On the Wall less traveled

By Lara Farrar (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-18 11:41

Hikers examine a map on the Great Wall near Hebei province last Saturday.

We climbed on to the top, claimed a guard tower and settled down for the night. The one we chose has a sweeping view that overlooks villages in the valley below, with Beijing barely visible at the horizon.

The steep slopes behind the tower contain a formidable portion of the Great Wall known as "Yingfeidaoyang," or "The Eagle Flies Facing Upward," which is famous for its treacherously steep stairs leading to a summit more than 3,000 feet high. The remnants of sunlight formed a halo around the jagged edges of the ruins and the rocks.

Dusk soon turned into darkness, a bright moon flooded the hills with blueish light. We unfolded our sleeping bags, lit our campfire in the heart the tower and enjoyed a dinner of pasta appropriately paired with Great Wall red wine.

As we ate, we witnessed the falling star and relished its magnificence. And we relish the magnificence of where we are in the darkness and silence underneath a clear sky flush with twinkling constellations on top of the Great Wall of China, knowing it's probably no different than what people were seeing on this very spot hundreds of years ago.

Company: Back Country Beijing

Contact: backcountrybeijing@gmail.com/www.backcountrybeijing.com

2-day Trip: 800 yuan

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