More about MuTianYu

Everything about the trip to the Great Wall of China was magic for me - so I could go on at length - but let me hit the high points.

This particular day was overcast, so really a perfect temperature. That part is impossible to plan in the summer, so if you want temperate weather for the adventure, you will have to go in spring or fall. But we lucked out!


Riding on the ski lift gondola (unless you are afraid of heights) is the way to go. Then you can expend all your energy actually hiking on the wall itself, which as you can see from some of the photos, is not a walk in the park. Friends who went to the BaDaLing site, complained about being hot, tired and sweaty before they even got to the ancient structure. This way you arrive fresh, serene and poised for adventure. Just be ready to be hauled off the moving ski lift if you happen to be daydreaming as you cruise into the landing area:)


Walking on the wall, (the only man-made structure that can be seen from space - and I will have to look for photos online) and looking out over the expanse below, was transporting. As I stood by the enclosed structures with their scary protecting dragons and looked out through the ramparts, I imagined what it must have been like for the soldiers through the centuries when this actually served a defensive purpose. Awesome.

The Wall is not a continuous structure, but exists in sections that have been built at different times. These sections stretch over about 1500 miles and are of various lengths. The construction started during the Qin (pron Cheen) Dynasty (221-206 B.C.) when sections were built to keep out invading Mongols. These sections were built of earth and stones in wood frames. Construction of the "modern" walls begin in the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644 C.E.). Rising from the basic undulating structure of the wall are the guard stations (where soldiers ate and slept) and watch towers.


You have to keep your wits about you on the wall, since the steps are very uneven. Some of them are 2 or 3 inches high and others are 18 inches or more. In some sections you see people angling their bodies sideways to take the steps down (and I'm talking young people, not just those collecting SS checks) - so that tells you something. If you are over 50, or somewhat out of shape,(or both) be prepared to take breaks.
(to be continued...)