don't miss the Great Wall of China

Great Wall of China - Jinshanling Section

The Great Wall of China is one of those iconic attractions that you must see, if you have the opportunity. The only structure constructed by humans that is visible from space, its construction began in the 5th century BC. Intended to protect China from invaders from the north, nearly 4,000 miles of walls qualifies the Great Wall of China as history's largest public works project.

The vast majority of tourists - both Chinese and others - visit the Badaling section of the great wall; only one hour from Beijing, it can be reached by inexpensive public bus transportation. What you will experience there is a reconstructed section of the wall ... and crowds. Most tour companies take their guests to Badaling.

Imperial Tours goes the extra mile(s), taking their guests to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall and then providing us with an unforgettable luncheon in one of the watchtowers. Two and one-half hours from Beijing, the visit makes for a long day ... but the extra time is worth it. I took the picture above during my visit, and it shows the exclusive and uncrowded visit that we enjoyed. The only visitors were the members of our tour group - and some local guides who assisted us in climbing the steeper sections of the wall and helped us with our footing. I encourage you to accept their hospitality, and then to buy something from them after your visit; it's how they make their living.


Great Wall of China (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website. Photograph of the Great Wall is copyrighted © 2011 by David Ourisman
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