Zhangjiakou Great Wall
Zhangjiakou Great Wall is located in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province. There are about thirteen sections of this Hebei Great Wall totaling more than 1,470 km (913 miles) and built over eight dynasties, namely the Warring States Period (476 BC-221 BC), Qin (221BC-206BC), Han (206BC-220), Northern Wei (386-534), Northern Qi (550-577), Tang (618-907), Jin(1115-1234) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties. Two third of the wall is within the Hebei Province or one sixth the total length of the Great Wall of China.
The Great Wall in Zhangjiakou City was built during the Ming Dynasty as a defensive line along northern Beijing. Historically, Zhangjiakou (originally belonged to Xuanfu Garrison) and Datong areas were the battle grounds where most wars took place. According to statistics, over 50 famous wars and fights occurred in Zhangjiakou and more than 200 sites of ancient battle fields, fortresses and army headquarters were found.
 Zhangjiakou Great Wall |
 Zhangjiakou Great Wall |
Experts of the Great Wall consider Zhangjiakou Great Wall as the “Great Wall Museum of All Dynasties” because all the Great Wall constructional styles can be found here. For example, besides the brick laid wall like Badaling, the rammed earth wall and stone piled walls can also be found in Zhangjiakou. The top of the wall comes in different shapes, such as round, flat, spire and inclined. Its thickness also differs: certain section can accommodate eight people standing shoulder to shoulder, whilst others allow four horses to stand neck to neck. However, other sections are so narrow that it could hardly hold anyone!
The special geographic location determines the presence of a larger section of the Great Wall in Zhangjiakou City. Located in the transitional belt of Mongolian Plateau and North China Plain, Zhangjiakou City connects the offshoot of Yinshan Mountain in the west, Yanshan Mountain in the east and is bordered by the northern end of Taihang Mountain in the south. It is a natural boundary between the ancient prairie nomads in North China and the farmers of the Central Plains. The basin in the middle, formed by Sanggan River and Yanghe River, is suitable for large infantry unit to be stationed and moved about. It was this reason that the emperors of all dynasties were actively building walls in Zhangjiakou City.
 Zhangjiakou Great Wall |
 Zhangjiakou Great Wall |
Dajing Gate,It is one of the four famous passes of the Great Wall. Located in the northern end of Zhangjiakou City and built in 1644, Dajing Gate is a brick arched opening which measures 12 meters tall (39 feet), 9 meters (10 yards) wide and 13 meters (43 feet) deep. There are two iron gates, over which suspended a big plaque with four impressive characters “大好河山” (Grand Mountains and Rivers) written on it. The top of the gate is a 12 meters (13 yards) long by 7.5 meters (8.2 yards) wide platform. There is a line of parapet wall measuring 0.8 meters (2.6 feet) tall on the inner side of the wall; whereas the outer side is lined with some crenels measuring 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) tall.
Historically, Dajing Gate was a hotly contested spot and a strategic passage in holding Beijing. It was an important trade centre and communication hub for the Han and Mongolia people. And at the same time, it witnessed the friendly cultural exchange among the Han, Hui, Mongolia and Tibetan people. Due to its prosperous economy, the Qing Government built the Jingzhang Railway (Beijing to Zhangjiakou) in 1909, the first practical railway built entirely by the Chinese people.
