Yanqing: Shining pearl on the cultural belt of the Great Wall (3)
Develop with trend and benefit people
The Jiuyan Tower covered in trees [Photo by Zhang Yan]
The Great Wall belongs to all mankind. It is the original intention of the Great Wall development to let more and more people understand the culture of the Great Wall closely and take action to protect the cultural relics of the Great Wall together. Jiuyan Tower ecological exhibition area of Great Wall was opened to the public on a small scale after the municipal and district cultural relics departments carried out a series of risk eliminations for The Jiuyan Tower and Military Camp by 2020.
Jiuyan Tower ecological exhibition area of Great Wall belongs to one of the 1A-Level tourist attractions. It caused favorable repercussions in the society once it was opened due to its unique architectural style, geographical location and cultural connotation. The Scienic Area was closed by May 2015 subsequently based on the requirements of implementation for the Great Wall emergency renovation project.
In March 2017, Badaling Tourism Corporation reached a cooperation agreement with Sihai town. It was funded by Badaling Tourism Corporation and coordinated by Sihai Town. Jiuyan Tower ecological exhibition area of Great Wall was upgraded and transformed under the all-round way. After two years of design and planning, a brand new scenic spot totally appears on the paper.
In June 2019, the management office located in The Jiuyan Tower Scenic spot started construction. In April 2020, the landscape enhancement project in the scenic spot started construction also. After the construction of these two projects, the previous appearance of The Jiuyan Tower Scenic spot had been renewed, and an ecological Great Wall exhibition area with the Jiuyan Tower Great Wall as the core is ready to emerge.
Along the winding mountain road near the exhibition area, the first thing you will see is a retro urn city. Stepping into the urn city, a small square is surrounded by green plants. Among a triple courtyard layout, the left-hand side of the exhibition area management office is facing to the south. Among them, the north room is the management office of the exhibition area and a small museum of the Great Wall. The west room is the toilet and the East room is the service centre. Tourists can buy tickets and consult information from here.
There is an observation platform with flowing water and green fields opposite the management office. The outer gate and inner gate are respectively written with eight characters of "Ling Jing Suo Yao" and "Yan Nuan Xia Huai". "The eight characters are engraved from the Ming Dynasty poems and inscriptions unearthed near The Jiuyan Tower. These inscriptions are the praise for the building from our ancients. We hope to restore the historical traces of the building to the maximum extent if it’s possible." The staff in the exhibition area told the reporter.
There is an artificial water system on the right side with a length of nearby 700 meters, which includes islands, water pools, dams and deep streams follow the trail to enter the exhibition area. The designer made this artificial water system into different shapes according to the terrain drop. The flowing water, forests surroundings, mountain & water, trees & flowers add a lot of fun to the Great Wall hiking journey.
Line to the foot of the Flaming Mountain, there is a flame square with an area of 1200 square meters. The designer made the Flame Mountain adopted unique color stones. The square is made of a bunch of colorful flames as the main pattern, which is paved by stones of five colors.
The Flame Square is equipped with seats, long corridors, etc., and children's amusement facilities will be added subsequently on the condition that tourists can have better rest and exercise spaces. Along the Flame Square up to the mountain, the newly built hiking trails meander up and extend in the forest. Walking along with them, the shadow of the trees is whirling around and the mountain spring is playing music along with the mountain stream also accompanied with the birds twittering surroundings.
Climbing to the top of The Jiuyan Tower, you can go straight to the camp following up with the wall, and the path extended from camp can return to the middle section of the pedestrian trail.
Badaling Tourism Corporation made a precise and exactly positioning for the newly upgraded and re-opened Jiuyan Tower of the Great Wall –"The Ecological Great Wall", The Jiuyan Tower is a perfect integration of the Great Wall culture and ecological civilization.
"Our subsequently usage of the exhibition area will focus on 'science education', 'ecological experience', 'outdoor leisure' and other contents. Our target groups of tourists include 'sports masters',' off-road enthusiasts' and 'cycling masters', so as to explore the cultural and economic value of The Jiuyan Tower under the premise of effectively protecting it." The releated person in charge of Badaling Tourism Corporation mentioned about this.