The Great Wall

Saturday we traveled to The Great Wall of China, specifically near the village of Mutianyu. This was one of the days we were all most looking forward to, and in my opinion it did not disappoint.

Construction of The Great Wall was started over 2,700 years ago, and it was expanded over several dynasties as the Middle Kingdom expanded and new threats arose, notably from the Mongolians to the north. In total, it spans around 6,000 miles. The section we visited was constructed around 600 years ago, during the Ming Dynasty. It is evidently original, yet very well preserved. It is extremely hilly, falling and rising between watchtowers strategically located on peaks.

We walked from watchtower 6 to watchtower 16, passing through the towers along the way. It was hot, muggy, and quite steep at points, which made for some slow going at times. The wall is constructed of large black bricks held together with lighter colored mortar. We walked along the top, often up or down steep slopes or shallow stone stairs. Peering out through arrow holes and over the 4-foot walls on either side, we could see watchtowers, adjacent sections of the wall, and the mountainous, overgrown terrain. There are narrow passageways inside of each tower, and some include narrow stone stairways up to the rooftop.

It was very foggy on this day, so we were not afforded views of the wall snaking into the distance, that you see in pictures and post cards. Nevertheless, the sheer size, historical significance, impressive construction, and incredible terrain made this visit an absolute thrill.

To visit this particular spot on the wall we rode a chair lift (think skiing) up from the visitors center/chotchkie bazaar. We were then rewarded with a fun ride down on a wheeled bobsled run. It was out of place for sure, but fun and not as cheesy as it sounds.