The Great Wall of China is deservedly one of the most visited spots in China and the world. Its sinewy, curvaceous, imposing beauty beckons one to climb. From Beijing, we went to the Badaling section which is about an hour and a half away. More like a theme park on busy days, there are two directions north and south—we took the less traveled south section. The gorgeous snaky path sloped upwards gently and the green mountainous views drew us in. Exhilaration was key to the energy I felt marching on this wall.
Badaling
Our guide told us about the mostly unknown William Lindsay from the U.K who as a child saw a map of the crisscrossing lines of the wall and was determined to walk the the entire wall. In 1987, he was the first foreigner to complete a section of the wall hiking and later completed all the sections (there are gaps). He established an international association to protect the Great Wall. He married a Chinese woman and eventually became an expat in China.
While the architectural beauty of this Great Wall is undeniable, it didn’t keep invaders out. There may be a lesson in that. And the belief that it is visible from orbit is a romantic notion, but sadly just a legend.
Wow! It is absolutely amazing that you were able to visit the Great Wall of China. This is definitely a major place on my bucket list that I hope to see soon. I also enjoyed reading the history behind it. 🙂
Thanks, Taylor! Definitely worthwhile! You can combine exercise with marveling at the scenery. Fun combo.