Great Wall in Liaoning

When talking about Great Wall in Liaoning, we should not miss Hushan Great Wall, the east starting point of the Great Wall of China. Other famous sections include Jiumenkou, a section over a river; Xiaohekou, “the most beautiful wild Great Wall”, and Zhuizishan, a section lying on steep mountain ridges.
 

Liaoning Great Wall Map (Click to enlarge)

Although the history of constructing Great Wall in Liaoning dates back to over 2,000 years ago, most existing sections were built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Among the overall 1,460 miles (2,350 kilometers), about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) are from the Ming Dynasty.
 

The Hushan section lies by the Yalu River in Dandong in Liaoning Province, and sits on the crests of Hushan Mountain. It was constructed in 1469 during the Ming Dynasty. In the past, Laolongtou (Old Dragon's Head) in Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province was regarded as the eastern most part of the Great Wall. However, recent excavations prove that Hushan is the real eastern end of the wall.
 "Jiumenkou" literally means "Nine Gateways". It got its name because of the Nine-Arch Great Wall Bridge over the Jiujiang River. Thus, this section is also known as "The Great Wall over Water". It has a total length of 1,863 yards (1,704 meters), while the part over the water is 110 yards (100 meters). Also, you can find a Secret Tunnel from the Ming Dynasty, which was used to station troops, store food and arms, etc. Additionally, you can go to see the Rare Bird Garden nearby.

Hushan

Jiumenkou

Located in Yong'an Town, Suizhong County, the Zhuizishan Great Wall is 24,557 yards (22,455 meters) long. "Zhuizishan" literally means an awl-shaped mountain in English. It got its name because the slim high mountain peak resembles an awl. The wall was first constructed in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty. It has survived the ravages of natural erosion and wars.
 To the west of Zhuizishan lies Xiaohekou Section. It is known as "The Third Badaling" because of the steep terrain and grand structure. The wall has a total length of 9,733 yards (8,900 meters), with 31 watchtowers, 18 enemy towers, and 14 beacon towers. The Xiaohekou section was mainly constructed of stones. The windows and doors of the watchtowers are carved with fine patterns of plum blossoms, orchids, clouds and ribbons. Therefore, it is also called "The Great Wall with Femininity".
 The Xigou section was constructed in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty. The wall is quite complete and beautiful. It is 23 feet (7 meters) to 26 feet (8 meters) high, made of huge stone slabs, and wrapped with blue bricks. The joints are filled with lime mortar. Depending on geographical location and military functions, different watchtowers were designed and built along it, including sentries, five-window watchtower, six-window watchtower, and shelters for soldiers.
 The Great Wall of China is deteriorating. Take the Ming Dynasty Great Wall for example. According to a recent investigation, only 8.2% is comparatively well-preserved; 74.1% is so poorly preserved that the outlines can hardly be made out. The section in Liaoning Province is no exception. Storms, floods, earthquakes, and lightning strikes contributed to the collapse and disappearance of the wall and watchtowers. Moreover, the human hand is another destructive factor. Bricks and stones have been removed to build houses, pens for livestock, and roads. Sadly, some local governors contend that the original wall should be torn down, and a new one built for the sake of tourism. Actually, they are destroying precious heritage, rather than protecting it. Imagine the dismay of later generations when they  see a brand new construction. So, let's act now to properly protect the wall, and leave the original heritage to our descendants.

 Further Reading: Liaoning Travel Guide