Jiao Mountain (Jiaoshan) is the first peak of the Yanshan range rising behind Shanhaiguan, and the place where the Great Wall begins its long climb up into the mountains after running flat across the coastal plain. The first kilometre of restored wall is dramatically steep — a series of stone staircases zig-zagging up the ridge to a hilltop watchtower at 519 m, with views back over the town, the sea and the gap between the mountains and the coast that gave Shanhaiguan its strategic importance.
There is a cable car for those not wanting to walk up, but the steep climb is part of the experience. The site is far less crowded than the Great Wall near Beijing, especially on weekday mornings. About 4 km north of the old town; take a taxi or the local minibus.