The Great Wall

Our recent trip to Beijing was nothing but spectacular. We hit all of the major attractions—Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace. They were all worthwhile, but the one sight that exceeded expectations was the Great Wall.

We headed to Mutianyu—just 56 miles outside of Beijing—where we practically had the Wall to ourselves. Built mainly with granite, the Wall in this area is 23 – 26 feet high and the top is 13 – 16 feet wide. The mountains and forests make a perfect setting. Fortunately, there was a gondola to take us to the top of the mountain, so we could spend most of our energy on hiking on the Great Wall.

Other than a good pair of walking shoes, we brought a tour guide, camera, and our top negotiation skills. We learned about the history, took countless photos and bought beer from an outgoing vendor—who respected a good haggler. And the trek would not have been complete without our IndieShares t-shirts, which just so happened to be the best looking shirts around.