Great Wall travel pictures

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Walking on the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is world famous and is considered to be one of the wonders of the world and its length exceeds 50,000 km or 31,000 miles. It was built from the 5th century BC to the 16th century to keep the Mongolians out, but is now a major tourist attraction in China.

Parts of the wall are fully restored, but other parts are in a different state. There are several tours you can book from Beijing. Some of them take you to a few places where you can see fully restored parts of the wall. As an alternative there is a tour in which you can also hike 10 km over the wall from Jinshanling to Simatai. This one takes a more energy as some parts are fairly steep, but if you are fit enough is well recommended as you see more of the Great Wall and its environments. Remember, the wall was never made for tourists to walk on, although that has become its main use today. This hike will take you onto less restored parts of the wall.

Many of the tours include a late lunch in a restaurant near the wall and then drive you back to Beijing. There is little to say about the wall except that it consists of many bricks and watchtowers and you have to experience seeing it going on for forever. A myth exists that the Great Wall is visible from the moon or from space, but unfortunately this myth has been busted because it is not wide enough.

Great Wall of China travel photo gallery

The Great wall of China.	View over the surroundings.	Ruins of a watch tower.	The China photo galleries that are available: Beijing, Great Wall, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Suzhou and Yangshuo.
The great wall stretching for miles.	First glimpse.	Window view through one of the watch towers.
Mountains.	Very steep climb up.	Expansive views along the hills.
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai.	Climb down along a part which could use some restoration.	Scenery.
Steep stairs.	Panorama view.	Ruins.
Part of the wall in need of restoration.	Original unrestored part.	Steep descent.
From Jinshanling to Simatai in China.	People hiking.	Watch tower.
Watch tower.	Stairs leading to the watch tower.	Amazing great wall.
Postcard view.	The wall continues as far as you can see.	Stairs going up.
Simatai lake.	Panorama view.	View from a hilltop.