Great Wall

The highlight and the main event of the day was climbing the Great Wall at the un-restored section of the wall, Simatai. The trip up to the Wall was just as tiring as some of the sections of the Wall itself. Of course once we all got up there, there was a sign that said no climbing, which was to everyone’s amusement. There were steep inclines and downgrades between the thirty towers we traveled through. On portions there was only broken rocks with no official steps or there would be portions where I had

little traction. Some of the towers we could not go into because of a huge vertical drop off on the other side. Even though the trip took five hours, every minute of the hike was worth it! The scenery and the view were amazing as mountain peaks and hills spread out around the Wall. It is unbelievable to think about how many men slaved over the construction of the Wall and how many fought behind it to protect China during battles such as those against the Manchu and the Mongols. The towers often lit fires to send a signal to other soldiers guarding the Wall. Early ideas and construction of the Wall began back in the fifth century BC and 221 BC, but the modern Wall that is thought of today started being built in the 1440’s in the Ming dynasty. It is one thing to see the Wall from a distance and to be in awe of it, and then another to actually climb it and be part of its history. I have never truly seen anything like it nor can anything ever compare; it is understandable why it is one of the marvels of the world. From the points on top of the Wall, I almost felt like I was on top of the world myself. Words really cannot describe what I felt, how I feel, or what the Wall looks like. I cannot even fully tell family and friends about its magnificence because nothing I say could possibly do it justice nor can pictures tell the whole story.