the GREAT wall

the great wall stretches over 6400 km...there are many parts of the great wall that are open to visitors - the most popular with the tourists is badaling - badaling is fully restored and pretty crowded. another popular site (where you can toboggan your way partly down the wall) is called mutianyu - mutianyu is also partially restored. i chose the route to the wall that is slightly less travelled - it starts at a part called jinshaling and you walk (lots of steep upward and some downward climbing) 10 km to another section, simatai. this climb is highly recommended - it has beautiful views from 30 watch towers and is for the most part, totally unrestored. super cool.