The sun was already high when a group of foreign journalists began their climb at Juyongguan Great Wall (Pass), one of the most storied passes of China’s Thousand-li Great Wall (the Great Wall of China).
The Pass has been described in ancient texts as one of the “Three Great Passes” of the Great Wall of China, alongside Jiayuguan in the west and Shanhaiguan in the east.
Nestled between steep mountains, just 60 kilometres northwest of Beijing, the national capital of China, the Juyongguan Great Wall rises like a stone guardian with its stairways snaking sharply into the sky.
For many in the group, this was more than a tourist excursion, it was a personal encounter with history, resilience, and inspiration.
“This section feels different,” said Benjamin, a journalist from South Sudan, stopping to catch his breath on one of the narrow stairways.
“It feels like a fortress. You can imagine soldiers watching this valley centuries ago, determined not to let anyone through.”
His words echoed as the group looked out over the valley floor, imagining the urgency of beacon fires that once signalled the approach of northern invaders.
The climb was demanding, the steps rose steeply, forcing several to pause often. Yet there was laughter too, as colleagues encouraged one another. “Every step is heavy, but it feels like stepping back in time,” remarked Mildred, a journalist from Ghana.
“We have escarpments and mountains at home just as dramatic as these, like Mountain Afadjato, Aburi Mountains, Gambaga Escarpment and Atwea Mountains, but they are not developed or preserved like this. Juyongguan makes me think of the potentials we have left untapped.”
The Juyongguan Great Wall is an important section of the Great Wall of China and rises as one of the most impressive and strategic passes in the entire fortress system.
It is not only a striking architectural achievement but also a site where history, culture, and breath-taking landscapes converge.
The slopes on both sides of the Juyongguan Pass are carpeted by a dense growth of foliage and ravine flanked by mountains with brooks flowing all year around.
Built as early as the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD) and later fortified during the Qing Dynasty (1368–1644) as one of the eight famous scenic spots, it served as a military check point protecting Beijing from northern invasions.
Its natural geography, coupled with auxiliary structures with different functions, such as southern and northern arched citadels towers, and water gate made it nearly impenetrable.
Armies seeking to pass through the valley would find themselves under constant surveillance from soldiers perched high above.
Beyond its military role, the pass was also a conduit for trade and travel, as merchants, diplomats, and ordinary travellers made their way along this ancient route.
One of the unique features of Juyongguan is the “Cloud Terrace” (Yuntai), a white marble structure originally built in the 14th century during the Yuan Dynasty with an exquisite masterpiece of Yuan stone carving art.
Once the base of a grand Buddhist archway, it is intricately carved with images of deities, animals, and inscriptions in six different languages, a powerful reminder of the cultural exchanges that took place along this historic corridor.
In 1961, the Juyongguan Pass-Cloud Terrace was announced as a key national cultural heritage protection sites.
In 1987, it was recognised as part of UNESCO World Heritage inscription of the Great Wall of China.
In 2001, Juyongguan Great Wall was evaluated “AAAA Tourism Area” by the National Tourism Administration.
Currently, the area noted developed in terms of infrastructure, but it has become a business centre with thousands of people visiting the area, contributing to over 10 million people visiting the Great Wall of China annually.
For the visiting journalists, Juyongguan was no longer just a page in China’s history books, it was a mirror, reflecting both the greatness of the past and the possibilities for the future.
As they descended, their conversations were no longer only about China, they were about home, about how mountains, hills, and ruins scattered across Africa might one day stand as proudly as Juyongguan, welcoming the world to walk their stories.
Mr Albert Kofi Owusu, the General Manager, Ghana News Agency, said the tourism development strategy of China needed to be studied and replicated across Africa.
“We are blessed with these natural attractions, but the problem has to do with the right policies to harness their potential and attract the needed tourists. We can build our economies if we make conscious efforts to develop our tourist destinations,” he said.
Unlike some countries where illegal mining has destroyed their forest reserves and other natural habitats including water bodies, China continued to be a model for learning for the rest of the world in environmental protection and tourism development.
The visit to the Juyonffuan Great Wall was part of a 14-day training programme dubbed: “Seminar for Senior Management of Mainstream Media in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative”, held in Beijing, China.
Organised by the China Broadcasting International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd (CBIC) and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the seminar brought together 30 senior managers and journalists from landlocked countries.
The training was part of the commitment of the Chinese government and its institutions to strengthen and advance international communication and cooperation with international media organisations and promote the global adoption of Chinese technologies, standards, and products.
Source: GNA
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