Beijing: Beijing's Great Wall section of Jiangjunguan, a historically strategic pass, will open to the public, authorities announced on Sunday. Following restoration work, emergency reinforcement, and environmental improvement, the section in Pinggu District is scheduled to open as early as the end of 2026.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau has been overseeing the efforts to restore the Great Wall section. The Great Wall in Beijing, primarily built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), spans over 500 kilometers across several districts. Pinggu District is notable for its rich resources, featuring more than 200 sites over a stretch of 50 kilometers.

The pass of Jiangjunguan is recognized as the first major gateway at the eastern end of the Ming Great Wall within Beijing. Historically a critical thoroughfare, it was a strategically vital location contested by military forces. Shi Qiang, deputy head of the district's cultural relics management bureau, explained that recent preparations to open the previously closed section have included clearing weeds and laying gravel paths while preserving the structure's original features.

Bi Jianyu, an official at the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau, emphasized the importance of promoting the opening of Great Wall sections and designating them as visiting areas to inherit cultural heritage. In recent years, several opened sections of the Great Wall in Beijing have successfully integrated culture and tourism. This has been achieved by tapping into their historical and cultural significance through activities such as night tours and study visits, transforming the resources into an advantage for development, Bi added.