tops or highlands, about 5-8 meters high, and are made of bricks and stones. Once an enemy situation is found, soldiers will light smoke and fire on the beacon towers, and transmit military information through different smoke and fire signals, so that the distant army can know the battle situation in time.
Taipingzhai
Taipingzhai is located in Xiaoping'an Village, 1 kilometer southeast of Huangyaguan. The altitude is 400-500 meters. The total length is 873 meters. Taipingzhai controls the mountainous valleys on the east side of Huangyaguan City. On the east side of the Great Wall in Taipingzhai, a new doorway-style access road to the Great Wall has been built, with the stone inscription "Taipingzhai" inlaid on the door.
Food
Jizhou Hemp Slices
Jizhou Hemp Slices are a local traditional specialty snack with a long history. It is made of high-quality sesame, white sugar, and flour through multiple processes. It is as thin as a cicada's wing, crispy in taste, and sweet and delicious. The production process of Jizhou Hemp Slices is exquisite. The raw materials need to be mixed and rolled into thin slices, then fried and coated with sugar. The finished product is golden in color and rich in taste, which is a good choice for tourists to taste local flavors.
Tiebingzi (Pancake Stuck to Pot)
Tiebingzi is a traditional pasta in northern China, which is more common in farm restaurants around Huangyaguan Great Wall. It uses corn flour as the main raw material, adds an appropriate amount of water and salt, kneads into a dough, sticks it to the side of the pot, and steams it with the heat from the bottom of the pot. The bottom of Tiebingzi is golden and crispy, and the top is soft and sweet. It tastes very authentic when eaten with local stews.
Braised Local Chicken with Mushrooms
Braised Local Chicken with Mushrooms is a characteristic farm dish around Huangyaguan Great Wall. It uses locally raised free-range chickens and wild mushrooms as raw materials, and is stewed with ginger slices, green onion segments and other seasonings. The meat of the local chicken is tender, the mushrooms are delicious, and the soup is rich and mellow, with rich nutrition. This dish fully reflects the local farm flavor and is loved by many tourists.
Roast Whole Lamb
In some restaurants near Huangyaguan Great Wall, roast whole lamb is a popular dish. It is made of local goats through marinating and roasting. The roasted whole lamb has a golden and crispy outer skin, tender and juicy meat. After sprinkling with cumin, chili powder and other seasonings, the taste is more rich. Roast whole lamb is usually suitable for sharing among many people, and is a good choice for friends' gatherings and family dinners.
Tickets
The ticket price is 70 yuan per person.
You can search for the official public account "黄崖关景区" on WeChat to get the latest news. As of July 20, 2025, the official WeChat public account does not provide online ticket purchasing function.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. From April 1 to October 31 every year, the opening hours are 8:00-18:00; from November 1 to March 31 of the next year, the opening hours are 8:30-17:00. The scenic area will stop selling tickets 1 hour before closing. Please arrange your visiting time reasonably.
Tour Route
Tourists can enter the scenic area from the main gate of the Pass City, first visit the Pass City to understand its history and architectural layout, then go to the Water Pass to enjoy the unique landscape of the "Water Great Wall". Then walk north along the Great Wall wall, passing through many hollow watchtowers, among which "Widow's Tower" is one of the must-see attractions. After reaching Bagua City, you can walk in the city to feel the wonder of the Bagua layout. Finally, climb the beacon tower to overlook the magnificent scenery of the entire scenic area. This route is about 5 kilometers long and takes about 4-5 hours to visit, which can fully appreciate the characteristics of Huangyaguan Great Wall.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Tianjin, drive along Jinji Expressway to Jizhou Exit, then drive north along Jinwei North Second Line for about 30 kilometers to reach Huangyaguan Great Wall Scenic Area. The whole journey is about 120 kilometers, and the driving time is about 2 hours.
- Bus: Take the special bus to Huangyaguan Great Wall at Jizhou Passenger Station. There are multiple departures every day, with a driving time of about 1 hour and a fare of about 10 yuan per person.
- Tourist special line: There are tourist special lines from downtown Tianjin to Huangyaguan Great Wall Scenic Area, which are generally opened during holidays and peak tourist seasons. Tourists can take the bus at designated places. For specific schedules and fares, please consult the local tourism department.
Must-visit Attractions
- Pass City: It is the core of Huangyaguan Great Wall, with a circumference of about 1 kilometer. It allows tourists to have an in-depth understanding of the military defense system of the Great Wall and feel its historical heritage.
- Water Pass: With a total length of 75.5 meters, it is a rare "Water Great Wall" with both defensive and water conservancy functions and unique architectural design.
- Widow's Tower: 13 meters high, 10 meters wide, and 9 meters deep, with a touching historical legend, it is one of the iconic watchtowers of Huangyaguan Great Wall.
- Bagua City: With a circumference of about 2.5 kilometers, it is laid out according to the Bagua diagram, with streets like a maze, reflecting Bagua culture and defensive wisdom.
Travel Suggestions
- Huangyaguan Great Wall is located at a high altitude. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes to better visit the Great Wall walls and various attractions.
- The scenic area is large and the visiting time is long. It is recommended to carry an appropriate amount of water and snacks to replenish energy.
- When visiting in summer, take sun protection measures such as applying sunscreen and wearing a hat; in winter, the weather is cold, so keep warm.
- You can hire a scenic spot guide. They can introduce the history, culture and attraction stories of Huangyaguan Great Wall in detail, making the visit more rewarding. The guide fee is about 50-100 yuan per time.
- The best visiting seasons are spring and autumn. At this time, the weather is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful. You can enjoy blooming flowers in spring and red leaves all over the mountains in autumn.
Notes
- When visiting the Great Wall, please abide by the regulations of the scenic area. Do not climb unopened areas at will to avoid danger.
- Take good care of the environment of the scenic area. Do not litter. Put waste in designated trash cans.
- Take care of your personal belongings. Be vigilant in crowded places to prevent loss of property.
- Some sections in the scenic area are relatively steep. Be careful when walking, especially the elderly and children need to be accompanied by someone.
- In thunderstorm weather, stay away from tall buildings and trees, and avoid staying in open areas to prevent lightning strikes.