To walk the Great Wall of China has always been a dream and to finally climb steps with over 2000 years of history is quite overwhelming. Built to protect the Chinese Empire from invaders - particularly the Mongolians, it also safeguarded the Silk Road trading route and contributed to the nations economic and cultural development.
Badaling, located 70km from Beijing, is where you can view the best preserved sections of the wall and even though it was steep in parts, I had great satisfaction when I reached the end of the restored section of the wall.
The quiet and uninterrupted scenery of rolling hills dotted with sections of the wall is something I will always remember.
But don’t forget to explore Beijing’s other treasures - Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven as well as Wangfujing Street for shopping and local food treats.
Ruth Scott, Adventure World
