A glimpse of the many people (with umbrellas on this hot day) at the Great Wall at Badaling.

The Wall’s greatness was evident to us the minute we turned in to the parking lot for the many tour buses and visitors at Badaling.  It’s the place where history, culture, and magnificence all come together in China at one iconic landmark.  As we wrote about China’s Great Wall in our first post (What’s so great about the Great Wall?), we stood in awe at the construction of the wall forming what is metaphorically referred to by many writers as a lumbering dragon that curves, swaggers, and rests along the ridges as protection from invading forces.

But there was more to our visit to the Great Wall.  And that’s where Part II comes in. What’s so great about the Great Wall besides the wall itself?  For us, it was the people – the people who made the trip to pay homage, sight see, or just check the wall off on their bucket list.

The Great Wall is a destination for families, hikers, couples, singles.  From all over the world, people plan trips to see even a small section of this never-to-be-duplicated-again Chinese landmark and to take pictures reveling in the fact that they “made it” to their go-to place.

We watched as some families pulled little ones up by their arms, dangling short legs made weak by the climb.  But with the determination that the whole family would scale The Wall, moms and dads cajoled, bribed, and encouraged until the goal could be reached.

Some folks literally ran with their little ones, a fact that didn’t escape us as we paused frequently just to catch our breath!  (The Great Wall is not for the faint of heart, we came to understand.)

We noticed, too, the young people — what they wore (some in Western attire), how they talked on their phones (Yes, there’s evidently cellphone service on The Wall!), and how they snapped pictures of each other at every turn.

Two young girls enjoyed posing for us. Note the Western logos and writing as well as the cute accessories — sunglasses, stockings, etc. They were having so much fun!

To protect themselves from the unrelenting sun, most people came prepared.  Umbrellas (plain or frilly) were the shields of choice, but also popular were foldable hats, sunglasses, and various face coverings.

Backpacks filled with bottled water, lunches and snacks, cameras, and washcloths made their way up the Great Wall, too, and families spread picnics wherever there was a level spot. Climbing the wall could be an all-day affair if your goal was to reach a distant watch tower or just one of the many jut-outs where people stood and pointed and talked about the scenery ahead.

And so, the greatness of the wall becomes the triumph of the people.  The people who love their own country, the people (like us) who love visiting, and the people who “made it” to the point on the wall that was their goal for the day.

For whatever reason the people came, we noted one almost-universal feeling — that sense of accomplishment for seeing the Great Wall up close and personal!

Have you been to the Great Wall?  If so, we’d love to hear your impressions.  Please leave us a comment below.

And if you’re interested in reading more about our trip to China, just click here or on the China tab at the top of this page.  You’ll find a listing of our posts about this wondrous country.

People from all over the world visit the Great Wall of China.

It’s probably on the bucket list of everyone who has ever dreamed of visiting China.  After all, it’s listed in the World Cultural Heritage Directory by UNESCO and named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  So, of course,  the Great Wall was on our bucket list, too.  We wanted to see it, climb it, photograph it, and experience “The Wall” just like everyone else.

The tour guide on our Viking River Cruise didn’t even need to build it up for our travel group as we rode the bus to our destination. Excitement mounted on its own as we caught glimpses of towers and portions of the wall on our one-hour drive out of Beijing to Badaling, one of the restored — and most visited — sections of the Great Wall.  But he did give us some background along the way.

The Great Wall stretches approximately 5500 miles and almost six meters (20 feet) wide to accommodate five horses galloping abreast.  Originally built to withstand attacks from Mongolian marauders, the Great Wall consists of snaking walkways made of layers of rammed earth, stone, and brick interrupted by strategically placed watchtowers.  The actual building of the wall spanned nearly 2,000 years from the Warring States Period (476 BC – 221 BC) to the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644).

Since Badaling is known as the most visited section, we knew there would be others stepping, hiking, sweating, and arduously pushing onward right alongside of us.

Most groups gathered in the plaza area surrounded by stalls and shops to take a group photo before the climb. We did, too.  And then we were off.

A tour group pauses before hiking The Great Wall for a picture to capture the moment.

My personal goal was to make it to the third watchtower in our allotted time so as to have the best shot possible of the area around me.  And I did.  (No small task, I might add, considering the 95+ degree weather,  steep steps, and undulating pathways.)

I made it! Look to your right — third tower at the top!

The Chinese have made this section at Badaling a bit more tourist-friendly with the addition of hand rails and mounted lights that (I suppose but can’t confirm) make the wall even more outstanding at twilight.

Steep stairs are made easier to negotiate with the addition of hand rails and, when needed, mounted lights on the sides of the wall.

Bert and I climbed, paused to catch our breath, took pictures, and watched the people who came in droves.  Some as families. Some as couples or singles.  And several even wanted to have their picture taken with us!!

The watchtowers provided much-needed shade to those of us unaccustomed to this activity in the full afternoon sun, so it was with much relief that we stood (cramped, but who cared?) for a few minutes before carefully climbing another few steps only to pause again. (“Pace yourself,” we kept saying!)

With breathtaking views of the countryside, we marveled at the expanse of the wall as well as the construction — brick by brick, piece by piece with an estimated toll of possibly a million who lost their lives during the construction.  It’s the enormity of this project and the link to the past that lures us all to see the Great Wall.  And for some of the people (according to our guide), a climb up the wall is akin to a religious pilgrimage of sorts.  I believe that — based on the smiles and the pointing and the hallelujahs heard and seen!

So, what’s so great about the Great Wall?  As astronaut Neil Armstrong remarked, the Great Wall is one of the few construction projects you can see from space — a testament to its size, unique purpose, and the people who gave their all to build, defend, and restore it.  It’s great all right.  And we hope you get to experience it, too.

If you’ve been to the Great Wall, post your impressions in the comments below.  We’d love to hear from you!

And if you want to see the people we saw, come back for our next post:  What’s so great about the Great Wall (Part II)?  Thanks for reading!

The people of The Wall were perhaps the second best part of the trip!

Click here to see more posts on China or go to the tab labeled China at the top of this page.

For more information:

Viking River Cruise: Imperial Jewels of China: http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/rivercruises/china-yangtze-beijing-shanghai-2013/itinerary.aspx

“Great Wall of China” by TravelChinaGuide:  http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/