Pictures from our June 2006 visit: The Great Wall

The ride up to the first leg of the climb! These carts are like ski-lifts, it's all about timing.





Although the present wall dates mainly from the Ming dynasty, at least 20 states and dynasties were involved in its construction over a period of 2,000 years, following different routes or building extensions according to need. Stretching 3,700 miles, the wall was garrisoned by up to a million soldiers and was complemented by over 1,000 fortified passes and 10,000 beacon towers.

Our pictures were taken at the restored section of the wall at Badaling, 45 miles northwest of Beijing. Other sections open to foreigners are at Simatai (60 miles northeast), Huanghua (40 miles north) and Jinshanling (56 miles northeast). These areas are much less commercialized (aka--less "I've Climbed the Great Wall" T-shirts for sale, which Derek does own).

I hope these factoids and stats I throw out are not boring our readers (but I know the curiosos appreciate it).

Unfortunately, the day we climbed the wall it was a bit hazy. These pictures definitely do not do the wall justice--it is truly amazing.