The Great Wall of China, also known as 万里长城, is a massive stretch of strong walls built from as early as 200 BC, and then rebuilt, and maintained by the rulers of each dynasty and currently being restored by the chinese government.
I made my journey there with a great sense of excitement and anticipation. I took a subway to the station called Dongzhimen (2 yuan), find exit E and walk with the crowd to find the bus stop for 916. If in the event you are not able to find the bus stop, just wait by any road and try to see where Bus 916 comes from and walk in that direction. This is a direct bus to a bus station at Huairou downtown. Once you get off the bus, look for those “black cabs” (there will always be one or two waiting) and you can agree to a fee of 100 yuan (two ways) to get a ride there. The taxi driver will wait for you to complete your “adventure” and drive you back to the bus station to board the same bus back to Beijing.
The entrance fee alone is 35 yuan and you still have to pay for the cable car ride up and cable car/toboggan ride down. That’ll set you back by about 100 yuan per person.
While on the ride up, I saw these guys having such immense fun getting down via the toboggan way. I knew it was the ONLY way down for me! =)
As I neared the top, I finally caught sight of the Great Wall. Since forever, I’ve wanted to see the Great Wall with my own naked eyes and touch it. Doesn’t matter that the part I touch may not exactly be the part that was built many many centuries ago (thank god for restoration efforts by the chinese government or else I’ll have nothing to touch even!) but it symbolises much colourful history, fighting, bloodshed and of stories told and untold.
I was pleased to have come here. This part of the Great Wall is unique, with crenels on both sides of it. Crenels are the ones in the shape of teeth, having the same sizes and directions, and distributed evenly, the crenels are mainly used as to overlook, as well as the place to shoot arrows at enemies. The 3 watch towers I passed by all had double stories. I went up both, which one was closed to public. In these towers, the first floor’s layout zig zags to the other exit. There are also many curved windows all round which I suppose, is to shoot arrows too.
The journey started off with downward steps. While I was delighted to go down stairs (who isn’t?! haha), I kept looking back to see what I had to face on my way back. *gasp*
Look, magnificent isn’t it?
I can’t believe they call this a flight of stairs. It’s a freaking WALL (pun not intended)!!!
I was terrified of falling backwards!! Just look at all the steps I had to conquer to get to the top!
The view wasn’t the best as it was in early spring whereby trees are still bald and there are no flowers blooming yet. So it was kinda brown everywhere I looked. And besides, it was a misty day.
Naughty people climbing up the top level of the tower that was not opened to the public. If they fell, it would have a straight drop down to the very bottom. *scary!*
Anyhow, the BEST thing that could have happened to me on this trip, happened to me this very day! I saw this sign.
And I went past it.
Look at this ruined part of the Great Wall.
Can you believe I’m still on the Great Wall?
Gorgeous!
And then we reached this little “hideout”? I’m not too sure what it was before. Maybe a watch tower as well.
I spent 3 hours or so there at the Great Wall. Most of the time taking pictures and stopping to enjoy the view and the moment. I definitely want to go back there again. Next time round, I will attempt a more challenging, older and less crowded part of the Great Wall. Simatai or Jinshanling or perhaps, I’ll come by here this way again and go further towards this ruined path that leads to Jiankou. I’m already excited just thinking about my plans for my next trip!
Last but not least, I was being this utterly typical bimbo wondering since this is a wall built to protect the country, which is enemy side? Then I realised the answer was right before me.
Why esle would they point the canons this direction?!
(I went to another nearby attraction called Hong Luo Temple after this. I will be posting about this in my next post! :>)
