Xifengkou Underwater Great Wall ‖ Hiking Guide

More than 200 km east of Beijing lies the Panjiakou Reservoir, known as the "Little Thousand Islands," and a section of the Great Wall known as the Xifengkou Underwater Great Wall. Hiking deep into the mountains, standing on the remnants of a beacon tower, and gazing at the Panjiakou Reservoir, it's hard to imagine that a magnificent section of the Great Wall lies hidden beneath the tranquil surface. ………… ✅ Location: Shixifengkou Village, Luanyang Town, Qianxi County, Tangshan City, Hebei Province. It's over 200 km from Beijing, about a 3-hour drive. ………… 🔴 Xifengkou, known as Lulong Pass in the Tang Dynasty, is located in the eastern section of the Yanshan Mountains. A strategic pass connecting north and south, linking cities east and west, it has guarded the Central Plains and served as a gateway to the capital, making it a battleground throughout history. In the first year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty, Zou Laixue began constructing the Xifengkou Camp, later building the pass itself and the Zhenyuan Tower, calling it the New Pass. Emperor Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty personally led an expedition through Xifengkou, defeating the Three Guards at Kuancheng. Qi Jiguang, stationed in Jizhou, reinforced the city walls and defenses, repelling enemy raids. In modern times, during the Japanese invasion of China, the 29th Army fought fiercely along the Great Wall at Xifengkou, every inch of land contested. The Broadsword March echoed throughout China. During the liberation of China, the Fourth Field Army marched towards Pingjin, using deceptive tactics and traveling light, with millions of troops passing through Xifengkou. ………… 🔵 After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the construction of the Panjiakou Reservoir brought water from the Luan River to Beijing and Tianjin. As the reservoir filled, large areas of the valley were submerged, hiding the Xifengkou section of the Great Wall underwater, unknown to many. ………… ⚪️ This is a non-scenic route, about 7.5 km one way, with a total ascent of about 700 m. It's an out-and-back trail. See Figure 13 for the route map. Starting from Xifengkou Village 1, the terrain mainly consists of unpaved mountain trails, village roads, gravel paths, and sections of the wild Great Wall, with some ridge trails. For experienced hikers, it's a relatively beginner-friendly route, with basically one major climb. However, it can be somewhat strenuous for first-time hikers. ………… ✅ Tips 1️⃣ Even though it's only the end of March, the temperature in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has soared to nearly 30°C, feeling like summer in an instant. Be prepared for sun protection. 2️⃣ Wear long sleeves and pants to protect yourself from scratches from branches and thorns along the mountain trails. 3️⃣ Bring high-calorie, compact food and 2L of water. Since this is not a scenic area, there are few places to resupply. There's only one vendor selling water and food near the beginning of the dirt trail up the mountain. Bring a plastic bag to carry your trash back down. 4️⃣ If you run out of energy towards the end, you can take a villager's boat back to the other side.