Huanghuacheng Great WallThe slightly less famous Huanghuacheng section of the wall is 60 km from Beijing in Huanghuacheng Town. This 10,800-meter section of the wall is the strongest and most well built, with six forts guarding six passes, twelve beacon towers, and thirty-two watchtowers. Ming Dynasty General Cai Kai supervised its construction. So long did it take and so great were the resources he poured into it that the Emperor concluded that General Cai Kai must be embezzling and had him executed. Then, during an inspection tour the emperor realized that General Cai Kai’s section was the strongest, regretting the execution, ordered the construction of a tomb for his general near his section of the wall.
When the Japanese invaded China, they destroyed many of China’s most valuable architectural monuments, including the Huanghuacheng Wall. Many parts of the wall bombed, and some pieces fell into the lake below. Today, this section of the wall is being refurbished, but it is not in the same pristine condition as Badaling.
The beauty of the Huanghuacheng Wall lies in its surroundings. The town and the section of the wall both are named for the beautiful yellow flowers that bloom all over the surrounding countryside during the summer – “huanghua” is Chinese for “yellow flower”. There are also two beautiful bodies of water near this section. One is a Jintang Lake, a very cold spring-fed lake about 30 meters deep. The second is crescent moon-shaped Huanghuacheng Reservoir. Together the lake, reservoir and blooming flowers make Huanghuacheng a truly breathtaking place in the summer.
Lately the Huanghuacheng Wall has been increasing in popularity. Unfortunately there are no busses from Beijing, and the only way to get there is still by car. But those who enjoy a good trek through beautiful country, or who seek to avoid crowds and commercialization, will find the trip out well worth it.
