Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09
A 2003 trip report from the Big Black Mountain hike.
Here's a 2016 update of photos from a hike we did all the way back in 2003.
On this hike we crossed over a section of 'wild' Great Wall, which was repaired a few years later. We've included some pictures from 2012 for comparison.
Are you in any of these photos? We'd love to hear from you!

Crossing over a hill from the Big Black Mountain side, we can see the Huanghuacheng Great Wall

Following the trail beside a river

The concrete wall looks a bit like a levee

Clear water and geese

Some ducks as well

Taking a look at the Dragon and Phoenix trees at Zhuangdaokou before walking up to the Great Wall

The arch at Zhuangdaokou. This section of wall was repaired in 2004.

Closer shot of the arch

Shady under the arch.

New photo: The repaired arch, photo taken circa 2012.

Taking a climb up the steep wall.

Looking back down.

New photo: The area above the arch (seen from above in the preceding photo) has now been repaired and all cleaned up.

The view of wall on the other side.

New photo: Here's what it looks like now – very similar. The western side of the wall here wasn't repaired.

Just past the first tower on the east side.

A little tunnel.

This big gate is at the Walled Village, an old Ming Dynasty barracks. It's still there!