Hiking photos - Switchback Great Wall, 2011/02/04
We headed northwest from the urban center of China’s capital for this hike, passing the Juyongguan, Shuiguan, and Badaling sections of the Great Wall on our way into Hebei Province. This section of the Great Wall sits on the border of Beijing Municipality and Hebei, not far from the Guanting Reservoir and the surrounding windfarms.
Starting from the floor of a long valley, we followed a trail up a ravine that feeds into it. The Great Wall is situated on top of a ridge at the head of the ravine. Reaching it, we started heading west. We had to climb along some narrow sections before we reached the General’s Tower, which commands a stunning panorama of the surrounding area.
After descending down the other side of the General’s Tower, we skirted around some of the more decrepit sections of the Great Wall along forest trails. Finally, we headed down into the village of Chenjiapu on the Hebei side of the border where we enjoyed a good meal and met our bus for the ride back to the city.