MuTianYu (continued)

While looking out between the ramparts, I saw below that there are alternate activities to be had in the vicinity of MuTianYu – one of them being horse riding. This particular horse and rider were not in agreement about the activity involved, and the horse was definitely in charge. This rider disembarked shortly after the photo was taken as the horse kept ramming its butt up against that cement wall.


One of the charming aspects of the wall were the occasional little side openings, like the one in the photo. This provided a nice spot for a rest from the hiking and gave Vida a chance to tell us a little more about the history. I’m going to try to get a short video of her on YouTube so you will get in on the action.


Shuli was absolutely right about “the most fun part” of going to the Great Wall. The Wall was awe-inspiring but the luge (I had to look that word up to find the spelling – and written down is sounds like something you might blow out your nose) was a thrill. As you can see from the photo (and sorry, there’s no photo of me zooming down it) there’s a metal chute. You are provided with a little sled thingy that has a joy-stick; when you pull back, it brakes, and when you push, it zooms. I put my baseball cap on backwards (less wind resistance☺) and away we went. A group of Chinese standing along the way got a great kick out of me for some reason???


Soon after we got off the luge, we saw this unlikely group. Two elderly Chinese fellows dressed up in the ancient soldier’s uniforms, along with the African teenagers, lined up for a group photo. Of course this is a money-making scheme, but it was an interesting combination of faces. Sorry I didn’t get my camera out quicker, but you get the idea.

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...)