The magnificent Mutianyu Great Wall hides many mysterious and historically significant spots, made famous by their steep terrain and long legacy. In the past, when visitors climbed to No.20 Watchtower, also known as Hero Platform, they would always look west with longing toward the untouched, weathered section winding into the clouds. Known as the Cloudtop Great Wall, this stretch holds countless untold stories of Ming Dynasty border guards. Now, this long-hidden part of history is finally open to the world! No.21 Watchtower, No.22 Watchtower and No.23 Watchtower — three legendary watchtowers — are now accessible to visitors. Come with us as we step into this “new” ancient section of the Great Wall, touch its historic bricks and stones, and listen to the echoes of history on the wind.
Masterful Military Design of the Three Cloudtop Watchtowers
Unlike the even, well-maintained steps in Mutianyu’s regular open sections, this entire area preserves its original, unpolished appearance. Weathered bricks are covered in natural vegetation, and walking here feels like stepping back 600 years to the Ming Dynasty frontier. It is called the Cloudtop Great Wall for its high altitude and dramatic landscape — when shrouded in mist, the battlements seem to float in the sky, like a fairyland. The three newly opened watchtowers showcase the extraordinary wisdom of ancient Chinese military engineering:
No.21 Watchtower: has a sharp 90-degree turn at its main south entrance. If enemy forces broke in, they would be forced to turn in a narrow space, disrupting their formation and leaving their flanks exposed to defending soldiers. This design truly lives up to the classic phrase: “One man can hold the pass against ten thousand.”
No.22 Watchtower: uses an open through-hall structure, connected front to back and side to side. Defenders could move quickly inside the tower and adjust their positions flexibly, creating a three-dimensional defense system to stop enemy advances.
No.23 Watchtower: commands the widest view. Sitting at a key high point, it served as both a lookout and a command center. Military commanders could survey the entire battlefield and send reinforcements promptly.
Healing Conservation: Letting Bricks and Stones Speak for Themselves
The opening of these three watchtowers is not a simple renovation, but the result of a “healing conservation” project that started in 2008.
At that time, the Beijing Municipal Administration of Cultural Heritage carried out protective restoration and introduced an innovative preservation philosophy:
Restore as it was: No full reconstruction to make it look “brand new”. Only collapsed parts were reinforced, while weathered bricks, stones and native plants were kept as they are.
Four Original Principles: Use original materials, preserve original form, structure and craftsmanship, and avoid modern materials such as cement to maintain the Great Wall’s authentic historical texture.
Archaeology first: Detailed surveys were conducted before construction. Every brick and stone was handled based on scientific research to protect all historical information.
As cultural relic experts noted: “Genuine restoration does not erase the traces of time, but lets every brick and stone continue to tell its own story.”
More Than Architecture: A Timeless Epic in Stone
Every gray brick here shows the skill of Ming Dynasty craftsmen; every embrasure carries the memory of frontier guards. On your next visit to Mutianyu, go a little further. Instead of rushing for photos in crowded areas, explore this Cloudtop Secret Realm. Admire the marks left by wind and frost on the ancient stones, and feel the timeless grandeur that crosses centuries.
The cloudtop world is open, waiting for you to arrive.
