Something that we’d really wanted to do while in Beijing was visit the Great Wall and, if possible, hike along part of it. We were stoked to find out that the section from Jinshanling to Simatai, about 10km, can be hiked so we headed off early in the morning on a minibus. The journey there took about three hours, most of which I slept hidden under my jacket as I was freezing, despite it being hot outside. We’re finding that we cook when outside but when we get around any air-conditioning that you don’t have control over, we freeze. Its crazy and in fact, the two English guys we were talking with the night before said that their worst night was in a hostel in Hong Kong where the doors were locked and the air-con turned on full bore. One of them had layers and layers on, including socks and was still cold. They rated that as their worst ever sleeping experience but they did make it sound very funny nonetheless.
The wall is just incredible. We were really impressed and its by far the best thing we’ve seen thus far. You can either climb up to the wall or take the cable car but climbing gives you the best view and when you reach the wall you just stop and go WOW. To see the wall snaking its way along the ridges as far as the eye can see is indescribable and, once again, photos just do not do it justice.
To walk on it for hours was such a highlight and I’d happily hike for days if possible (and I think it is with a bit of time and planning). This is where we started and while parts of the bit we walked had been rebuilt, a majority of the section was original and, in parts, a bit hairy and steep.
Not all the steep parts had steps that made it interesting going down and thankfully it was a clear warm sunny day (31 degrees) so no slipping as half the time I (not sure about Euan) wasn’t looking where I was going but paying more attention to the breathtaking views of the mountains around. This is where we’d been
and this is where we were heading
This was one of the less maintained sections
and because the wall follows the contours of the mountains, some of it is quite steep and the steps very narrow. Euan will be the first to admit that he’s not got the greatest balance so invariably I’d be waiting for him at the bottom on the downhill bits and he’d be waiting for me at the top on the uphills, he kindly pointed out that its exactly the same when we’re on our bikes…. Those of you who have biked with me will know that hills are not my forte.
This was the halfway point and we'd realised that we were doing this in half the recommended time so slowed down a bit to take in the scenery
and take some photos (you can see the wall climbing the ridge behind me)
There were loads of large millipedes around (many already squashed) so you had to be careful where you stood. Giant praying mantis also made an appearance as did these huge orange flying things that looked like flying Twisties (NZ) or Hula Hoops (UK) and made this awful buzzing sound. One came too close to me and, having a healthy dislike (read fear) of flying insects (particularly dopey blowflies/blue bottle flies) I screamed. I gave Euan a hell of a fright; he thought I’d fallen off the wall behind him.
Ahead of us we could see the Wall follow the mountains high up ahead. It’s a bit difficult to see in this picture but the Wall followed the skyline.
If you ever get a chance to do the hike, do it from Jinshanling unless you like walking uphill, steep uphill. Some people were hiking from Simatai and looked like they were really suffering. It was really steep and the sections of the wall in Simatai are apparently the steepest and highest.
If you walk away from Jinshanling, you can walk for 12 watch towers before the wall gets too dangerous to continue but its super high. Look at this!! I mean, if someone said "go build a wall up that hill", surely you'd tell them to get real and take a hike!!
This was the best day out!! Highly recommend it and take longer and hike further if you can but you really need the weather to be on your side for the views.
The wall is just incredible. We were really impressed and its by far the best thing we’ve seen thus far. You can either climb up to the wall or take the cable car but climbing gives you the best view and when you reach the wall you just stop and go WOW. To see the wall snaking its way along the ridges as far as the eye can see is indescribable and, once again, photos just do not do it justice.
To walk on it for hours was such a highlight and I’d happily hike for days if possible (and I think it is with a bit of time and planning). This is where we started and while parts of the bit we walked had been rebuilt, a majority of the section was original and, in parts, a bit hairy and steep.
Not all the steep parts had steps that made it interesting going down and thankfully it was a clear warm sunny day (31 degrees) so no slipping as half the time I (not sure about Euan) wasn’t looking where I was going but paying more attention to the breathtaking views of the mountains around. This is where we’d been
and this is where we were heading
This was one of the less maintained sections
and because the wall follows the contours of the mountains, some of it is quite steep and the steps very narrow. Euan will be the first to admit that he’s not got the greatest balance so invariably I’d be waiting for him at the bottom on the downhill bits and he’d be waiting for me at the top on the uphills, he kindly pointed out that its exactly the same when we’re on our bikes…. Those of you who have biked with me will know that hills are not my forte.
This was the halfway point and we'd realised that we were doing this in half the recommended time so slowed down a bit to take in the scenery
and take some photos (you can see the wall climbing the ridge behind me)
There were loads of large millipedes around (many already squashed) so you had to be careful where you stood. Giant praying mantis also made an appearance as did these huge orange flying things that looked like flying Twisties (NZ) or Hula Hoops (UK) and made this awful buzzing sound. One came too close to me and, having a healthy dislike (read fear) of flying insects (particularly dopey blowflies/blue bottle flies) I screamed. I gave Euan a hell of a fright; he thought I’d fallen off the wall behind him.
Ahead of us we could see the Wall follow the mountains high up ahead. It’s a bit difficult to see in this picture but the Wall followed the skyline.
If you ever get a chance to do the hike, do it from Jinshanling unless you like walking uphill, steep uphill. Some people were hiking from Simatai and looked like they were really suffering. It was really steep and the sections of the wall in Simatai are apparently the steepest and highest.
If you walk away from Jinshanling, you can walk for 12 watch towers before the wall gets too dangerous to continue but its super high. Look at this!! I mean, if someone said "go build a wall up that hill", surely you'd tell them to get real and take a hike!!
This was the best day out!! Highly recommend it and take longer and hike further if you can but you really need the weather to be on your side for the views.
The below is the closest town to where we started the hike.
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