Solving the Jiankou jigsaw

Beijing archaeologists analyze historical records and decode stone inscriptions to aid restoration work along a treacherous section of the Great Wall, Wang Kaihao reports.

Perilous and picturesque. These two words best describe the Jiankou section of the Great Wall that ribbons over the top of jagged green mountains in Huairou district, northern Beijing.

While a magnificent landscape makes the over 7-kilometer stretch — built during the final decades of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) — a magnet for hikers and photographers, narrow ridges and dangerous cliffs ensure that it remains one of the toughest sections to climb.

A hot spot for daredevil adventures not so long ago, Jiankou has garnered public attention in recent years for dogged restoration efforts, currently in the fourth phase, to prevent towers from crumbling into rubble.