Walled Village to Huanghuacheng Great Wall, 2017/4/22
Twenty-three photos from a walk in the hills of Huairou District, passing fields and orchards on the way to the Huanghuacheng Great Wall.

The weather was just beautiful for this walk on the Great Wall, with clear and blue skies over the Great Wall and green hills.
We walked through the farmland around the Walled Village, previously a Ming Dynasty-era barracks, and then up a steep trail to get on top of the Huanghuacheng Great Wall.
The Great Wall took us down into a valley, up to another peak, and then down to the Huanghuacheng Reservoir and a big meal of delicious country-style Chinese cooking at one of our favourite restaurants.

New flowers, old tree.

Outside the Walled Village.

Views of the farmland around the Walled Village – mostly chestnut trees, with a little bit of corn and cabbage. The Great Wall is on the ridge in the background.

We hiked up through a terraced valley.

We took a break here before making the steep climb up to the wall.

Hiking up to the Great Wall.

The wall is in sight.

On top of a tower on the first peak.

A tower on a nearby spur section.

More of the Great Wall.

We hiked on along the wall.

A ruined tower.

Down the steps and out an arch, to get around a broken part of the wall.

Views of the second peak. We’d later climb all the way up.

This tower is in good condition.

Nearing the top of the second peak.

The wall dips down to the reservoir, and then disappears into the mountains on the other side.

Looking back towards the first peak.

We hiked down a repaired section.

Almost finished. We’d soon be eating lunch under that red roof down by the reservoir.

In the dining hall. We had wanted to have our lunch on the patio, but the winds were too strong.

A fine spread of food.

Old Mr Wang from the restaurant, and Old Mr Ye, our bus driver.