So Great that it deserves it's own entry. It could have been named the Awe-inspiring Wall of China and I for one would not have questioned it. It's one of those attractions that everyone has heard of but I suspect relatively few ever get to see. I certainly never thought I'd be lucky enough to walk on it and on a blue-sky day in October too! Our guide informed us that up until a few days before it had been very foggy for some time too, so we felt doubly lucky!
The Wall is the longest man made structure in the world, and some say it can be seen from Space, although I can't verify that either way. It was built in segments by varying dynasties to protect China's northern boundary and what survives today is mainly the stone and brick bits predominantly from the Ming dynasty.
It's truly fascinating to me to imagine how on earth they managed to build this wall. We walked such a small piece of it...it apparently stretches for over 30,000 miles! Bending and weaving as it does and makes it's way up and over, down and round the mountains. Incredible. Did I mention it was totally awe-inspiring? Many died during construction too...that unfortunately doesn't surprise me so much given the terrain, it must have been a pretty tough job.
All the tourist information I'd read in advance of our trip had me worried that walking the wall would feel a bit like walking in central Hong Kong during the lunch break, but we left our hotel at 7am, travelled north through some interesting villages and were on the wall by 9am and to have some sections with views like this, was most rewarding.
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Quite beautiful and an experience never to be forgotten!
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