"The All Right Wall of China"

Karl Pilkington, the star of An Idiot Abroad, saw The Great Wall of China and declared it o be "the all right wall of China".  I can't say I disagree with him.

Construction of The Great Wall began as early as 7th century BC.  However, the majority of the wall was built during the Ming Dynasty which ruled from 1368-1644.  Primarily purposed as a defensive structure, it covers over 21,000km (over 13,000 miles) in it's entirety.  Depending on the region of China, the wall was erected using soil, clay, wood, brick, stone, and/or other materials available to the region.  Not sure who first claimed it could be seen from space, but logic dictates otherwise.  It's long, but it's only built at a width to accommodate five horses side-by-side.  If you're able to see five horses abreast from a commercial flight, the Department of Defense is likely interested in speaking with you.

There are a number of sections of The Great Wall which can be visited within a 45 minute to 2 hour drive from Beijing.  We opted for the typically less crowded, and reportedly more scenic Mutianyu section which is roughly 60km outside of Beijing.  The Mutianyu section of the wall was built early in the Ming Dynasty, and renovated as recently as 1986.  The primary material used at Mutianyu is granite.  The restored section is roughly 2.5km long and includes 22 watchtowers.  You can generally determine the range of weapons at the time of construction by halving the distance between watchtowers, however, the distance can vary in the more mountainous regions as fires atop the watchtowers served as warning of an attack.  Each watchtower had to be visible from the watchtowers on either side.

Of every stop on our tour, I was easily most excited to see the wall.  Now that I've seen it, I can relate to Karl Pilkington in that I don't know that I'd ever go out of my way to see it again.  Very appreciative to have seen it, but what makes it "Great" to me is the sheer scope and difficulty of the project …particularly for the period.  I left extremely impressed by the feat, not so much by the wall.  I would return for either The Great Wall half or full marathon, or accompanying visitors.  Be warned if you are those visitors, I plan to extend the stay and physical exertion on my next visit.  There is a point at which it is strongly recommended you not trek beyond.  As with many things in China, things look great on the surface, just don't look too deep.  I want to look "behind the curtain" so to speak at the unkept wall.

The crew taking on The Great Wall

Exhibit A of why Google translate doesn't
 necessarily work for Mandarin.  1404
pretty much all I'm getting out of this.

Exhibit B.  Seriously, there are very good English
speakers here.  Use them before you invest in signage.

That rock formation of Chinese characters
says something about Chairman Mao.

Watchtower

Heading up to the top of the watchtower.

Easier coming up than hopping down that hole.

Access point for troops.  Can't imagine crossing that ledge on horseback.

That watchtower way up all those steps is the one it's requested
you not pass.  Many don't make it past the one this picture is
taken from due to the long and steep climb.  Only three
in our group decided to take on the challenge.

The final steps up that ramp looking thing to the tower might as
well be a ladder.  Hands were on the step two above the one you
were stepping up onto.  Not the safest steps I've climbed.  Unlike a
ladder which you can grip a rung on, you're relying on the friction
you can generate between your hands and the flat step for "grip"

Hunter, one of our crew having
a look out from the top.

The non-climbers.  I think they had a small party
going on down there while we sucked wind.

Beyond the recommended stopping
point.  I'll keep going next time.

Sharing a beer and adding to the stack after descending from the climb.