CHINA
THE GREAT WALL
Huangyaguan
Impressions from the magnificent Huangya pass, - and its great wall and fortress -
Page added: 2021-12-25
2002-09-098 - The Great Wall - like a mighty dragon high upon the slopes of the Huangya Pass - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
About 120 kilometers to the north of Tianjin is another magnificent section of wall which I consider even better than the "tourist" sections near Beijing.
Here at the Huangya Pass, a section of more than 3 kilometers has been repaired, and since this pass is a little bit far away from everything, the obvious advantage for the serious traveler is that it is not yet overcrowded by tourist groups.
In fact you can have it all to yourself, and it is truly overwhelming with a fantastic scenery of craggy peaks and sheer cliffs, and in the middle of this magnificent scenery is the wall, winding itself along the ridge like a dragon, protecting the pass from any intruder.
As the saying goes: "If one man guards the pass, ten thousand are unable to get through."
Of course this is quite optimistic, but when actually standing on the wall, with its huge towers and strong fortifications, this saying suddenly makes a lot of sense!
The wall at the Huangya Pass was constructed in year 557. It was later repaired during the Ming dynasty,- and again in 1985, and is now standing there in all its former glory, as a witness to more than 1400 years of history.
When visiting the Great Wall at Huangyaguan, you are very near another great attraction,- the Dule temple -, another national treasure, being the oldest tall wooden structure in China, originally from the Tang dynasty, but rebuilt again for more than 1000 years ago,- and it is still standing!
But now,- please enjoy my impression from a trip to the Great Wall at the Huangya Pass.
2002-08-086 - The Great Wall - and the fortress at the bottom of the Huangya Pass (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-08-094 - The inner parts of the fortificvations at the Huangya Pass - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-08-100 - A look at some more modest, - but beautiful -, architecture within the wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-007 - A look from the fortress wall into the fortress at the Huangya Pass - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-009 - And now, - a trip on the wall at the Huangya Pass - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-023 - The Great Wall - up the Huangyaguan wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-033 - View From the Great Wall at Huangyaguan - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-044 - - the biggest watch tower of the Great wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-048 - The interior of one of the many watch towers on the wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen) Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-057 - The Great Wall - on the wall around the fortress at the Huangya Pass - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-063 - A view from the top, where you can see a round tower to the left, - the "Phoenix" tower -, on the hilltop overlooking the Huangya Pass deep down below - - - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-065 - The Great Wall - here at the top of the wall,- 735 meters above sea level - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-084 - A look down towards The "Phoenix Tower" - (Photo- and Copyright: Karsten Petersen.)
Here a look down towards the "Phoenix Tower",- the biggest of all free standing watch towers along the entire Great wall.
Take note of the perfect position, where a great section of the Guangya Pass below can be watched - -
No army can pass here unnoticed - - -
2002-09-087 - View from the top of the Guangyaguan wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-09-094
A view through one of the openings in a watch tower -
(Photo- and copyright: Karsten petersen)
2002-10-009 - The Great Wall - like a mighty dragon high upon the slopes of the Huangya Pass - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-009 - The Great Wall - a look up the massive wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-011 - The most impressive building inside the fortress - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-019 - The Great Wall - down again, -and good-bye to China's Great Wall at Huangyaguan - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)
2002-10-020 - A street vendor offering her goods in front og the fortress wall - (Photo- and copyright: Karsten Petersen)