What a view standing on The Great Wall of China

Visiting The Great Wall of China

I was picked up from the hotel in Beijing and driven by bus to a less well known and less busy part of the Great Wall. I didn't realise that it would be such a climb. You can either take the steps or go by cable car. Due to the intense heat I decided to use the cable car. Once at the top it is another steep climb to reach a good vantage point. <br/><br/> I actually left the main wall and scrambled up on hands and knees to an ever higher vantage point. The view from there is one that I shall never forget. The sheer size of the wall is almost inexplicable and the surrounding views even through the haze of the summer were to say the least breath taking. I then gave thought to the men and women who actually built this magnificent construction which was built simply to secure Chinas borders from various Nomadic groups. <br/><br/> The challenge ahead was mind boggling and many will have lost their lives during the build. The Great Wall is thought to stretch over 5500 miles including its branches and natural defences such as hills and rivers with the actual wall stretching over 3800 miles. I didn't want to start the decent back down; I wanted to stand there forever. However I started the decent and along the way met a lady selling postcards which I bought. At the base of the wall there were various stalls selling all the usual tourist memorabilia. It didn't quite seem right but I succumbed and bought my brother a t shirt saying 'my sister went to The Great Wall of China and all she brought me back was this t shirt'. We all have these moments in life that we never forget and this was mine. Everything about China, its legend and mystery and the will and intelligence of the people amazes me. <br/><br/> I didn't think it then but it is easy to see now why China has become one of the world's great super powers maybe at the expense of its people. I haven't returned to China since despite a longing inside me as I feel I would be sorely disappointed in how it has changed. I visited China just at the right time before the sky scraper took over the skyline and the never ending search for happiness through accumulation of wealth changed its people (well some of them anyway).

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