Juyongguan Great Wall

Juyongguan Great Wall

Juyongguan Tower

One of two important mountain passes into Beijing and the interior of Chin, Juyonguan Pass became a vital possession for Beijing. While fortifications may have existed here as early as the sixth century (before Beijing even existed), it was during the Ming dynasty that an impenetrable fortified gate system was constructed here as part of the Beijing great wall.
Not that it kept invaders out. It was at this pass that Li Zicheng led his peasant army into Beijing in 1644 to overthrow the last Ming dynasty emperor. Having undergone a massive renovation between 1993 and 1997, the strategic fortress gate, with walls and towers protecting the surrounding mountains, is a popular destination, especially given its proximity to Beijing – just 37 miles (60 km) northwest of Beijing.

Juyongguan Tower

Juyongguan Great Wall

Be sure to stop at the Cloud Platform, also known as Crossing Street Tower, in the middle of the pas. Erected during the Yuan dynasty to protect the road leading north to Mongol territories, the Cloud Platform is made of white marble and features numerous Yuan-style architectural details around the top. Men, horses and carriages could pass through the hexagonal ached gateway in the middle of the platform base.