Great Wall

A very aptly named structure, the Great Wall is an amazing site. Tim and I traveled about 70 km north out of Beijing to get to the Great Wall, Badaling entrance. We were accompanied by Li, a young man who works for China Hockey. After traveling for about 50 km, over a straight flat highway, we abruptly entered the mountains. They were spectacular especially in contrast to the flat land preceding them. After about 15 minutes we got off the highway and arrived at Badaling. The Badaling entrance of the Great Wall allows for one to climb to the highest altitude point on the wall.

The Great Wall is a tourist attraction and is set up as you might expect. There are many vendors selling replicas of the wall, certificates that you climbed the wall, hats, t-shirts, and of course cashmere scarfs. The funniest souvenir, which the vendor called the “pee-pee boy,” is a small ceramic or clay boy statue that when you pour water over its head shoots it out the front at you.

We paid our 40-Yuan and headed onto the Great Wall. It was a cold and sunny day (about 25-30 ºF) and there was a foggy haze over the mountains to the southwest, which made for great photos. We climbed to the highest point and then headed back down, and it was a three hour round trip. The Great Wall is built right on the side of the mountain and was completed around 100 BC. It is an amazing accomplishment. For those making a list, the Wall is a must see!

Below are some pictures of our journey:


Before getting to the wall the road leading up was lined with stone carvings like this one

Never that far from home

From the entrance to the Wall looking up.

Along the way there were camels and horses and clothes you could dress up in to get your picture taken.

Looking up the wall at our destination in the top right, the highest point.

There was a cable car and a sliding car that went up and down the mountain also.

We made it. A view of the three of us, with the wall down behind us at the top (Me, Li, Tim)

A great view of the wall and mountain backdrop on the way down.

Tim and others stop to look out in one of the Wall's connecting towers.

Another view of the wall on the way down.


In the afternoon we headed to downtown Beijing and saw Tiananmen Square and the “Forbidden City.” We finished the day with some authentic Peking duck, which was excellent. But those adventures are a whole blog by themselves so you will have to wait until tomorrow.

Heading back to Harbin tonight on the train…