Great Wall

Any visit to China would be incomplete without a “Rocky” style sprint on the Great Wall.   Literally translated to mean “long wall”, the Great wall stretches from the eastern coastal sea town of Shanhaiguan westward to Gansu Province.  One of the seven wonders of the medieval world, the evolution of the Great Wall of China began first as a series of individual walls built to protect feuding territories.  United under the Qin Dynasty that united China, the independent walls were unified as a defensive measure to protect the northern boarders of the Chinese Empire from Mongolian invaders throughout successive dynasties.  Incorperated within this defensive stronghold were forts, passes, and watchtowers intended to store resources and military equipment.  Soldiers were on constant watch for intruders perched in the wall’s countless towers.  Spanning four dynasties, the construction of the Great Wall stretched over deserts, grasslands, mountains, and plateaus covering nearly 6,700 kilometers (4,160 miles) of China’s vast landscape.  The majority of the wall that remains today was constructed during the Ming Dynasty from 1368-1644.  Built nearly 2,000 years ago, the Great Wall is no longer fully intact, but remains steadfast as China’s most treasured historical masterpiece. 
Each season offers a uniquely different experience when visiting the wall.  The gentle warmth of spring welcomes the first signs of new life as trees and plants awake from their winter slumber.  During this season crowds are typically slightly thinner than they are in summer and autumn.  The summer landscape is lush with colorful vegetation, while the onset of autumn brings the vibrant shades of changing leaves and perhaps the most comfortable temperatures.  Not to be neglected though is the spectacular solitude afforded by the Great Wall in the heart of winter.  Covered in a gentle white blanket of freshly fallen snow, the mountainous landscape silently extends as far as the eye can see. 

 Mutianyu Great Wall:  Located just 80 kilometers from Beijing’s city center in Huairu County is the longest restored, accessible section of the Great Wall.  Mutianyu stretches 22 kilometers and is composed of solid slabs of granite, gravel, and earth reaching 8 meters at its highest point and 5 meters at its widest span.  A series of 22 watchtowers spaced approximately 1-kilometer apart mark this run of the Great Wall.  Constructed first in the Qi Dynasty (550-577), Mutianyu was rebuilt in 1568 and remains in that condition today.  Stunning views in all directions make it a perfect location to experience the Great Wall.

Badaling Great Wall:  Known to be the best preserved section of the Great Wall, Badaling is often referred to as Bada, meaning 8 reaches because at this point the drastic landscape displays ridges spanning in all directions on both sides of the wall.  Built in the 18th year of the Ming Emperor’s reign, this strategic portion of the wall is located 70 kilometers from the center of Beijing and stands 1,000 meters above sea level, providing an ideal location to observe outlying territories from its many watchtowers. 

Jinshaliang Great Wall:  Second only to Badaling in completeness, the Jinshaliang Great Wall  was first built during the Ming Dynasty in 1368.  This section was then rebuilt in 1567 during the Qi Dynasty, and since that time has never seen any repair.  In a span of just 11 kilometers, more than 100 watchtowers, each unique in design,  dominate this fascinatingly defensive section of the Great Wall.  Poised at a safe 700 meters above sea level, you can even see Beijing from the highest watchtower.  Jinshaliang connects to the Simatai Great Wall but sees considerably less traffic than other occupy able sections of the wall.

Simatai Great Wall:  Perhaps the most unique accessible section of the Great Wall, Simatai possesses certain characteristics not present along other stretches of the wall.  Located 120 kilometers outside of Beijing in Guebiku Town, Simatai is only 5.4 kilometers long and hosts 35 watchtowers designed with highly strategic intentions.  Simatai is often characterized as being diverse, perilous, dense, indigenous, and peculiar in part due to the landscape in which it governs.  Two separate sections of the wall span the Simatai Reservoir, connected by a chain bridge.  Along the wall visitors will come across in scripted bricks inlayed into the framework recording their place of origin and time period of construction.  Such unique historical references remind visitors of the awe-inspiring reality of the immense human force required to construct the Great Wall of China.

Gubeikou Great Wall is located about 62 miles north of Beijing, in the north of Miyun County. The 25 mile stretch lies along the Yanshan mountain range and was built during the Northern Qi dynasty (550-557) Later, in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) the famous general Xuda was ordered to strengthen and restore the Gubeikou stretch of the wall, occupying as it did an important strategic location protecting the northern area of Beijing. Xuda built another wall next to the exisiting one, creating a double-layered construction unique to this part.

Due to its significance as a defensive location, there are many watchtowers and military posts along this stretch, many of which are famous cultural relics due to their architectural or historical significance. The Gubeikou Great Wall is a largely unrestored part, and the ruins are incredibly atmospheric. This stretch also includes some fabulous views and scenic areas and is one of the most unspoilt areas to see this wonder of the modern world.