Visited in May 2009. It was one of my first attractions when I started traveling the world. It was about a five hour hike from Jinshanling to Simatai. There were hardly any tourist and the wall was mostly unrestored. Near Simatai, I took a zipline from the top of the wall down across the river and to the lower section of the mountain. It then led to a short boat trip across again toward the exit. I booked the trip at the hostel for 200RMB which included the pick-up and drop off, water bottle, and one full meal.
In c. 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united defence system against invasions from the north. Construction continued up to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), when the Great Wall became the world’s largest military structure. Its historic and strategic importance is matched only by its architectural significance. UNESCO link for more information.
Note: I just started using SmugMug. Would love to hear what you think of the new gallery feature on this article.
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