The Great Wall

Early in the morning we took a tour bus to the Great Wall. The bus took us to Jinshanling and we were to walk along the wall to Simatai. The walk was mean to be only 10km but we were told it would take at least 4 hours to walk it. The last time I was at the great Wall it was freezing cold and I was sick this time I was hoping to walk more than 20m.

We had the choice of walking for 30mins up to the wall or taking the cable cart up. As my Dad wanted to save himself for walking up the wall, he took the cable cart and Steph and I walked. The plan was to meet at the top, however the cable cart ended about 6 watch tower behind where the walk started. This meant Dad had to walk an extra 6 watch towers. I tried to wait for him but gave up and sent him a message that I was walking slowing with an Aussie guy we met on the bus called Mike. Dad on the other hand had made friends with a local who took him on a short cut and was now ahead of us. In the end we found each other and walked with Mike to Simatai. Steph on the other hand had power walked off and we were joking that she would be waiting for hours until we finally reached the end.

Walking up to the wall

The Wall was amazing. I still can not comprehend how they made this massive wall so many years ago. It stretches out as far as the eye can see, balancing along the peaks of mountains. Some of the walking was really hard with steep plunges and scrambling ascents. Also the Jinshanling part of the wall had not be restored so was falling apart below your feet and in area if you were not careful could have easily fallen off the side of the wall.

When the end was finally in sight, Dad was not the only one who was sick of walking. Dad, Mike and I took the flying fox down off the wall. I was a bit scared at first of the thought of taking the flying fox but it was great fun in the end. We find Steph at the Restaurant at the end of the walk. That night we got back to the hostel at 8pm and I felt very average. I went to bed while Dad and Steph went out for dinner at a street cafe in the expat hutong area behind our hostel.