Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

A 2003 trip report from the Big Black Mountain hike.

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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 - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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

Following the trail beside a river - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Following the trail beside a river

The concrete wall looks a bit like a levee - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

The concrete wall looks a bit like a levee

Clear water and geese - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Clear water and geese

Some ducks as well - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Some ducks as well

Taking a look at the Dragon and Phoenix trees at Zhuangdaokou before walking up to the Great Wall - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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 - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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

Closer shot of the arch - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Closer shot of the arch

Shady under the arch - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Shady under the arch.

Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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

Taking a climb up the steep wall - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Taking a climb up the steep wall.

Looking back down below - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Looking back down.

Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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 - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

The view of wall on the other side.

All cleaned up - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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 - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

Just past the first tower on the east side.

A little tunnel - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

A little tunnel.

This big gate is at the Walled Village, an old Ming Dynasty barracks. It's still there! - Big Black Mountain to the Walled Village, 2003/09

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

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