For the physically fit and wild at heart, this forbidden section of the Great Wall, with its sharp rises and steep descents, will reward you with spectacular cliff top views. Stretching over 20 km from Huanghuacheng to Mutianyu, Jian Kou has been in disrepair since the Qing conquest of China in 1644, hence retaining its original bricks and stones.

Tackle the three challenging sections: the Sky Stairs which is almost vertical and so narrow that it is almost impossible to gain a foothold; the Eagles Flies Facing Upward which is the highest section, and as its name suggests, an eagle has to fly facing upwards so that it can reach the tower's peak; and lastly the Beijing Knot, known for the famous pine tree. With names that sound so exotic, Jian Kou certainly beckons.