Simatai Great Wall

Rent a bicycle and ride over the Great Walls… that is something I absolutely HAVE to do.

I really enjoyed it in here. When you are on walking along the walls, it feels like you are one with nature. It was during summer but the wind breeze is cool, and it is so silent in here. You cant hear anything, just the wind and some insects. The slope down is breath-taking.

When going up, you can choose to take either the cable car or by foot. When going down, you can choose between the cable car, the slide (dont know how it is called) and by foot. I chose to ride the cable car. It feels like riding a roller coaster — only slower. Nevertheless, it was all worth it.

Missed it in 2004 – my foot hurt enough that I didn’t dare walk the unrestored stretch of wall most of my travel mates were going to (it only turned out later my foot was actually broken!) but in 2005 I did manage to go! I actually managed the whole stretch from Simatai to Jinshanling (only the two ends are restored) in spite of a heavy cold and a sprained foot (the other one!) – a very impressive experience that I’ll never forget.

There are parts of the Great Wall that are like Disneyland (China’s very own brand of tourism) but this is the real deal.